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Cross-country ski tracks curving through a snowy birch and spruce forest

Cross-country skiing in the Adirondacks

10 places to kick and glide, from Garnet Hill's 55 km of groomed trail to the free trails at Tupper Lake.

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  1. 55kmGarnet HillCross-country, North RiverA weekend shuttle lets you ski down, then ride back up.
  2. 44kmMt. Van HoevenbergCross-country, Lake PlacidLake Placid's Olympic Nordic venue, with 5 km of snowmaking and a 30-point biathlon range.
  3. 38kmLapland LakeCross-country, NorthvilleFounded in 1978, with a trail system designed by 1960 U.S. Olympic skier Olavi Hirvonen.
  4. 12kmCascade Welcome CenterCross-country, Lake PlacidAn Adirondack Mountain Club center less than five miles from downtown Lake Placid, groomed for classic and skate.
  5. Gore MountainBig mountain, North CreekMore than 100 trails, with snowmaking water drawn from the Hudson River since 1996.
  6. North Creek Ski BowlSmaller hill, North CreekThe village-side corner of Gore, with day and evening skiing and roots going back to a 1934 rope tow.
  7. McCauley MountainSmaller hill, Old ForgeOld Forge's hill since 1958, with the deepest published snowfall on this list.
  8. Beartown Ski AreaSmaller hill, BeekmantownFounded in 1957 by the Clinton County Ski Council and still volunteer-supported.
  9. Dewey MountainCross-country, Saranac LakeTown-owned, with most of the lower trails lit for evening skiing.
  10. Tupper Lake Cross-Country TrailsCross-country, Tupper LakeFree, dog-friendly groomed trails, kept up by volunteers working with the town.
See them on the map

Listings checked November 6, 2026.

Cross-country skiing: questions people ask

Where is the best place to cross-country ski in the Adirondacks?

It depends what you want. Garnet Hill has 55 km groomed, Mt. Van Hoevenberg has Lake Placid's Olympic trails and biathlon range, Lapland Lake has 38 km trackset, and the Tupper Lake trails are free.

Which Adirondack cross-country center has the most groomed trail?

Going by the figures each center publishes: Garnet Hill, 55 km, Mt. Van Hoevenberg, 44 km, Lapland Lake, 38 km and Cascade Welcome Center, 12 km.

Is there free cross-country skiing in the Adirondacks?

Yes. The Tupper Lake cross-country trails are free.

Can you cross-country ski at night in the Adirondacks?

Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake lights most of its lower trails. Nights vary, so check before you go.