ADK rail trail conditions?

[Sinite]

Anybody know if the rail trail is rideable for 44mm tires right now?

[DSettahr]

99% of the terrain at that elevation is snow-free. There's a few patches of snow in sheltered, north facing hillsides but I'd be pretty surprised if you encountered anything on the rail trail. Maybe be prepared for ice if you go early on a cool morning after a below-freezing night, though.

[Zach]

We waked a mile or so of it near Lake Colby last week and it was clear and very solid. There were several bikes that went by. Last year I rode on the trail with my 38mm road tires and had no problem, and I don't think I'd have a problem even now in the spring.

[Sinite]

Thanks guys! I am somewhat concerned about erosion/ ruts, but if I remember correctly the surface is packed crushed gravel?
I did just read that the section along St Regis canoe area is closed for construction. That of course is where I wanted to ride and camp. I wonder if this information is up to date?

[DSettahr]

It's mostly crushed gravel with a few short paved sections.

The portion of the rail trail abuting the St. Regis Canoe Area is open (it opened last August). So basically everything between Floodwood Road and Lake Placid is open.

The closed section is the western stretch of the rail trail- everything between Tupper Lake and Floodwood Road. This stretch is closed due to active, ongoing trail construction. The current timeline for completion of this final stretch of the rail trail (per the DEC website) is Fall 2025.

The DEC website for the rail trail is pretty up to date with info for the trail: https://dec.ny.gov/places/adirondack-rail-trail

EDIT: Since you're interested in camping opportunities along the trail- there's also 2 designated tent sites on the southwest shore of Lake Colby. They aren't particularly close to the trail, and AFAIK there's no direct connection between the trail and the sites- but it also wouldn't be a horrendously far bushwhack from the trail to the sites.

Both sites are located on the broad point on the southwest side of the lake that is bisected by the rail trail, which I've circled in red on the map below:

EDIT #2: The DECInfo database pretty accurately shows where these sites are actually situated, from what I remember of them:

[Sinite]

Thanks!
I am more inclined to camp at Hoel, Long, or Floodwood ponds. If there is construction going on at that end I’m guessing I’m not going to get the quiet forest experience I’m looking for.

[Sinite]

It's mostly crushed gravel with a few short paved sections.

The portion of the rail trail abuting the St. Regis Canoe Area is open (it opened last August). So basically everything between Floodwood Road and Lake Placid is open.

The closed section is the western stretch of the rail trail- everything between Tupper Lake and Floodwood Road. This stretch is closed due to active, ongoing trail construction. The current timeline for completion of this final stretch of the rail trail (per the DEC website) is Fall 2025.

The DEC website for the rail trail is pretty up to date with info for the trail: https://dec.ny.gov/places/adirondack-rail-trail

EDIT: Since you're interested in camping opportunities along the trail- there's also 2 designated tent sites on the southwest shore of Lake Colby. They aren't particularly close to the trail, and AFAIK there's no direct connection between the trail and the sites- but it also wouldn't be a horrendously far bushwhack from the trail to the sites.

Both sites are located on the broad point on the southwest side of the lake that is bisected by the rail trail, which I've circled in red on the map below:

EDIT #2: The DECInfo database pretty accurately shows where these sites are actually situated, from what I remember of them:

How do you think the access would be to campsites on Hoel, Long, or Floodwood ponds would be?

[DSettahr]

How do you think the access would be to campsites on Hoel, Long, or Floodwood ponds would be?

Looks like your options for camping would be OK but not great.

Floodwood Pond: The rail trail along Floodwood Pond is not yet open (since that portion is south of Floodwood Road). But there's no designated sites along this stretch anyways (they are all elsewhere on the pond, and that portion of the trail trail abuts a number of parcels of private property).

Floodwood Road sites 11 and 12 are a short distance to the east of where the rail trail crosses the road, but these are essentially roadside sites (not sure if you're OK with that).

You've also got Floodwood Road sites 13 and 14 being a short distance to the west down the road. DECInfo shows another campsite down on the east shore of East Pine Pond that is set further off the road.

And of course you could also use Floodwood Road to access the other roadside sites that are scattered along this road.

Long Pond: You're looking at a lengthy bushwhack or an even longer trail hike followed by a bushwhack along the shoreline just to get to any of the sites from the rail trail.

Hoel Pond/Turtle Pond: Turtle Pond site #3 appears to be adjacent to the rail trail, just east of where the trail crosses the outlet of Hoel Pond/inlet of Turtle Pond.

