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Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
with the Adirondack Ski Touring Council
in the Lake Placid, New York Region
PO Box 843, Lake Placid, NY 12946
Adding
up all the cross-country ski trails in and around Lake Placid, NY reveals
that the region stands as a major xc skiing and snowshoeing destination.
The Adirondack Ski Touring Council (ASTC) (518-532-1365, snow
conditions at Adirondack
Ski Touring Council ) was developed in 1986 as a nonprofit
corporation to promote cross country skiing, and to build/maintain the
Jackrabbit Trail, which runs for 35 miles (56 km) from Keene, NY to
Paul Smith's College. In recent years, ASTC has expanded its mission
to assume winter maintenance of other popular ski trails including the
Connery Pond and Hayes Brook Truck Trails plus Marcy and Wright Peak
ski trails. For more info about the Adirondack Ski Touring Council via
email SkiXC@lakeplacid.com
The
Jackrabbit Trail was named for Herman "Jackrabbit"
Johannsen, a Norwegian native and Lake Placid skiing pioneer (1916-28).
He was nicknamed Jackrabbit for his ability to hop around in the deep
snow. Part of this extensive trail was a stagecoach road in the 1880s.
It required negotiation and hard work to accomplish and it has something
for everyone with terrain suitable for novice skiers to expert. The
trail includes groomed sections and ungroomed wilderness areas and it
was designed with stops along the way with sections winding through
towns and existing commercial cross country ski area trail networks.
For a map click Jackrabbit
Trail Map.
The Olympic Sports Complex complex (518-523-2811, www.orda.org), is the site of the Nordic and biathlon races during the 1980 Olympics. For a full page of info click Olympic Sports Complex. It requires a trail fee and has 50 km of marked trails that average 15 ft. wide that are regularly groomed and patrolled; there is snowmaking (5 km); and emergency phones. The complex has 10 marked loops offering one expert, six intermediate and three novice tours with additional expert skiing on the Porter Mountain racing loops. The Fresh Tracks program offers specialized ski experiences such as biathlon, Tai Chi, women only, skiing with kids, etc.
The
JackRabbit Trail - There is a $12 trail fee required only for
the groomed sections between Lake Placid and Mount Van Hoevenberg (aka
Olympic Sports Complex). An Interconnect Pass good at all local centers
can be purchased at any of the four xc ski centers in Lake Placid. Trail
maps are also available at the shops. Popular access to the Jackrabbit
Trail are at Alstead Hill Road in Keene, Whiteface Inn Lane in Lake
Placid, and McKenzie Pond Road. The entire trail should take about 10
hours to ski but most skiers do it in 2 or 3 days while spending the
evenings in local inns. Sections of the trail are often tracked within
a day after a storm. There is no transportation available along the
trail and most skiers often enjoy separate JRT sections. Here is a synopsis
of the Jackrabbit Trail:
Saranac Lake to McKenzie Pond Road - 2 miles of ungroomed for beginner to intermediate ski abilities. Go from the North Country Community College gym. Then ski 3/4 mile along the railroad grade before turning left for another 3/4 mile to McKenzie Pond Road.
McKenzie Pond Road to Whiteface Club Resort - 5.5 miles of ungroomed trail intermediate to advanced. Start at the road and climb up past a baseball field then to McKenzie Pond Truck Trail at one mile. After another flat mile the trail climbs 1.5 miles and then descends another 2 miles to the Whiteface Club Resort.
Whiteface Club Resort Nordic Center to Mirror Lake - 3.5 miles of mostly ungroomed intermediate trails that require a trail fee or skiers may transit the Whiteface Inn Nordic Center without paying a fee by following JRT markers. The JRT leaves the groomed trail at a half mile and reaches the Howard Johnson's Restaurant at 1.75 miles. Cross Saranac Avenue and go to the left of the convenience store and follow a paved road for .2 miles (may have to walk it) and then trail resumes on the right. West Valley Road is at 3 miles and then climb to the Crowne Plaza passing the hotel on the right walk or ski down to Lake Placid's Main Street and across to a tobgobban slide on the shore of the Mirror Lake.
Mirror Lake and Lake Placid Resort to the Cascade Cross Country Ski Center - 7 miles of intermediate groomed trails that require a trail fee. Pass Lake Placid Club cottages to the Lake Placid Resort Nordic Center. Cross the golf course to River Road at 3 miles. Parallel River Road for a quarter mile and turn left up a driveway for another quarter mile then up Craig Wood Golf Course and on to Route 73 at 5.5 miles. Cross Route 73 to the Cascade Corss Country Ski Center.
Cascade Cross Country Ski Center to Keene - 6 miles mostly ungroomed intermediate trails. Beaver Run Trail for three quarters of a mile then left on to Route 73 to top of the pass at 3.5 miles. Ski down to Adirondack Rock and River at the end of the trail.
The
newest section of the JRT is from at the Paul Smith's Visitor Interpretive
Center in Brighton (518-327-3000) at 8023 State Route 30. There
are 9.5 miles of trails that are groomed periodically. Check the schedule
for the naturalist-led excursions that are offered.
John Brown's Farm is an attraction in the area. He was an historic figure prior to the Civil War famous as an abolitionist, who attempted to organize armed insurrection among slaves in Harper's Ferry in VA that failed.
The Lake Placid Club Resort Nordic Center (518-523-2556, www.lakeplacidcp.com) has trails (about 15 km) and connects with the more secluded Jackrabbit Trail. The trails, which are on a golf course and in the forest are not open all the time. XC skiing and snowshoeing is a free amenity for lodging guests. Rentals for xc skiing and snowshoeing are available.
The Whiteface Club & Resort Nordic Center (518-523-2551,
www.whitefaceclubresort.com) provides 15 km of gentle sloping, professionally
groomed and track-set trails with skating lanes. The Whiteface Club
offers a full range of Alpina ski equipment and Tubbs snowshoes for
rent and the ski season runs Dec 15th through Mar 15th (weather permitting).
Hours of Operation: Wed - Sun 9am — 5pm (or dark); Christmas and
President’s Week: Open 7 days. The staff is ready to arrange lessons,
answer questions, and give guidance on clothing, equipment and trail
conditions.
Cascade Cross Country Center, Lake Placid (518-523-9605, www.cascadeski.com) This is an area that has 20 km of groomed trails with a ski shop, rental equipment, a large fireplace, and dorm style bunkrooms for overnight accommodations.
Top notch accommodations and services in Lake Placid at the Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa with spa, food and beverages, and guide packages.
Directions: Take the NYS Northway (Interstate 87) directly north; take Exit 30 off the Northway onto Rt. 73; drive approximately 25 miles north towards Lake Placid; from the north (Plattsburgh, Canada) take the Adk Northway to Rt. 9N (this is not Route 9 north but instead Route 9N) to Keene, NY; go northwest on Rt. 73.
Photo credits: Jenni McEwen; Annie McKinley
