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5-Day Adirondack Rail Trail Bike Tour

Explore New York's legendary Adirondack Park , with five days of biking based out of Saranac Lake, including rides along the scenic new Adirondack Rail Trail, a visit to Lake Placid's Olympic sites, and time in the remote beauty of the St. Regis Canoe Area.

Start - End: Saranac Lake - Saranac Lake

Total trip: 5 days

Average group size: 12 people

from USD 3,699/pp including taxes and fees

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Trip Inquiry - 5-Day Adirondack Rail Trail Bike Tour

Interior of Hotel Saranac
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Trip Inquiry - 5-Day Adirondack Rail Trail Bike Tour

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Explore the Adirondacks on a 5-day rail trail bike tour in New York. Lakeside views, forested paths, and comfortable inns each night.

Created in 1892 as one of the first “Forever Wild” Forest Preserves in the nation, the Adirondack Park is a unique and beautiful protected area and National Historic Landmark in upstate New York. It’s filled with forests, pristine rivers, and lakes. At 6 million acres, it’s the largest publicly protected area in the lower 48 states. The Park includes a mix of public and private land — with small villages, farms, recreational areas and true wilderness.

This trip centers on the newly finished Adirondack Rail Trail, a wonderful crushed-gravel route that connects the three primary towns in the High Peaks and Lakes areas of the Adirondacks. Saranac Lake is midway on the trail and provides a convenient base for five days of exploring by bike, canoe and foot.

You cycle to Lake Placid and explore the famous site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Take a van ride up New York’s fifth-highest peak for fantastic views and a short optional hike. Cycle along the edge of the St. Regis Canoe Area — with interconnected lakes and hiking trails accessible only by boat. In addition to biking along the edge of the canoe area, you enjoy one day of canoeing and hiking in this wilderness.


Surfaces for this tour: 95% unpaved.

Trip Highlights

Day by day on tour

Check out the map below for the scenic route you'll take on this bike tour.

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Meet for a bike fitting and orientation. Your cycling journey in the Adirondacks starts with an out-and-back ride on the Adirondack Rail Trail to the west, along two lakes and then ending at the beach at Lake Clear. An optional dip in the lake can be followed by a stop at a historic inn for a drink or snack, then a return ride to town.

Celebrate the day with a welcome dinner at Hotel Saranac’s Campfire Adirondack Grill.
Accommodation: Hotel Saranac, Saranac Lake
Meals: Dinner 

Biking: 16.1 miles (25.9 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 489 feet (149 meters) ascent, 489 feet (149 meters) descent 
Terrain: Flat

Today’s ride is along a creek and through wetlands to Lake Placid. You park your bike at the historic train station on the edge of town and then shuttle in the van to the top of Whiteface Mountain. The road up the mountain was begun in the 1920s when Franklin Delano Rosevelt was Governor of New York, and it provides a spectacular look at the High Peaks and lakes of the Adirondacks. There is a short 0.2-mile trail to the very top of the mountain, and it’s also accessible via an elevator. You return to Lake Placid for lunch and exploring — including seeing some of the famous venues from the Olympic Games.

The group reconnects in mid-afternoon to pedal 10 miles back to Saranac Lake. Share stories of the day and savor dinner at a French restaurant along the river. 
Accommodation: Hotel Saranac, Saranac Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Biking: 19.8 miles (31.9 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 670 feet (204 meters) ascent, 670 feet (204 meters) descent
Terrain: Flat to Rolling 

Today is your paddle and hike day, visiting one of the best canoe wilderness areas in the country. The Saranac Lake area has been a destination for fresh air and outdoor recreation since the late 1800s. The St. Regis Canoe Area is near some of the historic Great Camps from that era. Hop in a canoe and paddle a four-hour loop into the canoe area, with a break in the middle to climb Long Pond Mountain on a trail only accessible by boat. These quiet lakes have resident loons, no motorboats and lovely rocky outcrops and islands. The Adirondack Rail Trail runs along the edge of this wilderness area, and you see some of the same lakes on Day 4 while riding to Tupper Lake. 
 
