Snowshoe Trails in the New York Adirondacks

Experience the peaceful solitude of an Adirondack landscape blanketed in snow on miles of recreation and backcountry snowshoe hiking trails.

Snowshoes are standard issue in the Adirondacks, an easy way to get outside and enjoy the deep snow without making an investment in a lot of gear or lessons. With one of the most extensive hiking trail networks in the country – 2,000 miles, to be precise – the Adirondacks' recreational trails provide leisurely snowshoeing, as well as endless backcountry terrain, for serious winter snow trekking.

If you're just starting out and would like some instruction, check out the Adirondacks' Nordic skiing and snowshoeing trail centers, including Dewey Mountain in Saranac Lake and Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid. Over the years, both have helped prepare several local athletes for past and future Winter Olympic Games, and you'll find friendly staff who have been outfitting generations of visitors to the Adirondacks.

For experienced snowshoers, and winter recreation enthusiasts looking for a more challenging backcountry experience, the Adirondack Mountains beckon with snowy escapes through quiet, wintry white and pristine wilderness

List of Top Snowshoe Trails in the Adirondacks

Cascade Welcome Center in Lake Placid offers 12 miles (20km) of trails that groomed for classic skiing and snowshoeing. The network is composed of largely flats and rolling hills with some steeper downhills on the south end. Trails wind through dense forests and along a large wetland, which offers excellent views of neighboring high peaks around the property’s wetland. X-C ski and Snowshoe rentals available.

High Falls Gorge in Wilmington offers family-friendly outdoor adventure close to Whiteface Mountain. Enjoy a trek around the gorge's walkways using Yak Traks available at the center, traverse the frozen waterfalls of the West Branch of the Ausable River and warm up with hot cocoa and a bonfire back at the center.

Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) in Paul Smith's offers 25 miles of scenic snowshoe and cross-country ski trails and wildlife viewing. Keep an eye out for fox and deer tracks, or join in one of the VIC's many winter treks. Purchase a trail pass at the center and enjoy a variety of trails rated beginner to advanced – skijoring, or dog-drawn Nordic skiing allows for fun with four-legged friends too!

Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb provides winter hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails around two frozen lakes rated as easy, moderate and challenging. The R.W. Rage Jr. Memorial Trail offers access to the Connector Trail leading to Camp Santanoni, an Adirondack Great Camp undergoing massive renovations.

Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Northville is a Nordic skiing and snowshoeing destination offering overnight accommodations, miles of private trails, ice skating, and snow tubing. Warm up après ski and relax in the center's Finnish-style sauna.

Higley Flow State Park in St. Lawrence County are trails used throughout all 4 seasons but make great trails for Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing.