From Ski Trails of New York State
SARANAC LAKE, FRANKLIN ESSEX COUNTIES
Mt. Baker looms over Saranac Lake village, 1902, from Blood Hill
At junction of New York Routes 3, 86 and 365 and on New York Central and Delaware & Hudson railroads. All Saranac Lake facilities are within 1 mile of Saranac Lake Village and easily accessible. Adequate transportation facilities available. Expert trail on Mt. Baker is on northern wooded slope. All others are on wooded hills. Open slopes give short runs in all compass directions. Three modern hotels, three apartment hotels and numerous tourist houses afford modern and comfortable accommodations at moderate rates. Trails are:
KIWASSA LAKE (Maintained by Conservation Department): Cross-country trail, novice in character and easily accessible from Saranac Lake Village. Length, 3 1/2 miles. Begins on Kiwassa Road, 2 miles from Saranac Lake. Other terminus of trail "Old State Road" (local name), 3 1/2 miles from Saranac Lake. Highway now being improved and upon completion will be main route between Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake. Both ends of Kiwassa Trail accessible to automobiles throughout winter. Elevation at start of trail on Kiwassa Road 1,640 ft. and at end on "Old State Road", 1,580 ft. High point of trail. 1,840 ft., reached on mountain summit just east of Kiwassa Lake. An Adirondack open camp Just south of Kiwassa Lake outlet and 2% miles from start of trail, provides convenient luncheon stop.
NOTE: For more complete information on trails maintained by Conservation Department in this area write for Recreation Circular 10, "Lake Placid Trails." Address Secretary, Conservation Department, State Office Building, Albany, N. Y.
Click to enlarge. Source: "Ski Trails of New York State," circa 1937, New York State Conservation Department booklet. Courtesy of The Adirondack Room, Saranac Lake Free Library
MT. BAKER DOWNHILL TRAILS, Other trails in Saranac Lake region, developed and maintained by community and local interests of Saranac Lake include those described below.
NORTH BAKER: Length, 6,000 ft. Descent, 800 ft. Elevation: top, 2,360 ft; bottom. 1,600 ft. grade, 20 degrees. Rating—intermediate to expert. Access: Starts at summit of Mt. Baker; goes down slopes of mountain to Saranac River opposite grounds of Adirondack Fair Association on highway Route 3, northeast of Saranac Lake Village.
WEST BAKER: Length. 5,000 ft. Descent, 750 ft. Access: Same as North Baker Trail at start. Finishes on Moody Pond Road, 1/2 mile from Saranac Lake Village. Rating— intermediate.
MT. DEWEY DOWNHILL: Two trails about 1/2 mile each in length with 300-ft. drop. Access: Start at summit of Dewey Mountain. One running to and ending on Kiwassa Road directly opposite Saranac Lake Open Slopes. Other one comes out on Glenwood Road in Saranac Lake Village. Rating—novice.
CROSS-COUNTRY TRAILS: Lead from Open Slopes around Kiwassa Lake to State Road and return to Open Slopes. About 4 miles of trails lead over wooded hills back of Open Slopes and along Saranac River.
OPEN SLOPES: About 25 acres of rolling hills provide Open Slopes varying from 4 degrees to 20 degrees in grade. Longest and best hills have northern exposure and are within 1/2 mile of Saranac Lake Village. About 4 miles north from Saranac Lake Village on Route 86, the Donnelly Farm has 15 acres with regular Open Slopes varying from 5 to 20 degrees in grade with northeast exposure.
NOTE: For further information and literature write Charles H. Goldsmith, Winter Sports Director, Village of Saranac Lake, N. Y.
Source
- "Ski Trails of New York State," circa 1937, New York State Conservation Department booklet. Courtesy of The Adirondack Room, Saranac Lake Free Library.
