Adirondack Rail Trail.
The Adirondack Rail Trail is a developing multi-use path being built along former railroad corridors in the central Adirondacks, connecting communities between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. The project is being constructed in phases, with completed sections open for walking, cycling, and skiing depending on the season.
- Leg-stretcherShort and nearly flat — an hour or less
- Peak foliage window — color starts up high and works down the valleys through mid-October.
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~1,699 ft · live closures appear above
- Has bridgesCrossings
Read the line before you walk it.
What the trailhead is doing today.
Where the hike begins.
Curated trailheads & parking near this route.
Editorial trailhead listings within roughly 3 miles — permit info, parking capacity, and access-road conditions.
Guides, outfitters & shuttles.
If you’re already out here.
Lake Placid.
The corner of the Park this trail calls home — its hamlets, waters, lodging, and the rest of its field record.
Read the Region→
Make a weekend of it.
Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
4- Caffe Rustica1.3 mi
Caffe Rustica in Lake Placid, NY, offers fresh Mediterranean dishes and wood-fired pizzas, prepared by Culinary Institute of America trained chefs.
- West Shore BBQ1.5 mi
West Shore BBQ offers 100% wood-fired barbecue in the Adirondacks, distinguishing itself by using no pellets, soaked chips, or liquid smoke. They exclusively use wood sustainably harvested from within the Blue Line.
- Green Goddess Natural Foods1.7 mi
A market and cafe on Saranac Avenue in Lake Placid with organic groceries, scratch-made soups, salads, and sandwiches, locally roasted coffee, and a weekly Thursday fresh-fish delivery.
- Dack Shack1.8 mi
Low-key venue serving American staples from burgers to seafood plus happy hour & craft beers.
Sip.
4- Simply Gourmet1.8 mi
Simply Gourmet in Lake Placid offers daily breakfast and lunch with a focus on clean food, using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients free of additives or preservatives. They also provide comprehensive catering services for various ev…
- The Coffee Bar2.1 mi
A small coffee bar on Main Street in Lake Placid with Mirror Lake and Whiteface Mountain views, pulling shots from Tug Hill Artisan Roasters beans.
- Origin Coffee2.1 mi
Origin Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, offering a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu served all day. It serves as a community gathering spot for locals and Adirondack travelers.
- Blue Moon6.3 mi
Blue Moon Café in Saranac Lake offers dine-in, pick-up, and curbside delivery services. Guests can enjoy weekly specials, restaurant menus, baked goods, coffee, grocery items, and adult beverages.
Sweet.
4- Emma's Lake Placid Creamery2.1 mi
A 1950s-themed creamery in the heart of walkable Lake Placid, famous for its Maple Creme soft serve alongside 16 hard flavors, gelato, sorbet, and old-fashioned malts. The reliable apres-hike treat.
- Ben & Jerry's2.1 mi
The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop on Lake Placid's Main Street above Mirror Lake — the Vermont brand's pints and cones in the heart of the village.
- Adirondack Corner Store3.0 mi
A longtime deli and general store at the corner of Route 73 in Lake Placid with an ice cream counter and subs — a locals' spot off the Main Street tourist row.
- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream3.6 mi
A fourth-generation Saranac Lake institution on a former dairy farm, serving exactly one rotating soft-serve flavor each day — twisted with vanilla on the same 1953 machine. Cash only; check the daily flavor. Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Drink.
4- Lake Placid Pub & Brewery2.2 mi
A brewpub on Mirror Lake Drive in Lake Placid since 1996, with 12 house beers on tap including the original Ubu Ale, a downstairs Irish pub, and a deck over Mirror Lake.
- Top of the Park2.2 mi
A Lake Placid bar on Main Street offering a curated selection of wine, scotch, bourbon, craft beer, and top-shelf liquors, complemented by small plates and signature cocktails. Enjoy 'Spirits with a View' from its large deck overlooking Mi…
- Ray Brook Brewhouse2.9 mi
Ray Brook Brewhouse is a unique brewery in Ray Brook, NY, offering wild and traditional brews paired with adventurous dishes made from local and exotic ingredients.
- RiverTrail Beerworks6.3 mi
RiverTrail Beerworks is Saranac Lake’s only riverfront brewpub, located on the Saranac Lake River Walk and Rail Trail. It features a heated patio, firepits, two golf simulators, and serves lunch and dinner daily with house-brewed beers and…
Stay.
4- Whiteface Lodge1.6 mi
A timber-framed Great Camp-style resort on Whiteface Inn Lane in Lake Placid, with luxury suites, full kitchens, a Conde Nast-recognized spa, KANU Dining Room, and indoor recreation including a bowling alley.
- Placid Bay Hotel1.9 mi
A modern hotel located directly on Lake Placid, offering complimentary watercraft and easy walking access to the Olympic Village.
- Cambria Hotel Lake Placid - Lakeside Resort1.9 mi
Cambria Hotel Lake Placid is a new hotel in the Adirondacks, offering modern rooms, an indoor pool, and an on-site restaurant, Haystack Bar & Bistro. It is dog-friendly and located near Lake Placid's Olympic sites and Main Street.
- Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa1.9 mi
A lakefront resort on Mirror Lake in Lake Placid village, with three restaurants (The Cottage, The View, View Lounge), a full spa with float and salt therapy, and a private beach.
See.
4- Boots & Birdies1.6 mi
Boots & Birdies is a family-owned, Western-themed fun center in Lake Placid, NY. It offers an 18-hole miniature golf course, a baseball batting cage, and a custom mining sluice for gemstone and fossil mining, providing hours of outdoor act…
- Olympic Center2.0 mi
The hockey arena where the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' happened, now part of a larger Olympic complex with skating rinks, the Olympic Museum, training facilities, and bobsled / skeleton experiences.
- Lake Placid Olympic Museum2.0 mi
Museum focusing on the winter Olympic games & its events, including hockey, skating & curling.
- Captain Marney's Boat Rental2.6 mi
Captain Marney's Boat Rental offers boat and water sports rentals in the Lake Placid, NY area. They provide reasonably priced options for various water enthusiasts, including discounts for multi-day, multi-boat, and group rentals.
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Frequently asked.
- How long is the Adirondack Rail Trail?The Adirondack Rail Trail is approximately 0.01 miles (0.0 kilometers) — a short out-and-back suitable for most fitness levels.