The Adirondack Rail Trail Starts a Short Walk from GO-Cottage: A Local’s Guide
Skiing the Rail Trail from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid
What’s in our backyard now
When the old New York Central rail corridor finished its conversion in October 2025, the Adirondacks gained one of the best new trails in the Northeast. The Adirondack Rail Trail runs 34 miles between Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake — multi-use, mostly flat, year-round. Outside magazine’s Lauren Breedlove walked the whole thing with her cattle dog Scout earlier this year. We’ve been watching guests rediscover the village since the day it opened.
The detail that matters most for our guests: the Lake Placid trailhead is a short walk from GO-Cottage. You can leave the cottage with a coffee and be on the trail before the cup is empty.
What the trail is (the basics worth knowing)
- 34 miles total, connecting Lake Placid → Saranac Lake → Lake Clear → Floodwood → Tupper Lake
- Surface: a mix of pavement and compacted stone dust on a former rail grade — mostly flat, wheelchair- and stroller-accessible
- Multi-use, year-round: walking, running, biking (regular and e-bike), cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling
- Mile markers the whole length; porta-potties and garbage bins at most access points
- Dog-friendly start to finish (the whole rail-trail corridor and all three towns it connects)
The Lake Placid trailhead is at the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society — the beautifully restored New York Central railroad station downtown. Worth a few minutes inside before you head out; it’s a real piece of Adirondack history (and as it happens, the same building the Porsche Parade rallies use as their start point during their June week here).
Pick your scope: four ways to ride the trail from Lake Placid
1. The hour out-and-back. Leave the cottage on foot or bike, head into the trail, turn around when you feel like it. The first mile out of Lake Placid threads through forest with views back toward the High Peaks. Easy, free, no logistics. A great morning before breakfast.
2. The half-day to Ray Brook. Five miles out from Lake Placid puts you near Meadowbrook Public Campground in Ray Brook — a good turnaround for a half-day round trip on foot or bike. Pack lunch from Soulshine Bagel (dog-friendly, lunches to go) before you head out.
3. The day trip to Saranac Lake (9.3 miles one-way). This is the leg most of our guests do. Pavement and stone dust, mostly flat, passing the Chubb River, an impressive beaver dam, the Ray Brook bridges, and Fowler’s Crossing. Look back early for High Peaks views over your shoulder.
Refuel at River Trail Beerworks in Saranac Lake — right off the trail, dog-friendly, with Detroit-style pizza. Then either ride back, or skip the return: Bike ADK runs a dog-friendly shuttle service that hauls you (and your bike or skis) back to Lake Placid. Worth knowing before you set out.
4. The full 34-mile multi-day to Tupper Lake. Outside did it in four days walking. By bike, fit riders do it in a long day; most spread it over two. The leg distances:
- Lake Placid → Saranac Lake: 9.3 miles
- Saranac Lake → Lake Clear: 7.06 miles
- Lake Clear → Floodwood: 9.25 miles
- Floodwood → Tupper Lake: 8.4 miles
Floodwood camping is primitive (15 state-owned sites along the pond) — bring a head net during black-fly season. Tupper Lake’s finish at the historic Tupper Lake Railroad Station opens onto Raquette River Brewing for the well-earned celebration beer.
What you’ll see on the Lake Placid leg
- The Chubb River crossings — the trail passes the water at several points
- A textbook beaver dam roughly midway to Saranac Lake
- Ray Brook bridges — photogenic, especially in morning light
- Fowler’s Crossing — small landmark; locals know it
- The High Peaks behind you — turn around in the first mile for the view back over Lake Placid
Practical setup from Lake Placid
- Download the Adirondack Rail Trail App before you leave the cottage. Free, works offline, available on Apple and Google Play. It’s the planning resource.
- Bike rentals in town:
- Shuttle service: Bike ADK runs dog-friendly drop-offs and pick-ups along the corridor — essential if you want to do a one-way ride or ski.
- Lunch to-go: Soulshine Bagel, dog-friendly, near downtown.
- Carry water. Services thin out fast once you’re past Ray Brook.
Off-season: yes, year-round
A note for shoulder-season and winter visitors: this trail isn’t just a summer asset. The same corridor becomes a cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling route through winter. We’ve had guests come specifically for the December–March window, with a snowy out-and-back from the cottage and a fire afterwards. It’s a quieter, completely different experience — but the access is identical.
Bringing a dog?
The whole trail is dog-friendly, and so are the towns it connects. We covered the broader Lake Placid dog logistics — trails, swim spots, patios, our pet policy — in our Lake Placid Dog-Friendly Guide. The Rail Trail is one of the easier dog-walks in the village because the surface is forgiving on paws and there are no off-leash sections to navigate.
Where to stay
The single best argument for staying at GO-Cottage during a Rail Trail trip is the walk. Our two cottages — Studio Cottage, Two Bedroom Cottage, or both together as the GO-Cottage Dual Cottage Retreat — are a short walk from the Lake Placid trailhead at the historic train station. Wake up, walk to the trail, ride to Saranac Lake, take the shuttle back, walk home. That’s the whole day, and it doesn’t require a car.
Check availability at GO-Cottage →
Frequently Asked Questions: The Adirondack Rail Trail
How long is the Adirondack Rail Trail?
The Adirondack Rail Trail is 34 miles total, connecting Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear, Floodwood, and Tupper Lake. The conversion of the former New York Central rail corridor finished in October 2025. The leg from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake is 9.3 miles — a popular day ride.
Where does the Adirondack Rail Trail start in Lake Placid?
The Lake Placid trailhead is at the Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society, the restored historic New York Central railroad station downtown. It’s a short walk from most lodging in the village, including GO-Cottage. The station also houses a small museum on local history.
Can you bike the Adirondack Rail Trail?
Yes. The surface is a mix of pavement and compacted stone dust on a mostly flat former rail grade, suitable for regular bikes, e-bikes, and gravel bikes. Rentals are available in Lake Placid from Bike Lake Placid, Placid Planet, and High Peaks Cyclery. Bike ADK runs a dog-friendly shuttle for one-way rides.
Is the Adirondack Rail Trail open year-round?
Yes. In warm months it’s used for walking, running, biking, and accessible touring. In winter the same corridor becomes a cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling route. The trail surface and grading mean it’s wheelchair and stroller accessible in summer conditions.
How long does it take to bike from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake?
Most casual cyclists do the 9.3-mile leg from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake in about an hour and a half each way, with breaks. Fit riders can do it faster. Many guests do it one-way and take the Bike ADK shuttle back, leaving time for lunch at River Trail Beerworks in Saranac Lake.
The simplest version of a Rail Trail trip: stay a short walk from the trailhead, leave the car. Check availability at GO-Cottage →