There are options for the day, including staying in Saranac Lake and going for a bike ride on your own — or you can paddle but not do the hike. After returning to Saranac Lake, you’re on your own for dinner with several fine choices.
Accommodation: Hotel Saranac, Saranac Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

The ride to Tupper Lake is the highlight ride of this tour, rolling alongside ponds and lakes of various sizes. There are a few interesting backcountry stores and shops to see along the way and numerous opportunities for swimming and for looking for loons. After enjoying the ride and having snacks along the way, you have lunch in the town of Tupper Lake. After exploring town, shuttle back to Saranac Lake and have an opportunity to tour some historic sites. Saranac Lake was the most popular destination for tuberculosis patients in the late 1800s — and many large houses were built with extra-large porches for patients to sleep outdoors. The first laboratory in the U.S. for the study of tuberculosis was the Saranac Laboratory, and you tour that lab as a part of the history tour.

Tonight’s final celebration dinner is along the Saranac River. 
Accommodation: Hotel Saranac, Saranac Lake 
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Biking: 24 miles (38.6 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 659 feet (201 meters) ascent, 632 feet (193 meters) descent
Terrain: Rolling

To end the tour with one more quiet cycling routes shuttle to a state campground on Buck Pond for the final ride of the tour, starting at the campground beach. The ride has a mix of gravel path and quiet roads and will be one more chance to possibly see loons.

After the ride, there’s an option for a swim in the pond. Then shuttle back to Hotel Saranac with time for a shower before checkout, and then have a final group lunch at the hotel’s Campfire Adirondack Grill before shuttle to Burlington Airport.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, lunch 

Biking: 13.7 miles (22 kilometers)
Elevation Gain/Loss: 742 feet (226 meters) ascent, 733 feet (223 meters) descent
Terrain: Rolling 

Inns

Hotel Saranac - Curio Collection by Hilton

Hotel Saranac is a restored 1927 landmark in downtown Saranac Lake, blending Adirondack charm with modern comfort. Part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, it features a spa, mountain-view terrace with fire pit, artisan boutique, and the elegant Great Hall inspired by Florence’s Davanzati Palace. You'll love stepping into this beautiful inn at the end of each day, with the adventure and charm of the Adirondacks right on its doorstep.

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FAQs

From where the trip starts to what to pack, check out our Frequently Asked Questions about this tour.

On the first day of the tour, our two pick up locations are Burlington International Airport at 9am or Hotel Saranac at 1pm. You are welcome to book your pre-tour stay at any hotel in Burlington or Saranac Lake, though you must make your own way to the two pick-up locations at the pre-designated times.

Your tour ends with a drop-off at the Hotel Saranac at 1pm or Burlington International Airport at 4pm, in time for flights below.

Arrival: We recommend arriving in both Burlington at least the day before your tour starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your tour start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the tour, we recommend departing from Burlington after 6pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

If you plan to drive to the tour’s pick-up location, please ensure you arrange parking for the duration of your tour. If the pick-up point is a hotel, we recommend contacting them directly to inquire about parking availability. Keep in mind some hotels do not permit non-guests to park on-site, so you may need to find alternative parking options.

You’ll be fully supported throughout the tour with two experienced tour leaders — one riding alongside the group and another following in a support vehicle. The support van travels with you on all riding days, stocked with snacks and tools, and ready to help with repairs or provide a lift whenever needed.

Your tour leaders are there for more than just the cycling. They’re happy to assist with logistics, help arrange transport, and share local insights and recommendations to help you make the most of each stop along the way.

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What's included

  • 4 nights’ accommodation
  • 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
  • You’re supported from start to finish by our highly experienced guides and leaders
  • Industry leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • Delicious snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to keep you fueled
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
  • Branded t-shirt and bag
  • Gravel bikes with drop handlebars, Hybrid with flat-bar handlebars, or E-Bikes - equipped with a front handlebar bag or rear carrier, branded water bottle, mirror, and flat pedals
  • Ride with GPS for navigation along with the detailed maps and itineraries
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable! 
  • Your queries answered by our knowledgeable Customer Care Team - only a call, chat, or email away
  • You’re “trip ready” with our Customer Care Team’s calls prior to your trip
  • “My Account” - your own online space with everything required for your adventure

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