Cascade welcome center & old mountain road to to Keene—6 miles
Adirondack Mountain Club purchases Cascade XC Ski Center
More big news along the trail - in January 2022 the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) closed on its $2.5 million purchase of Cascade Cross Country Ski Center. ADK opened the new “Cascade Welcome Center” over the summer to provide backcountry information, basic hiking gear and educational programs. An official announcement about winter operations was recently released, including the excellent news that ADK members will ski for free this season. BETA is coordinating with ADK and has secured a trail access agreement to allow skiers to continue using the marked Jackrabbit Trail route across the property.
Directions:
At the Cascade Welcome Center lodge and ski shop (0 mi), the marked route of the Jackrabbit Trail goes straight on the Beaver Run trail which leads down to a marsh. After the marsh, the Jackrabbit Trail exits the ADK Cascade system by turning sharp left at the top of a small hill. Now following a narrower trail through a wetland, the Jackrabbit Trail dips down across a small brook and then up to a junction where the Jackrabbit Trail swings sharp left. (Trail straight ahead leads to Mt. Van Hoevenberg – separate trail fee required.)
From the junction, the trail continues mostly on the level to NY 73, which is crossed at 1.5 mi. After crossing NY 73, the Jackrabbit Trail follows a town road that is now usually plowed and sanded for 0.9 mi. to a very limited parking area. BETA has sought approval, so far in vain, to build a parallel ski trail on state land to the right side of this road to eliminate about 1/2 mile of walking. For now, one must walk, and on many weekends ice climber vehicles fill the limited parking area.
From the end of the town road (2.5 mi from Cascade), the "Old Mountain Road" officially begins with gentle ups and downs lead to a large beaver pond at 3.3 mi with a spectacular view of the North Face of Pitchoff’s ice-covered cliffs. After a short climb, the trail crests the pass at 3.5 mi and begins a moderate descent followed by a short, steep pitch down to a large beaver meadow. Continuing to descend at a gentle grade past this pond, the trail crosses two more small bridges and descends moderately to another beaver pond at 5 mi with tremendous views of the Barkeater Cliff. After another 0.2 mi of moderate descent, the trail flattens as it approaches the Keene end of the trail at 6 mi (24 mi from Saranac Lake).
FUN FACT - the Old Mountain Road is possibly one of the oldest historic routes in the Adirondacks that is still in use today, dating back to the first half of the 18th century. The famed abolitionist John Brown frequently traveled the road, and once nearly perished in a snow storm attempting to walk from Keene through the pass to his home in North Elba.
The trail concludes at Rock and River, an inn and guide service where there is a small parking lot. Please Note - the lodges and residence are private property and not open to the public. Please park respectfully - parking here is a privilege.
This trailhead is reached by road by turning off NY 73 onto Alstead Hill Road (County Route 40) 0.9 mi up from Keene. Follow Alstead Hill Road past the Bark Eater Inn and to its end 3.9 mi from Keene.
More big news along the trail - in January 2022 the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) closed on its $2.5 million purchase of Cascade Cross Country Ski Center. ADK opened the new “Cascade Welcome Center” over the summer to provide backcountry information, basic hiking gear and educational programs. An official announcement about winter operations was recently released, including the excellent news that ADK members will ski for free this season. BETA is coordinating with ADK and has secured a trail access agreement to allow skiers to continue using the marked Jackrabbit Trail route across the property.
Directions:
At the Cascade Welcome Center lodge and ski shop (0 mi), the marked route of the Jackrabbit Trail goes straight on the Beaver Run trail which leads down to a marsh. After the marsh, the Jackrabbit Trail exits the ADK Cascade system by turning sharp left at the top of a small hill. Now following a narrower trail through a wetland, the Jackrabbit Trail dips down across a small brook and then up to a junction where the Jackrabbit Trail swings sharp left. (Trail straight ahead leads to Mt. Van Hoevenberg – separate trail fee required.)
From the junction, the trail continues mostly on the level to NY 73, which is crossed at 1.5 mi. After crossing NY 73, the Jackrabbit Trail follows a town road that is now usually plowed and sanded for 0.9 mi. to a very limited parking area. BETA has sought approval, so far in vain, to build a parallel ski trail on state land to the right side of this road to eliminate about 1/2 mile of walking. For now, one must walk, and on many weekends ice climber vehicles fill the limited parking area.
From the end of the town road (2.5 mi from Cascade), the "Old Mountain Road" officially begins with gentle ups and downs lead to a large beaver pond at 3.3 mi with a spectacular view of the North Face of Pitchoff’s ice-covered cliffs. After a short climb, the trail crests the pass at 3.5 mi and begins a moderate descent followed by a short, steep pitch down to a large beaver meadow. Continuing to descend at a gentle grade past this pond, the trail crosses two more small bridges and descends moderately to another beaver pond at 5 mi with tremendous views of the Barkeater Cliff. After another 0.2 mi of moderate descent, the trail flattens as it approaches the Keene end of the trail at 6 mi (24 mi from Saranac Lake).
FUN FACT - the Old Mountain Road is possibly one of the oldest historic routes in the Adirondacks that is still in use today, dating back to the first half of the 18th century. The famed abolitionist John Brown frequently traveled the road, and once nearly perished in a snow storm attempting to walk from Keene through the pass to his home in North Elba.
The trail concludes at Rock and River, an inn and guide service where there is a small parking lot. Please Note - the lodges and residence are private property and not open to the public. Please park respectfully - parking here is a privilege.
This trailhead is reached by road by turning off NY 73 onto Alstead Hill Road (County Route 40) 0.9 mi up from Keene. Follow Alstead Hill Road past the Bark Eater Inn and to its end 3.9 mi from Keene.
