Take a Walk in the Woods
Meandering along the Peninsula Trail, sprinkled with early fall leaves
The Adirondacks and specifically the High Peaks may be hiking nirvana. But sometimes you just want to slow down and wander through the woods. Walk the dog. Let the kids run. Or just go solo and give yourself a chance to breathe in and exhale slowly.
Walking Trails Worth Exploring
Peninsula Trails on Lake Placid: It’s about a half mile from our cottage front door to the Peninsula Trails trailhead. In AllTrails it’s called the Brewster Peninsula Loop — 2 miles long and 98 feet of elevation gain. Definitely a walk, not a hike. I often see other locals out walking their dogs on this trail. You’ll definitely see other people, but it isn’t overly crowded. The trail takes you down by the lake shore where there are benches to sit and ponder life, then it loops around through the woods and returns. It’s a great kid-friendly, dog-friendly stroll. A morning walk here is an especially good way to start the day.
Jackrabbit Trail: The Jackrabbit trail is probably best known for cross-country skiing, but in warmer months it’s also an excellent walking trail. Started in 1986, it theoretically stretches from Keene to Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Lake Clear and up to Paul Smith’s, but unfortunately, it isn’t fully connected. It’s also slightly confusing with intersecting trails, so be sure to come prepared with a fully charged phone. In Alltrails you can find an 11-mile section from Lake Placid to McKenzie Pond near Saranac Lake, and it’s just as easy to park on one end or the other, walk as far as you like, and turn back. We’ve walked a few sections, and the area around Beaver Pond is wooded and very nice. It’s all dog-friendly.
A beautiful sunset at John Brown’s Farm with the Olympic Ski Jump in view
John Brown’s Farm: You can definitely go to this historic site for the abolitionist history and to see historic preservation. Or you can simply walk the trails, which are open to the public, dog-friendly and free. Access the farm from Old Military Rd., and you’ll quickly realize the farm backs up to the Olympic Ski Jumps with nice views of the surrounding mountains. You can find the 2.6 mile Potato Field and Maple Grove Trail Loop in AllTrails, but can also do shorter routes. With a couple hills, the elevation gain is 236 feet. For some reason, AllTrails makes note to leave the dogs at home, but they’re incorrect. These trails are in fact dog-friendly and you’ll see lots of dogs around. I’m sure dogs aren’t allowed inside the historic buildings, so maybe that’s the mixup. Because of all the open fields, it’s an ideal place for kids to run. The farm and trails are less than 4 miles from our cottage, and there’s ample parking. I like the farm for an evening sunset walk, but bring a flashlight.
Henry’s Woods: Very close to the John Brown Farm is Henry’s Woods. It’s similar terrain, and officially allows dogs off leash in certain areas. The Henry’s Woods Loop Trail is 2.3 miles and 337 feet of elevation gain, and again there are alternative routs for shorter distances.
The Wild Walk at the Wild Center takes you up to the tree tops!
The Wild Center: A bit further afield, the walking trails at The Wild Center are special. There’s a loop that’s a little under 1 mile listed in AllTrails, but with a 115-acre campus, there’s a lot more than that one little loop. The whole place is kid-friendly, including a designated Pines Play Area, and the Wild Walk is ADA accessible for wheelchairs and scooters, but they are not dog-friendly. There’s an admission fee associated with the Wild Center, currently $22 for adults, $13 for youth and free for children 4 and under. With that, you’re supporting the facility and wildlife conservation. What I love about their outdoor trails is the intersection of nature and art — the forest music, the sculptures, and just how well designed it is. Everything is very thoughtful, down to a quiet area for bird watchers. It’s also a great choice in the winter decorated with holiday lights. The Wild Center is in Tupper Lake, about 30-40 minutes from the cottage.
Discover large-scale stick art in the woods at the Wild Center
Paul Smith’s VIC: If you haven’t been up to Paul Smith’s College and their Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC), it’s worth the 30-40 minute drive to check it out. There are 13 VIC trails that pop up in AllTrails, and plenty more to explore on this 3,000-acre property. Like, what could be better than sitting in a butterfly house to clear your mind? (Well, maybe not if you have bad allergies.) If group activities are more your jam, check the VIC calendar for birding, paddling, and nature walks with all kinds of experts. We did a Wild Edibles Walk at the VIC and it was eye-opening! Also check out our paddle/walk suggestion along Black Pond and Long Pond trail which is a VIC trail. And as a bonus, the VIC trails are dog-friendly! In the winter, this is the “it” place for cross-country skiing at a very nominal fee.
Adirondack Rail Trail: The long-awaited rail-trail linking Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake is under way. The vision is for the former train route to be paved over with a surface for biking, walking and running. Currently, it’s rocky — not yet paved — and can be a pain to walk distances. Check their website for updates and more information. It looks like it’ll be pretty spiffy when completed.
