Paul Smith's College VIC

Snowshoeing

The lowdown

• Trails are open dawn to dusk
• 15K of groomed trails for snowshoeing, skate and classic skiing
• 40K of maintained trails for classic skiers and snowshoers
• A full range of trail difficulties and lengths
• Indoor space to get you geared up for your winter adventure - open weekends 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Parking 

In downtown Saranac Lake, take Route 86 west toward Paul Smiths. At the intersection with Route 30, turn right on Route 30 and look for the VIC entrance on the left after about a mile. Parking is just down the road. 

The trails

Snowshoe trails are typically packed by snowshoers. The VIC hires members of the PSC snowshoe team to help pack down these trails, and the rest is done by our visitors or our groomer. Most designated snowshoe trails can be skied on with adequate snow and appropriate skier ability.

BOREAL LIFE TRAIL: This trail is an approximately 1 mile loop with two access trails either from the gazebo near the parking lot or an intersection with the Jenkins Mountain Road. The trail wanders through a forest of pine, spruce, fir, hemlock, cedar, tamarack, and mixed hardwoods. A significant feature of the trail is the 1600’ long boardwalk that allows visitors to explore life in a spruce swamp and bog. Follow the orange trail markers.

JENKINS MOUNTAIN TRAIL: This is a 4.5 mile (one way) trail with many route choice options. Snowshoers can choose to follow the Jenkins Mountain Road, which is also used by skate skiers. For a more sylvan experience, follow the designated dark blue trail markers through a mixture of woods trails and long sections of an old logging road. Noteworthy features include eskers, beaver ponds and 2514’ mountain summit. This trail is often packed to the beaver ponds for classic skiing. Follow the dark blue trail markers.

BLACK POND: This is a 2.5 mile trail accessed via either the Long Pond Trail or the Keese Mills Road trail head. The loop offers a variety of features including lean-tos, mixed forests, a fish barrier dam, varied mature forests and plentiful animal signs. Follow the dark orange trail markers.

LONG POND TRAIL: This is a half-mile trail between the Jenkins Mountain Trail and the Black Pond Trail. It runs along the western shore of Long Pond. In places, the trail is narrow and side cut. Follow the light green trail markers.

BARNUM BROOK TRAIL: This one-mile loop trail begins at the gazebo near the VIC parking lot and meanders through second-growth forest to two overlooks with good views of Heron Marsh and St. Regis Mountain. Follow the light blue markers.

Prices

Day Pass

$5 per person ages 6 - 17
$10 per person ages 18 and up
Children under 6 are free

Season Pass

$50 per person ages 6 - 17
$100 per person ages 18 and up
Group of 4: $325
Family: $7