Editor's note
Last time we discussed how, here at the Lake Clear Lodge & Resort, we are at the epicenter of not only the new Adirondack Rail Trail – yes, from our property, it is almost the same distance to the two ends of the 34-mile trail: Tupper Lake and Lake Placid.
This is just the latest showcase of our historic legacy as a “Great Connector,” with several iconic trails passing by our family-operated estate, which also stands as the longest-operating Great Camp in the Adirondack Park – a remarkable 139 years. The Adirondack Lakes Cuisine Trail, the Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway, the nearby Northern Forest Canoe Trail, as well as our historic legacy as the “Healing Woods.”
As New York State gets ready to complete the new Adirondack Rail Trail this summer, we wanted to share our 10 favorite stops!
To our family, riding a trail, a waterway, a road, is fun in itself, but our interest are the things you can do along the way: stop to see incredible vistas, fun places to eat, iconic historic experiences or anything that showcases the area we are traveling through as unique, interactive, and fun.
10. Tupper Lake
This will move significantly higher on our list once the rail trail is completed to this iconic town. Its history as a lumbering town is fascinating enough, but it is also known as the “crossroads of the Adirondacks,” with several major waterways and roads intersecting through it. It is also home to The Wild Center, where guests at our Lodge can enjoy discounted tickets, the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory, and a variety of cool places to eat, including The Woodshed on Park. Additionally, the area features a beautifully remodeled train station. Tupper Lake, by the way, is also where the Adirondack Rail Trail begins or ends, depending on your direction and where it connects to the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
9. Saranac Lake
It is an 8-mile trek from the Lodge to this artisan community rich in history as a “curing town.”
There is everything from the Adirondack Carousel right next to the train station to a planned new children’s museum. The downtown area features a wonderful array of shops and places to eat. It also has a bicycle shop!
8. Lake Placid
Lake Placid is the other end–or the beginning–of the rail trail. Home to the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, there are numerous Olympic sites to explore, including a museum and the nearby ski jumps. The village is often busy hosting a variety of four-season sporting events. There are also several bike shops available.
7. ADK CAVU Cafe
Okay, we confess: You will have to bike off the Rail Trail for this one. You can either take an old railroad spur where the rails and ties have been pulled, or you can bypass this and go down the state road from the Lodge for this approximately two-and-a-half-mile jaunt. Or better yet, drive there to avoid biking on the road. The effort is worth it for a family-run cafe that serves a wonderful breakfast and lunch.
6. Lake Clear Trail Loop
Just a few steps off the Rail Trail, near the old Lake Clear School, students from Paul Smith's College recently constructed this short yet beautiful trail in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This trail even has multiple interpretive signs along the way!
5. The Lake Clear Fish Hatchery
One of the oldest fish hatcheries in New York State! There is a wonderful, though quaint and small, historic room, but then you travel back to a large building that houses multiple fish tanks. You can even feed the fish. This hatchery is responsible for stocking many of the region’s lakes, including Lake Clear!
4. Lake Colby Lookout
Just outside Saranac Lake, on the way to Lake Clear, is Lake Colby. The Rail Trail follows 1,500+ ft of the southern shoreline, with a picturesque lookout to the north. Although it can be windy, on a calm day, it’s beautiful and a popular fishing spot for locals.
3. Green Pond & Little Clear
One of the key gateways to New York State’s only wilderness canoe region, this is pristine and idyllic. Little Clear is a stocking pond, and Green Pond has camp sites. You can bike a loop around back to the Rail Trail if you have the proper mountain bike. Great for a backpack lunch stop.
2. Fish Creek & Rollins Pond State Campground
These two campgrounds are connected and are a favorite for our family to bike around as you pass through Fish Creek and Rollings ponds. The surface here is black-topped, and if you want to see a great example of an Adirondack Park campground, this is it. There is also a nearby general store, offering sandwiches and other items.
1. The Historic Lake Clear Lodge & Resort
I know we're biased, but how cool is it to see a building that houses a Stagecoach Dining Room and a 1920s Speakeasy, where you'll need a password to enter, complete with a hidden beer and wine cellar? Although we do not offer open tours, as the password is exclusive to restaurant patrons and lodging guests, the restaurant is open to the public with advanced reservations. Enjoy a variety of fun food experiences and activities during the summer, including a “Medieval Knight’s Table,” a History of Tonics, Beer and Spirits tastings, holistic wellness, and cooking classes.
Exclusive for our lodging guests, stay with us and enjoy our private beach, where you can swim in the pristine waters of Lake Clear, paddle, or simply recharge your batteries and reconnect with friends and family, just as Einstein did. At the geographic center of the trail, 17 miles to Tupper Lake and 17 miles to Lake Placid, we’re the perfect basecamp for your Adirondack Rail Trail adventures.
Either way, when the sun is setting on the St. Regis Mountain range that nestles just beyond the far shore opposite our beach, we believe it is one of the most beautiful mountain-lake sunsets on the entire planet. It is truly imagination-inspiring!
Do you have a favorite stop?
Those are our favorite spots on the Adirondack Rail-Trail, and as they work to enhance access, we look forward to adding to this list in the future.
If you have a favorite stop along the trail, be sure to share it with us!