Category: Trail Work

New Features Completed at East Branch

8/17/2026

Thanks to a huge amount of work by Chris Gosling (Trail Stewardship Leader), David Hunter, David Radcliffe, Rachel Carey, and Patrick Carey (Co-Chair), we can unveil these epic new features at East Branch Community Trails. They essentially worked for an entire week on these. The result is pretty awesome.

These three well-designed and progressive drops provide an opportunity to develop new skills that are useful on the trail.

That is the intent behind the entire Skills Loop: allowing you to session technical features and develop your skills.

Other features already built include skinnies and rock gardens. More features to come 🤙

Trail Closure Announcement + Reminder

7/31/2026

ANNOUNCEMENT -- Trail 7 to Closure to Start 08/04

Trail 7 at East Branch Community Trails, Keene, NY will close to all traffic on Tuesday 08/04 and remain closed until further notice.

Upcoming construction on the Trail 8 traverse will make Trail 7 extremely unsafe to ride or hike, as debris from construction could easily roll into Trail 7. Trail 7 will be closed to all traffic -- riders, runners, hikers -- on 08/04 and remain closed until further notice to avoid injuries to trail users.

The Trail 7 closure is expected to last 3+ weeks; please stay tuned for exact reopening date.

REMINDER -- Trail 8 Not Yet Open

Lately we've learned that some riders are ignoring trail closure signage for Trail 8, which is currently under construction. Riding trails that are under construction can be dangerous for the rider and disruptive to the builder. Riding trails that are under construction can also extend the time needed to finish construction. All parts of Trail 8 are closed now and will remain closed until the trail is completed.

Thank you for your help! We are really excited for what's to come at East Branch and hope you are, too.

Bridge Work at the Flume

7/28/2026

Remember the Flume bridges we mentioned a couple weeks ago?

Their makeover is complete 🤩

Earlier this month, BETA Trail Crew replaced trail bridge decking and, where needed, stringers throughout the Flume network -- awesome work Dusty and Scott! The bridges look great.

We also hired the ADK Trail Crew to make tread improvements on Marble Mountain and other trails at the Flume. Thanks ADK Trail Crew 💪

To read more about what BETA's Trail Crew, contractors, and volunteers have achieved thus far this season, visit our latest Trail Work Update Blog.

The photo on the right shows the "Before" of one of the bridges.

Be Like Dan -- Volunteer Saturday

7/21/2026

Dan -- Thank you for clearing this blowdown at Lussi & Loggers, Lake Placid last week!

Blowdown at Lussi & Loggers, Lake Placid has been extra pesky this season. Volunteers like Dan who spend their free time clearing it a make a huge difference for the trail network and the people who like to ride there.

Be like Dan -- volunteer with us at East Branch Community Trails, Keene, NY this Saturday from 8:30am to 11:30am. We're clearing brush to make way for the newest trail in the network: Trail 8. We'll meet at the trailhead on Route 9N and then hike up to the worksite together. All tools are provided.

Register at www.bit.ly/BETAvolunteer

July 2026 Trail Updates: Bridges, berms, New Builds, and More

7/14/2026

BETA's trail crew, volunteers, and contractors have already tackled many trail projects this season and some of that is highlighted below.

Lake Placid

Trail Crew has been working hard to build a climbing trail at Craig Wood to make lapping Green or Gold Jacket that much easier. This is a trail that we've been planning on building for years and we hope to have it open this season. Major kudos to Trail Crew for their excellent work here.
Previously, the landing zone of the 50/50 drop at Craig Wood was squarely on a section of the Back Nine trail. We have rerouted that section of Back Nine away from the landing zone to improve safety.
Drainage cleared, additional drainage added, and vegetation cut back on Loop 2 at Lussi & Loggers. Drainage cleared/built in order to halt the soil erosion that has washed away so much of the tread, especially on climbing sections, and made the trail more challenging than it was ever intended.

Elizabethtown

Joel's Trail in Blueberry Hill, Elizabethtown is a classic, beautiful mountain biking trail that honors Joel Harwood, an Elizabethtown local who put a lot of time and effort into building and maintaining trails at Blueberry Hill. Over time, erosion has left its mark on some sections of Joel's trail -- this season, we worked there to undo the damage and restore Joel’s to its original experience.
Deer Leg, a new trail completed in the 2025 season, has gotten some work done to strengthen and expand berms, improve drainage, and mitigate erosion. One volunteer work party -- sponsored by Solace Cycles and spearheaded by their shop manager Tyler -- built up the berms on Deer Leg in order to accommodate faster descent traffic. Another volunteer work party – sponsored by Deer’s Head Inn – removed the duff layer at the entrance to Deer Leg and improved soil erosion mitigation on Pine-winder.

