LAKE PLACID — New York state Department of Environmental Conservation is urging community members, visitors and recreationists to avoid the Adirondack Rail Trail to ensure the protection of public safety and assist in timely completion of the project.

There is ongoing construction to complete Phase 1 of the project spanning from Lake Placid Depot to Saranac Lake Depot. While some sections of the trail between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake may appear complete, crews are still working on the trail surface, parking areas, fencing, intersections, and more. The area is closed for use and should be avoided until the project is complete.

To learn more about the Adirondack Rail Trail, including notices and information on construction phases and closures, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/124911.html.

“DEC is happy that the community is eager to use this new public recreational resource,” said Regional Director Joe Zalewski. “But we are asking for the public to be patient until construction is complete and the trail is safe for users. Construction workers and equipment must pause their work as people walk by, and with everyone’s help in finding alternative trails during construction, we can all start using the improved Adirondack Rail Trail more quickly.”

There are ample alternatives to the Adirondack Rail Trail near Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. Recreationists can explore the Bloomingdale Bog Rail Trail, accessible along multiple points from Saranac Lake through Onchiota, the Paul Smith’s College VIC, which boasts over 25 miles of maintained trails, and Henry’s Woods and Heaven Hill Trails, two networks of trails accessed from Bear Cub Road in Lake Placid.

For more suggestions of alternative trails this fall, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/116823.html.