• PAUL SMITHS VIC
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• NEWCOMB VIC
• Birding Walks
• Bird of Prey
• Naturalist-Led Trail Walks
• Snowshoe
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• Guided Backcountry Trips

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Trails

NEW! Newcomb VIC opens 1.5 miles of trails to cross-country skiers on Dec. 15, 2007. Visitors can now ski to Great Camp Santanoni from the VIC, a 12-mile round-trip.

vic trails

The trail systems at the Adirondack Park Agency Visitor Interpretive Centers (VICs) in Paul Smiths and Newcomb are designed to give residents and visitors an easy way to enjoy the great outdoors in a safe environment. Each facility features miles of scenic, bark-surfaced interpretive trails that give people a chance to explore several types of Adirondack natural communities. Interpretive brochures are available for most trails at the front desks.

These trails are perfect for backcountry beginners who have never been on state-owned Adirondack Forest Preserve lands. We encourage people to use the VIC trails as a springboard to learn outdoor skills before moving on to more challenging endeavors in the wilderness areas.

Visitors use the VIC trails for hiking, birding, wildlife watching, nature studies, wildflower watching, photography, heart-healthy walking programs, trail running, snowshoeing and skiing (Paul Smiths only).

The trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.

Paul Smiths VIC Trail System
Newcomb VIC Trail System

VIC Trail Conditions

Adirondack Park Trail Resources

We find that people who use the VIC trail systems like to sample other trails around the region. Here are some helpful Web sites to help you plan more safe and fun outdoor adventures.

NYS DEC: Hiking in New York State

Adirondack Mountain Club (trail guides/maps, outdoor trips, etc.)

Adirondack Regional Tourism Council (includes interactive online hiking map)

New York State Outdoor Guides Association (find guides for your trip)

Saranac Lake Ski Trails The Dewey Mountain Recreation Center (leaving the VIC site) in Saranac Lake is another wonderful ski and snowshoe facility near the Paul Smiths VIC. Call (518) 891-2697 for information.

Lake Placid Ski Trails Here are the latest cross-country ski conditions (leaving the VIC site) in Lake Placid, courtesy of lakeplacid.com and the Adirondack Ski Touring Council for Lake Placid, including the High Peaks wilderness backcountry. Call (518) 523-1365 for the Council's recorded audio ski report.