Jackrabbit Trail.
The Jackrabbit Trail is a historic cross-country ski trail network linking communities across the central Adirondacks, named for Herman "Jackrabbit" Johannsen who pioneered backcountry skiing in the region. The full system spans roughly 85 kilometers from Keene to Paul Smiths, though individual segments vary widely in difficulty and are maintained by local clubs and volunteer groups.
- 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 ~1,860 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- Artisans at the Lake Placid Lodge0.5 mi
The restaurant at the Lake Placid Lodge, a Relais and Chateaux property, serving a seasonal farm-to-fork menu in a fire-lit dining room with a three-season terrace over the lake. Breakfast and dinner daily.
- Heritage Indian Grill0.5 mi
Heritage Indian Grill in Lake Placid offers a vibrant exploration of Indian cuisine, presenting a curated selection of traditional recipes and contemporary creations.
- Green Goddess Natural Foods0.6 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 Shack0.6 mi
Low-key venue serving American staples from burgers to seafood plus happy hour & craft beers.
Sip.
4- Simply Gourmet0.6 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 Bar1.3 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 Coffee1.6 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.
- Nori's Village Market6.9 mi
Nori's Village Market and Riverside Cafe offers a market with organic and local produce, bulk foods, coffee, and teas, alongside a cafe serving natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and local meat options.
Sweet.
4- Emma's Lake Placid Creamery1.9 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's1.9 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 Cream4.7 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- Top of the Park1.1 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…
- Lake Placid Pub & Brewery1.6 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.
- Ray Brook Brewhouse4.0 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 Beerworks6.8 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- Lake Placid Lodge0.5 mi
A 30-room Arts and Crafts lodge on the western shore of Lake Placid, one of two Relais & Chateaux properties in the Adirondacks. Main-lodge rooms and suites, plus private cabins and lakeside cottages. Artisans dining room and Maggie's Pub on site.
- Cambria Hotel Lake Placid - Lakeside Resort0.6 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.
- Moose Mountain Lodge0.6 mi
Moose Mountain Lodge is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom Adirondack-style home in Lake Placid. Overlooking the Whiteface Club and Resort golf course, it features a rec-room with a pool table, sauna, and hot tub, and includes access to the res…
- Whiteface Club0.6 mi
A historic resort on Whiteface Inn Lane in Lake Placid since 1882, with 18-hole Van Kleek championship golf, tennis and pickleball, a private marina on Lake Placid, and a Nordic Center.
See.
4- Captain Marney's Boat Rental0.7 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.
- Boots & Birdies0.8 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…
- Lake Placid Olympic Museum1.5 mi
Museum focusing on the winter Olympic games & its events, including hockey, skating & curling.
- Olympic Center1.7 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.
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Frequently asked.
- How long is the Jackrabbit Trail?The Jackrabbit Trail is approximately 0.01 miles (0.0 kilometers) — a short out-and-back suitable for most fitness levels.