Adirondack Snowshoe Fest

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18 and under are FREE!

After hosting the 2017 World Snowshoe Championships, Saranac Lake leveraged this international experience to host a new snowshoe weekend called Adirondack Snowshoe Fest.

February 23 and 24, 2019

Saranac Lake: We call it home, you'll call it unforgettable

Snowshoeing at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center and the Paul Smith’s College VIC offers two different, uniquely Adirondack experiences.

Dewey’s trails twist and turn up the gentle slopes of the mountain, which is a short drive from downtown, while the base lodge provides a cozy meeting space for toe warming and friend making. The VIC is an Adirondack sampler — you’ll pass through every ecosystem in our forests except high alpine tundra as you explore the extensive trail network. The wide, well-marked paths skirt ponds, dip through open forest, and cross wetlands on boardwalks. You’ll love the scenery as much as the adventure!

In Saranac Lake, the excitement doesn’t end where the pavement begins. Book a room at Hotel Saranac and put yourself in the heart of downtown, where you’ll have access to a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. We’re talking diners and fine dining; souvenirs, books, pickles, and games; and art galleries and live music, all tucked within a highly walkable downtown that's surrounded by lakes and mountains.

2019 Schedule of Events

Friday, Feb. 22 at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center:

7 - 9 p.m. Snowshoe (and Ski) Jam! Featuring music from Andy Walkow and food from Origin Coffee

Saturday, Feb. 23 at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center:

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Snowshoe Run Clinic with Sarah Keyes ($) *
11 a.m. Registration opens
12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Chili in the lodge
1 p.m. 10 km Race [10 year age groups] & 5 km Shoe-Be-Doo Race ($)
1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Winter Forest Bathing on Snowshoes with Adirondack Riverwalking ($)
3 p.m. Awards ceremony
Mid-day Children's Snowshoe Scavenger Hunt
Mid-day Marshmallow Roast and Hot Chocolate

*Join mountain and ultra runner Sarah Keyes for an introduction to snowshoe running workshop at Dewey Mountain. Take your running into a new season with snowshoes. Topics introduced and discussed will include equipment, techniques, and conditioning specific to winter running. Finish the day with a group run on the trails!

Sunday, Feb. 24 at Paul Smith's College VIC:

10 a.m. Naturalist led snowshoe tour ($)
10 a.m. Registration opens
10:30 a.m. 5 km Race [10 year age groups] ($)
10:30 a.m. 15 km Race [10 year age groups] ($)
1 p.m. Awards ceremony
2 p.m. Naturalist led snowshoe tour ($)
All Day Snowshoe Obstacle Course
All Day Build-your-own snowshoe kits with Paul Smith’s College Students
Mid-day Children's Snowshoe Scavenger Hunt
Mid-day Marshmallow Roast and Hot Chocolate

5 km Snowshoe Race

Racers will start and finish at the VIC, racing clockwise around the Heron Marsh. The course passes through gorgeous stands of hard and softwood forests, across a bog, and over a waterfall! [10 year age groups]

15 km Snowshoe Race

The 15 km course follows the 5km course route for the first lap, and goes the distance for our endurance racers. The course manages some serious hill climbs and passes by some beautiful winter vistas. [10 year age groups]

Registration for all events can be found here. 18 and under are FREE!