Recreationists in Upstate New York got some good news this week from two major multi-use trails. The new Lake Placid Trailhead, a gateway that significantly improves eastern access to the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail has opened in Essex County. Also two miles of the Champlain Canalway Trail, part of the Empire State Trail between Towpath Lane and Route 196 in the Towns of Fort Edward and Kingsbury in Washington County, has been resurfaced and reopened.
Rail Trail Lake Placid Gateway
The Open Space Institute’s (OSI) President and CEO Erik Kulleseid, New York State Empire State Development (ESD) President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton, Village of Lake Placid Mayor Art Devlin, and Adirondack Rail Trail Association (ARTA) Executive Director Julia Goren celebrated the opening of a new Lake Placid Trailhead of the Adirondack Rail Trail.
The new gateway significantly improves eastern access to the 34-mile Adirondack Rail Trail and offers a convenient place to start exploring the Rail Trail, which connects Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, and Tupper Lake.
Now complete, the trailhead features a pavilion with picnic tables; a parking area with more than 40 spaces; EV charging stations; ADA-compliant restrooms; a kiosk and signage; bicycle racks; a bicycle repair station; and eco-friendly lighting.
OSI designed, fundraised, and managed the $2 million project in partnership with the Village of Lake Placid.
The construction was supported by a $500,000 New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant from the NYS State Parks through Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993 and $300,000 from ESD’s Regional Council Capital Funds Program.
EPF support was also key in the Village’s purchase of the small parcel of land on which the trailhead was constructed.
The property was acquired with OSI’s assistance from the Lake Placid–North Elba Historical Society, supported by a $300,000 EPF grant through DEC’s Adirondack Park and Catskill Park Community Smart Growth Grant program.
The trailhead was completed thanks to the generosity of OSI Trustee John Ernst, in memory of his wife Margot, who passed away earlier this year.
Margot Ernst was a prominent philanthropist and environmental leader in the North Country, serving on boards for the Adirondack Community Trust, Adirondack Experience, Northern Forest Atlas, and the executive council of North Country Public Radio. The trailhead’s pavilion has been named in honor of Margot Ernst.
Additional support for the effort was secured by OSI thanks to donations from the North Elba Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund, Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, Stewart’s Shops & The Dake Family, the Boquet Foundation, Henry Uihlein II & Mildred A. Uihlein Foundation, Cloudsplitter Foundation, Lee and Nancy Keet, Adirondack Community Foundation, and many individual private donors.
Visit the Adirondack Rail Trail Association for more information.
Champlain Canalway Trail Reopening
The New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails New York will unveil the reopening of two miles of the Champlain Canalway Trail between Towpath Lane and Route 196 in the Towns of Fort Edward and Kingsbury on Saturday, October 17th.
The newly resurfaced section will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting and slow roll bike ride leading into Locktoberfest in downtown Fort Edward.
This section of the trail officially opened in 2020 but was closed for several years during the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project. It has now been resurfaced with stone dust and reopened.
The half-hour 10:30 am event followed by a one-hour bike ride will take place Mullen Park Empire State Trail trailhead at 32 McIntyre Street in Fort Edward, NY.
Read More News From New York’s Trails
Photo of the opening of the Lake Placid Trailhead of Adirondack Rail Trail, October 14, 2026 by Lauren Lancaster/Esto (provided).
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