Wilmington

BETA’s Trail Crew is working at the Flume to restore trail bridges by replacing decking and, where needed, stringers and sills. We’d like to thank the DEC for providing all building materials for the bridge restoration.
Meanwhile at the Flume, BETA hired an ADK trail crew to do tread work on Marble Mountain and other trails.
Volunteers have filled and capped three severely eroded sections of trail on the Good Luck side of Hardy Road: one on Make Believe and two on Safe Bet; drainage cleared and added where needed on these trails.
Berms on Lost Farm at Hardy Road have been rebuilt.

Saranac Lake

Problem wet spots at Dewey were excavated and capped with new stone and mineral soil to improve drainage, which helps to protect the trail in the long term.
We've received multiple contractor bids for constructing the Connector Trail from Park Ave into Natski II at Pisgah, Saranac Lake and the RFQ is now closed. We're lucky to have many qualified, highly skilled trail builders to turn to for work like this.

Keene

Construction is underway on the latest trail at East Branch Community Trails. This new trail, currently called Trail 8, is located farther up the mountain from Trail 7. Psst -- soon we're going to ask for community input on what to name Trail 7 and Trail 8, so start thinking up some good ones and keep your eyes peeled for the call for submissions.
Executive Director Glenn and Keene Town Supervisor Joe Pete have met to discuss restoration of the trailhead pavilion and expansion of the parking lot, projects we expect to break ground on in 2027.

Volunteer Work Party -- Hardy Round 2

7/10/2026

Keep reading for BEFORE (the rain) and AFTER (the rain).

Thanks so much to the folks who came out to Hardy Road, Wilmington on July 9th to give the trails some TLC. This was the second work party this season held at Hardy (the last one focused on berms on Lost Farm).

Our crew split into two groups, both tackling erosion in different areas on the Good Luck side of Hardy. It was a truly excellent volunteer session – we stayed safe, had fun, and also got some good work done. Bing-bing-bing, checked off everything on the list.

Unfortunately, we did get a smidge of rain. We were just wrapping up the filling in of an eroded trail section when it started to sprinkle. Hardly anything, barely reached us down on the forest floor. We kind of wanted it to reach us – it was hot, we were dirty, a little rain would probably feel refreshing. Well. To say our wants were heard and obliged is an understatement.

The sky opened up as we hiked out of the trail network. Pouring rain, nonstop big fat raindrops. No use in hurrying – there was no outrunning this deluge. Everyone was soaked to the bone by the time we returned to the parking lot. A silver lining: we were already as wet as we were going to get, so we might as well hang out in the parking lot and enjoy each other's company.

It was great working with everyone. Thanks again for spending your evening working alongside us on the trail.

If you'd like to join us for the next work party, look for upcoming dates on our Volunteer webpage and sign up here.

Flume Bridge Repair Planning Underway

6/5/2026

If you've ridden at the Flume recently, you may have noticed that some of the bog bridges could use a bit of attention.

Earlier this week, Trails Coordinator Dusty broke away from working at Blueberry Hill, Elizabethtown to join Executive Director Glenn at the Flume, Wilmington.

They took a close look at each of these bog bridges to identify priority projects and get a better sense for the materials necessary for the work, some of the first steps to repairing or replacing them later this season. Can't wait to share transformation pictures after the work is done.

Trail projects like this are a crucial part of BETA's work in the region to not only build, but to maintain the trails we know and love.

BETA celebrates completion of Jackrabbit Ski Trail Keene trailhead

2/27/2026

We are so excited to announce the official opening of the new Keene trailhead for the Jackrabbit Ski Trail, marked by a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday, February 22nd.

This ceremony was a small event out of respect for Bob Harris and his family, but it was no small number of folks who made this project a reality.

We'd like to extend our deepest gratitude to Bob Harris. “This project was made possible almost entirely through the (financial) generosity of Bob Harris,” said Glenn Glover, executive director of BETA. “A long time outdoorsman who cared deeply about this region and about securing permanent public access to the Jackrabbit Trail, Bob passed away last fall before seeing this project completed -- but his gift made the trailhead, bridges, and long-term access, which we will enjoy for a long time, possible.”

We honor his legacy with the dedication of Bob's Bridge, the 66' bridge over Nichol's Brook nearest to the trailhead. After the ribbon cutting, Glenn installed an honorary plaque at the trailhead kiosk so others may learn of Bob, his generosity, and his values.

We'd also like to thank Joe Pete Wilson and Theresa Cheetham-Palen, town supervisor and council member of Keene; Assemblyman Michael Cashman; North Elba's supervisor Richard Preston; NYS DEC; ROOST, and specifically Adam DeSantis; Bob Harris' children Kyle and Sarah for their continued support of this project and for being with us at the ribbon cutting; the trail crew who worked tirelessly for months to bring it over the finish line; the supporters who have been with us since the trail’s beginning 40 years ago; and the many hundreds of BETA members who love and steward this trail for today and tomorrow.

The Jackrabbit Ski Trail is a unique and precious resource. It is your dedication, care, and goodwill that has not only established this trail but maintained and updated it throughout the years. We humbly serve the trail as stewards and advocates; the trail serves us as a means of connection to nature, to ourselves, and to one another.

