Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

Cross Country Skiing in Lake Clear

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Alan Belford
December 13, 2016

A Regular Trip in Winter

With snow falling almost every day, it was only a matter of time before Wren and I set out to explore the cross country ski trails off Fish Hatchery Road in Lake Clear. It is a fun network of trails and there always seems to be more snow there than there is in town. The trails are also great because they can be skied as a challenging backcountry experience, or skiers can stick to flatter loops which can include cutting across the lakes which dot the landscape.

It is far too early to test the ice on the lakes as it has only just formed, and I was given evidence of this when we stopped in at Lake Clear Beach on our way to the trailhead. I’ve been stopping at the beach all fall to look for ducks and other aquatic species on migration and so I took advantage of being in the neighborhood to do so again. The ice edge was growing out from shore, but the majority of the lake was still open for potential migrants. But while we had seen several Common Goldeneye and Hooded Mergansers at the beach only a few days earlier, the waters lapped quietly with no ducks in sight. We moved on to the trailhead.

Lake Clear Beach - winter
Lake Clear Beach - winter

Skiing in the Dark

Since our sunsets are so early this time of year, Wren and I are always racing daylight to fit in our daily adventures and I often bring along a headlamp in case we get caught in the dark. We set out as the evening cast a pinkish gray light across the snow, but I could see well to read the snow beneath my skis and to follow the well-kicked-in tracks set by others. We started by looping Little Green Pond – a tight trail that weaves through the trees and up and down a few hills on its way to link with the Fish Pond Trail.

The waxing gibbous of the moon was already in the clear sky and as dusk gave way to dark it seemed to shine brighter and brighter upon the white snow. Skiing by the soft light of the moon gives one an almost transcendent feeling of being in a different world. In some ways that is true whenever you adventure into the cold and snow – the world of clocks, cars, and deadlines doesn’t exist in that moment – only the immediacy of your breath, the cold, the snow, and perhaps your hunger - and you need to be prepared for all of them. As darkness began to fall, I clicked on my headlamp for extra help as we skied a while on the Fish Pond Trail before turning around to ski back to the car along the railroad bed.

Wren - cold
Wren - cold

A Return Trip

While skiing in the dark with a light can be fun, the following day Wren and I planned on starting sooner – I generally ski much faster when I can see the ground more clearly. But through the busyness of delays, we weren’t as far ahead of the previous day as I had hoped. I stopped in at Lake Clear Beach anyway to admire the significant growth of the ice which had occurred in just one day – only the outlet area appeared to remain open.

As we went to the trail, I realized that not only was I later than I had planned, but that I had also neglected to bring my headlamp. I was a bit frustrated by the oversight, but I wasn’t going to chance the dark without it. There are too many risks for injury or simply scratching skis on exposed roots or thin spots early in the season, so I decided to make sure we were back by dark. At least we set off knowing we had at least given ourselves a little more daylight than we had the day before.

Wren - Fish Pond Trail
Wren - Fish Pond Trail

We started by checking out the ice which had almost completely covered Little Clear Pond before we again looped Little Green Pond. We also skied a stretch of the Fish Pond Trail, but I turned early enough so that we wouldn’t be caught in the dark beneath the cloudy skies. Like the expanse of ice on the lakes, the gibbous moon was larger than it had been the previous night, and it could be seen through the cloudy veil as if it was trying to burn through the gray layer to offer us some help. With its aid we arrived back at the car in good time and set off for home.

Plan your winter and holiday skiing trip today. Check out our outdoor recreation, lodging, and dining pages to learn more!

Lake Clear Beach - winter
Lake Clear Beach - winter
Wren - cold
Wren - cold
Wren - Fish Pond Trail
Wren - Fish Pond Trail

