• Skip to main content

The only independent, nonprofit news organization solely dedicated to reporting on the Adirondack Park.

Donate

Through its news reporting and analysis, the nonprofit Adirondack Explorer furthers the wise stewardship, public enjoyment for all, community vitality, and lasting protection of the Adirondack park.

  • Latest News
  • Environment
  • Communities
  • Recreation
  • About the Adirondacks
  • About Adirondack Explorer
  • How can we help you?
  • Shop Adirondack Merchandise
  • Advertise with Adirondack Explorer

Magazine

Subscribe to our print magazine

Subscribe

Donations

Support our journalism

Donate

Newsletter

Sign up for our emails

Sign Up

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy

Outdoor Recreation

Jackrabbit Ski Trail improved

By Phil Brown

November 19, 2010

Explore More: backcountry skiing, Department of Environmental Conservation, Jackrabbit Ski Trail

This afternoon I took a short walk to check out the new section of the Jackrabbit Ski Trail created recently by the Adirondack Ski Touring Council. Not surprisingly, I ran into Tony Goodwin.

The ASTC executive director, Tony was working with a pick-ax and chainsaw to remove large roots from trail. A helper, Bill Dora, was working farther down the trail.

The council not only maintains the Jackrabbit, but it also works on other trails popular with skiers, such as the Van Hoevenberg Trail to Mount Marcy and the trail to Whiteface Landing.

Hat’s off to Tony and his gang. Given the sorry finances of the state, the Department of Environmental Conservation may need to rely more on volunteers to maintain the extensive network of trails in the Adirondack Park.

The Adirondack Explorer thanks its advertising partners. Become one of them.


The Jackrabbit is a twenty-four-mile ski trail that runs between Saranac Lake and Keene. One of the most popular sections is the six-mile stretch from McKenzie Pond Road outside Saranac Lake to Whiteface Inn Road outside Lake Placid.

In the past, skiers climbed a small hill at the start of this section, passed a softball field, and then descended another hill. The snow cover on the hills was often sparse.

The rerouted trail avoids the hills and will be much better for skiing. It also avoids the ballfield, which makes the softball league that owns the land happy. It also avoids property owned by an adjacent landowner, Bob Scheefer, a Saranac lake contractor.

Scheefer used an earth mover to clear and level the first tenth of a mile of the trail—the part that skirts the hills. Goodwin’s crew then cleared roots and smoothed the trail surface.

The Adirondack Explorer thanks its advertising partners. Become one of them.


The new trail continues for another 0.2 miles through a brushy area and a patch of evergreen forest before rejoining the old trail. This was done to move the trail off Scheefer’s property to the extent possible.

Tony said the council also plans to expand the trailhead parking area this year.

Tony Goodwin battles with a large root on the new part of the Jackrabbit.
Tony Goodwin battles a large root on the new part of the Jackrabbit.

Share this article

More to Explore

Catamount Mountain in the background dominates the view from Fishhole Pond in the foreground

The Loon Lake Challenge

Coon Mountain: Small, spring hike with big payoff in ephemerals, vernal pools

bike leaning against a tree with mountains in the background

Barkeater Trails Alliance to unveil new descent route on East Branch Trails in Keene

Phil Brown

Phil Brown edited the Adirondack Explorer from 1999 until his retirement in 2018. He continues to explore the park and to write for the publication and website.

View all articles by this author

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. what is a short sell says

    September 14, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    11.) When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Through its news reporting and analysis, the nonprofit Adirondack Explorer furthers the wise stewardship, public enjoyment for all, community vitality, and lasting protection of the Adirondack Park.

Stay Connected
  • About the Explorer
  • Meet the team
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Outdoor recreation
  • Environment
  • Communities
  • Start a subscription
  • Make a donation
  • Shop Adirondack merchandise
  • Sign up for newsletters
  • Commenting policy
  • Corrections policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Refund and cancellation policies

30 Academy St., P.O. Box 1355, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 • Phone: (518) 891-9352

Copyright © 2025 • Adirondack Explorer • All Rights Reserved.

You've read 0 stories

And we invite you to read 0 more!

But we also want you to know we provide this quality reporting about the Adirondacks free, thanks to support from our readers.

Will you pitch in a monthly or annual donation to help us do more?

Monthly donations to the Adirondack Explorer provide steady funding, allowing for long-term planning, expanded coverage, and a quick response to emerging issues in the Adirondacks.

Not ready to support?  .