New Rail Trail Trailhead Construction Begins Soon
Construction of a new trailhead for the Adirondack Rail Trail in Lake Placid will begin soon, prompting a location for temporary parking during the build.
The Adirondack Rail Trail is finished! For the first time, we can say so at the start of the cycling season.
While the 34-mile rail trail between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake is 100% rideable, it remains a work in progress. And even when finished, there always will be work to be done.
In Lake Placid, the Open Space Institute plans to build a parking lot for more than 40 vehicles, EV charging stations, a pavilion, and restrooms near the former Lake Placid depot, which now houses a history museum. There will be bike racks and bike-repair tools at the site. Cyclists will get on the rail trail from the parking lot by crossing Station Street.
OSI spokesperson Siobhan Gallagher Kent said work will begin in late May and should be completed this fall. People will not be allowed to park on the site until the project is completed.
However, temporary parking has been arranged by the Adirondack Rail Trail Association at the Village of Lake Placid's snow field lot located at 448 Old Military Road, east of the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department.
In Saranac Lake, the state Department of Environmental Conservation continues to rehabilitate the former Union Depot and the smaller freight building nearby (both are owned by the state). DEC plans to hire a contractor this year to install public bathrooms in the freight building. The bathrooms are expected to be open next year.
DEC, which manages the rail trail, and the state Office of General Services expect to solicit bids late this year for completing the work on the depot. Eventually, the state will seek tenants for the restored building. In a 2022 study, consultants suggested several possible uses, including a cafe, gift shop, visitor information center, a bicycle-rental shop, or art gallery.
DEC also plans to place educational signs along the trail and information kiosks at trailheads. In addition, 10 benches will be installed at points beside the trail. All of this work is expected to be done next year.
The Adirondack Rail Trail Association has scheduled several events to celebrate and improve the trail. Volunteer days will be Sunday, May 24, and Saturday, June 20. People interested in helping can email ARTA at info@adirondackrailtrail.org .
June 20 will also host Adirondack Rail Trail Community Day featuring food, music, bike demos, scavenger hunts, and opportunities to work on trail projects. The event is free to attend, but advance registration is requested. During registration, guests can also choose to book Rail Trail Shuttle Service provided by Bike Adirondacks and other local event partners.
In addition to regular Rail Trail Shuttle Service, Bike Adirondacks has introduced an all-inclusive and fully guided multi-day tour of the Adirondack Rail Trail on August 18-21 called the Ultimate Rail Trail Experience. The Saranac Lake based bicycle tour company will also feature the trail during the June 26-28 Adirondack Women's Weekend and July 28-August 2 Weekender at Paul Smith's College.
ARTA is teaming with Franklin County to assess the economic impact of the rail trail. Cyclists might be asked to describe their experience and offer suggestions for improving the trail. The survey also will ascertain what percentage of users are from out of the town and how much money they spend here.
The nonprofit also will be working with local communities to establish connections between the rail trail and the communities, including signs to help cyclists navigate from the trail to downtowns in Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake. ARTA also has updated its free map of the trail.
Incidentally, those biking the rail trail to Tupper Lake have the option of continuing on the Crossroads of the Adirondacks Trail. The stone-dust bike path begins at the Tupper Lake depot and can be followed to the municipal park on Raquette Pond. From the park, you can cycle to restaurants and shops on Park Street. Details of this trail can be found in an earlier column for BikeADK.
