Hiking trails can be accessed from many
locations in and around the Lake Placid area (Lake Placid, Keene,
Keene Valley, etc). A lot of the trails can be
accessed right from the road, and two of the main trailheads include the
Adirondack Loj (Lake Placid) and The Garden (Keene Valley).
The beauty of this trail system is that it's free. Yes, free. The only cost is
parking, which is $10 per day.
If you plan to camp while on the trails of
the Adirondacks, be aware that you can only camp in designated spots. Most of the sites have lean-tos
(3 walled wooden shelters), which are extremely handy in wet or cold weather. These
structures can house up to 8 people, and there's always space for a couple of
tents at each campsite.
Even better, you don't have to book your campsites
in advance, or at all. I love this because sometimes you aren't able to cover
as much ground as you predicted or maybe you end up covering much more. The
lean-tos are on a first come first serve basis, but you are required to share
with another group if your lean-to isn't full. I always hope for the luxury of
the lean-to, but I also bring my tent just in case.
Read more of my Adirondack Adventures:
Kim Bowerman,
Nomadik Personal Fitness Expert
