Note: This blog was updated in 2026.

Adventure through the weekend

How was your weekend? Mine was alright, just got chauffeured around some of the most breathtaking mountains and waterfalls all day!

If you’re wondering what exclusive club I joined or who I know in high places, you don’t have to. In Keene Valley, a unique experience is waiting for you. Love Your ADK and the Town of Keene are offering a shuttle on weekends to trailheads across the Adirondack High Peaks region. It’s an easy, stress-free way to spend the day exploring incredible trails and scenery.

Stress-free

If you’re like me, two things stress you out: parking and traffic. While the most traffic you might find around the Adirondacks is a turkey family crossing the road, parking can get a little tricky. Especially with some of the more remote trails, not every trailhead is exactly parking-ready for all the adventurers in the area. Enter the hiker shuttle! This legion of shuttles has been equipped across the region so you can get all your adventuring done on time and stress-free.

When I heard about the shuttle system, I felt instant relief and excitement to hike for the weekend. Not only do the shuttles offer the convenience of not having to drive to some remote trails, they also limit the number of cars you’ll see on the side of the road this summer. Needless to say, hiking is big up here in the Adirondacks, and there can be dozens of cars parked at a trailhead. While it’s nice to see hikers enjoying the trails, it can also get super dangerous when more cars are parked on tiny shoulders along some of the area’s busiest routes. These shuttles completely change the game. They allow you to park in safer, more spacious lots, then head out on your own adventure and shuttle to your desired trail without the stress of trying to fit your car near the trailhead.

I got the chance to use the LYADK hiker shuttle this weekend—an opportunity I’ve never had before! I brought along my partner, Nick, to experience the shuttle and hike with me, which made the day all the more enjoyable.

Decisions, decisions

If you hadn’t noticed, late July has been hot, making the process of selecting our trail a little more challenging. I would consider myself once a tag-along hiking partner, and now a graduate of smaller, more pleasant hikes. Word to the wise: bringing your children on a spur-of-the-moment hike while they’re in flip-flops may or may not scar them from hiking for fun as adults. A big part of hiking is knowing your and your party’s skill set, and ours is newly developing as we take on each new trail. So, our choice for the day was Roaring Brook Falls, a peaceful and magnificent waterfall that provided shade and some much-needed fresh water. Another plus: the hike to the top of the falls is only 1.5 miles, the perfect combo for a melted day of hiking.

Getting there

We arrived at the Marcy Field lot at 11:40 a.m. Checking my schedule from LYADK, we were ahead of the 12:00 p.m. shuttle. Nick and I got out of the car for a much-needed stretch and a walk around the property. At the small shed at the beginning of the lot, I was pleasantly surprised to see signs for the different shuttle stops, as well as a posted schedule for the shuttle each weekend, so no need for phones!

Before our shuttle arrived, we ate sandwiches, and Nick had somehow managed to sneak a coffee cake into our bag without me noticing. Always have to have something sweet after a savory meal, right?

At noon, our chariot awaited us at the shuttle stop, where we quickly hopped on and were greeted by the driver. We then rolled out on our way to Roaring Brook Falls. The drive was peaceful in the air-conditioned van, and we chatted the whole ride with our driver, learning about her journey to the Adirondacks, the seasons, and how far we’ve both had to drive to get our cars inspected. Once at our destination, we planned to meet back at the stop an hour and a half later, plenty of time to explore the falls.

The sights

Roaring Brook Falls is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Adirondacks. After our short walk on the trail, the scene opened up to a serene, multi-tiered waterfall protected by two slabs of rock on either side. To get a closer look, we climbed the rock-filled hill to the small pool at the bottom of the steep drop and were immediately met with a cooling mist that helped us cool down. One man was fully taking advantage of the falls, taking a dip at the base to indulge in the rushing water. After having way too much fun splashing and hopping around the stream from the falls, it was time to head back to the shuttle.

Start planning today

If you're as curious as I was to learn about these shuttles, take the time to explore where they go and what days they're in use. The shuttles are an exciting addition to the Adirondack experience that adventurers of all kinds can enjoy for any excursion.