We hope you get out on the trail soon and see for yourself why the Jackrabbit is so near and dear to so many. See you out there.

This story was also featured in Adirondack Explorer in an article skillfully written by Tim Rowlands. Thank you Tim for such a great piece about this project, the people involved, and the ceremony to celebrate it all.

The Jackrabbit Trail -- Epic & Timeless

11/24/2025

As part of our End-of-Year Campaign, we’re sharing stories that capture what makes this community — and these trails — so special. Today, we’re excited to share a story of a trail many of us know by heart: the Jackrabbit Trail.

“We got as far as a cellar hole…and now BETA has built a veritable mansion of trails on that foundation.”

That’s what Tony Goodwin — one of the founders of the Adirondack Ski Touring Council (BETA’s founding organization) — said recently, drawing special attention to recent improvements to the Jackrabbit. When he first envisioned the trail nearly four decades ago, it was a humble idea held together by volunteers, hand tools, and a deep love of skiing.

But what Tony is most proud of is not what he built — it’s what you and this community have continued to build.

Tony Goodwin scouting the Mountain Lane reroute. Photo taken by Josh Wilson in the summer of 2020.

In the last year, because of Jackrabbit supporters like you, BETA created:

A new bypass on Mountain Lane, giving skiers a safer, more wooded experience
A fresh reroute at Scott’s Cobble, which Josh Wilson called “the biggest improvement to the Jackrabbit in at least a decade”
A brand-new parking area and 64-foot bridge (pictured, right) at the Keene end near Rock and River, opening access while giving the landowners a well-earned reprieve

These projects weren’t just trail work — they were community work.

“What a great feeling — to build something we’ll all get to share.”

That’s what Brooks Reynolds (below, second from the right) said about a volunteer work party sponsored by the Reynolds Group of Lake Placid. As a family of avid mountain bikers and skiers, the Reynolds use BETA trails often and they’re sure to visit the Jackrabbit this season.

People of all ages came out. They cleared brush, carried lumber, shared food in the chilly fall sun, and left knowing they had built something lasting.

Moments like this are why the Jackrabbit matters. It isn’t just a trail. It’s generations of people — founders, landowners, builders, volunteers, skiers, kids, elders — choosing to care for something bigger than themselves.

And now we are asking you to help carry that legacy into the future.

A generous donor is matching every community gift made through December 31st — up to $20,000 — to celebrate BETA’s 40th year. That means: Your $50 becomes $100. Your $100 becomes $200. Your gift builds the next decade of Jackrabbit stories.

With winter around the corner, we hope you get out on the Jackrabbit — whether for a quiet out-and-back or the whole 40-mile epic. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll see you out there… following in the tracks of legends like Jackrabbit Johannsen. As Jackrabbit himself famously said, “Ski, ski, ski!”

Thank you for being part of this community.
And thank you for helping write the next chapter.

Volunteer Efforts of 2025

11/6/2025

PROJECTS
As part of our stewardship initiative, we hosted 11 volunteer trail work days across the region.

Some of our biggest volunteer efforts were those working on the…

New trail, Deerleg, at Blueberry Hill, Elizabethtown
Back Nine reroute at Craig Wood, Lake Placid
Restoration at Hardy Road, Wilmington
Mountain Lane reroute of the Jackrabbit Trail, Lake Placid
Maintaining popular trails at Dewey Mountain, Saranac Lake
Construction of the Skills Loop at East Branch Community Trails, Keene

Group photo from the youth work day at Mount Pisgah, Saranac Lake

Group photo from a work party at Blueberry Hill, Elizabethtown that tackled portions of Deerleg

THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!
In addition to the baseline satisfaction of volunteer work days, this year we’ve had the special pleasure of welcoming a lot of new faces into the volunteer ranks. We’ve seen a big increase in logged volunteer hours over previous years, too. Thank you so much to each and every one of you for donating your time and energy to the trails; your hard work is much appreciated by us at BETA and surely by every rider, skier, hiker, or runner who enjoys the trails.

If you’ve supported BETA’s work by volunteering in any way this season, please log your hours here: bit.yl/LogHours4BETA. Doing so helps us track volunteer efforts and apply for more grant funding for trails (DYK: volunteer labor is valued at $38+ per hour!)

Log My Volunteer Hours

THANK YOU, SPONSORS!
In addition to volunteers, we’d like to thank the businesses who sponsored work parties this season: Silver Birch Cycles, Bike ADK, The Reynolds Group, Placid Planet Bicycles, and Origin Coffee. If you’re business is interested in sponsoring a work party next year, please contact [email protected]

THANK YOU, CHRIS!
Finally, we’d like to thank Chris Gosling for his service as our Volunteer Stewardship Coordinator over the summer. Your efforts to connect volunteers with trail work opportunities and provide fun and rewarding experiences for everyone was greatly appreciated. We’re sure to see you on the trail sometime soon!

Chris, center, giving an orientation at the beginning f a work party at Dewey, Saranac Lake. PC: Karen Miemis