As old rail lines fall out of use across the nation, towns and counties face questions about what the cleared paths can be used for.  Many towns have embraced the uses of rail trails for biking, walking and even snowmobiling during the winter.  The conversion of old railways has become especially popular in the Adirondacks as a way to give bikers a safe place to ride without being on major roads.  With 34 miles of bike trail and 56 miles of winter snowmobiling track from Lake Placid to Tupper Lake, to Old Forge(Adirondack Rail Trail) folks are able to use free and easily accessible trails away from noisy streets.  Rail trails are also powerful because concentrating people on a low grade trail is beneficial in preserving wilderness trails elsewhere.  The stretch of rail from Lake Placid to Old Forge however is not the only railway that could be redone for pedestrian use.  The Chateaugay railway for example, ran from Saranac Lake to Plattsburgh and was initially built in 1883 mainly for transporting iron ore.(Nashua City Station) Due to the high variability of use and range of benefits to both people and wilderness, towns and organizations in the Adirondacks should consider the idea of converting more railways into trailways.

In the past several decades, concerts about folks using snowmobiles and ATVs in wilderness areas have been raised due to the noise and polluting nature of such vehicles.  Drivers and bikers in the Adirondacks have also often been at odds.  Many roads in the park are incredibly narrow meaning that bikers can create long chains of cars unable to pass.  By giving bikers and snowmobilers alike a safe place to enjoy, with minimal environmental impact, everyone wins. Thus, taking advantage of other old, unused trailways for this purpose could be extremely beneficial. One famous example of a successful rail trail system goes from Pittsburgh all the way down to D.C.  The Great Allegheny Passage is known for its scenic routes, with challenging enough terrain, and plenty of places for long distance bikers to stop. One of the most impressive successes of this rail trail is the economic rebound of old mining towns along the trail.(Amy Kapp, Rails to Trails Conservancy)  By catering specifically to bikers and large groups, many small businesses such as bakeries and cafes and hostels have been able to stay afloat.  This system could be exponentially more beneficial in the Adirondacks where millions of folks already come each year. It would be tougher due to the disconnectedness of railways, however, with some significant work, many of the slowly dying towns in the park could be connected and given a possible economic boost during the warmer months.  And who knows? Maybe a hot chocolate stand for snowmobilers would be a hit! These conversions are not cheap by any means, but they can have rebounding economic successes so rail trail systems should definitely be considered by local governments.

Kapp, Amy. “How the Great Allegheny Passage Transformed a Region: Rails to Trails Magazine.” Rails To Trails , Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, https://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/2020/may/12/how-the-great-allegheny-passage-transformed-a-region/. 

 Cosgro, Matthew D. “The Chateaugay and Lake Placid Railway Company.” Nashua City Station Railroad History, 2021, http://nashuacitystation.org/history/the-chateaugay-and-lake-placid-railway-company/.