Hoel Pond site #3 is a short distance down the shoreline of that same outlet/inlet, again to the east. Looks like it would be about a 600 ft bushwhack at worst.

The rest of the Turtle and Hoel Ponds campsites are more removed from the rail trail and not as easily accessible. There's a trail along the south shore of Hoel Pond that supposedly connects to the rail trail that theoretically would provide at least foot access to a few additional sites, but I've never hiked it.

Rat Pond: DECInfo shows a designated site on the southeast shore of Rat Pond that isn't too far from the rail trail.

Little Green Pond: You've also got all of the campsites here as potential options, but again these are all vehicle accessible sites.

---

There's also the trail network in the area bounded by Floodwood Road to the north, Rollins Pond campground to the west, Fish Creek campground to the south, and Route 30 to the east. These trails are all open to mountain bikes, and while they are no where near as well graded as the rail trail, they also aren't horrendously rugged. They would facilitate access to any number of interior campsites if that was of interest.

Lugging a pack raft is also an option for accessing interior campsites on any of the adjacent water bodies, but this early in the season I'd absolutely want a full wet suit for any pack rafting.

[drywit5]

The surface of the rail trail is crushed gravel and is fairly consistent overall. The section through the SRCA is mostly high and dry and you will encounter more mud, erosion and ruts once you leave the trail. Your camping options in the SRCA (north of the trail) are going to be a bit more limited depending on how far you want to walk and leave your bike behind. Camping options in the SLWF (south of the trail), if you include the Floodwood Road, will be more abundant and directly accessible by bike. I wouldn't recommend anything around the Fish Creek area this time of year and those trails can be a big hit or miss from a biking perspective.

[Zach]

I camped at Hoel Pond last July when they were still working on the rail trail in that area. I came in by water from Long Pond. It wasn't bad, though there was some dump truck noise in the afternoon. If you're staying in most of the SRCA I think you'd be far enough from the work area to be pretty quiet. I am hoping the trail will open in the summer, since they started work on the last section ahead of schedule.

[Sinite]

Looks like your options for camping would be OK but not great.

Floodwood Pond: The rail trail along Floodwood Pond is not yet open (since that portion is south of Floodwood Road). But there's no designated sites along this stretch anyways (they are all elsewhere on the pond, and that portion of the trail trail abuts a number of parcels of private property).

Floodwood Road sites 11 and 12 are a short distance to the east of where the rail trail crosses the road, but these are essentially roadside sites (not sure if you're OK with that).

You've also got Floodwood Road sites 13 and 14 being a short distance to the west down the road. DECInfo shows another campsite down on the east shore of East Pine Pond that is set further off the road.

And of course you could also use Floodwood Road to access the other roadside sites that are scattered along this road.

Long Pond: You're looking at a lengthy bushwhack or an even longer trail hike followed by a bushwhack along the shoreline just to get to any of the sites from the rail trail.

Hoel Pond/Turtle Pond: Turtle Pond site #3 appears to be adjacent to the rail trail, just east of where the trail crosses the outlet of Hoel Pond/inlet of Turtle Pond.

Hoel Pond site #3 is a short distance down the shoreline of that same outlet/inlet, again to the east. Looks like it would be about a 600 ft bushwhack at worst.

The rest of the Turtle and Hoel Ponds campsites are more removed from the rail trail and not as easily accessible. There's a trail along the south shore of Hoel Pond that supposedly connects to the rail trail that theoretically would provide at least foot access to a few additional sites, but I've never hiked it.

Rat Pond: DECInfo shows a designated site on the southeast shore of Rat Pond that isn't too far from the rail trail.

Little Green Pond: You've also got all of the campsites here as potential options, but again these are all vehicle accessible sites.

---

There's also the trail network in the area bounded by Floodwood Road to the north, Rollins Pond campground to the west, Fish Creek campground to the south, and Route 30 to the east. These trails are all open to mountain bikes, and while they are no where near as well graded as the rail trail, they also aren't horrendously rugged. They would facilitate access to any number of interior campsites if that was of interest.

Lugging a pack raft is also an option for accessing interior campsites on any of the adjacent water bodies, but this early in the season I'd absolutely want a full wet suit for any pack rafting.

Thanks for the detailed intel! Bringing the packraft is a good idea for another day 👍🏼

[tgoodwin]

If you look elsewhere on this forum, you'll learn that there will tragically not be any more of the extremely helpful from Dsettahr as he died in his sleeping bag at Duck Hole - at the age of 42 no less.

[Sinite]

What????
Is this true? What happened?
I hope this is not true!