Related Stories

Fall Flavors
Local Spotlight: Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation
Skiing Under the Lights
Get Up and Get Down(town)
Saranac Lake is Fall-tastic for Kids!
Best Off The Beaten Path Fall Foliage Finds
Ampersand in Winter
It's Snowmobile Season
A Winter Hike Up Haystack
From the Adirondacks to the Olympics and Back
Ice Fishing in Saranac Lake
Dip into Winter on the Jackrabbit
Getting Back to Nature
Sweet Indulgences - Saranac Lake's Coffee Hotspots
'Tis the Season
Five Ideas for Winter Family Fun
Saranac Lake Adventure Travel
Three Fantastic Fall Hikes in Saranac Lake
A Fall Vacation with Hot Sara
Norman Ridge Ride
Fall Fishing in the Adirondacks
Lost Among the Rows
A Decidedly Different Fall Day in Saranac Lake
Fall Events
Lake Kushaqua, A Beautiful Place to Rest
Fall Fun in Saranac Lake
Mt. Pisgah: The Adirondacks’ Finest Uphill Bike Park
Decidedly Different Saranac Lake
Gravel biking at Kushaqua
Paddling Middle to Lower Saranac Lake
Cycling Loops in Saranac Lake
Finding Fun and Snowfleas at the VIC
A Day of Winter Indulgence
An Artist's Haven
Hardwater fishing, decidedly different!
Lodging to Fit Your Winter Travel Style
Cross-Country Ski The Jackrabbit Trail
Finding Winter Finches — and other Cold-Weather Species
Skiing from Placid to Saranac Lake
6 Must See Winter Carnival Events
Mt Pisgah: Local and Loved Ski Hill
First Day on the Bog
Saranac Lake's Snowshoe Centers
Snowshoeing at the VIC
A Quintessential Holiday Experience
The VIC's Black Pond Loop
Saranac Lake Winter Fashion
A century of playing in the snow
5 Paths to Winter Adventure in Saranac Lake
A Day on McKenzie Mountain
A Fall Hike up St. Regis Mountain
Fall Paddling in the Adirondacks is Amazing!
Beat the Heat!
Saranac Lake Trail Running
Fall for Saranac Lake
Hiking and Birding in Bloomingdale Bog
Rebuilding a Whitewater Park
Extreme Art: Painting Inside the Blue Line
Our Five Favorite Swimming Holes
Two Ways of Exploring the Natural World at the VIC
The VIC: It's Luxury Hiking!
Get down! The best low-elevation hikes in Saranac Lake
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration!
Rejoice!! May Birding is Here!!
Three of Saranac Lake's Best Paddling Routes
The Excitement of Early Spring Birding!
Family Paddling Day: Planned for You
WINTER IS COOL
So Much Snow! And Some Great March Skiing!
Let's Glide - Enjoy Fish Creek Park!
A Beautiful Ski on the Jackrabbit Trail
Top 5 tips for fishing on Lake Colby
Family Ski at Dewey
Canoodlers and Lawn Chair Ladies
Top Reasons to Visit Saranac Lake This February
Woods and Waters Trail, a great ski!
A Holiday Ski!
First Skis of the Season!
Downtown Holiday Shopping Guide
Getting First Night Ready
Get Acclimated!
Feeling Grateful
Detours are great!
Paddling Jones Pond in the Fall
A Fall Hike Up Mount Baker
An Evening Paddle on Lake Clear Outlet
Azure Mountain Adventure
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze
A Fall Paddle on Little Green Pond
A Fall Paddle on the Floodwood Loop
Top Three Loops for Foliage
Five Fab Fall Viewpoints
Fall Migration is in High Gear!
Fall Seasons Cold Water Paddling
4 Go-To Paddling Destinations for Fall Foliage
Gorgeous leaves, all access
Be there at the finish!
An Evening Paddle on Middle Pond
Crossbills and Boreal Birds
Paddling and Birding along Quebec Brook
McKenzie Road Bouldering
Not just a walk in the park
Family fun that's free
Sprung!
Three hikes to include everyone
Slow paddle to Oseetah
Skiing and Exploring the Jackrabbit Trail
Big Snow!!!!!
A Great Ski on the Jackrabbit Trail!
Dewey Mountain - Just Wild Enough
Treat Your Valentine With An Unforgettable Experience
Get out and snowshoe!
Ice Fishing First-Timer
Winter Carnival Invention: Arctic Golf
Counting Birds in the Olympic Region
Finding Birds on the Saranac Lake Christmas Bird Count
2016 Most Popular Blogs
We can dash through the snow
If self-care is naughty, I don't want to be nice
Get it together — First Night Saranac Lake
Make Holiday Memories at Moody Farm
Cross Country Skiing in Lake Clear
Early-Winter Skiing!
Enjoying Late Fall Cold Fronts And Their Migrants
A tree for the whole family
Great Fall Birding!
New Road Mountain
The thrill of snowmobiling
Dia de Muertos at Pine Ridge
A Fall Paddle On Lake Clear Outlet
Don't be afraid of the kayak
The Possibilities Of Fall Birding
A Fall Hike on Baker Mountain
Ampersand: A Family Tradition Realized
Village of Boulders
Fall Events: a blaze of glory!
Zooming Around in the Fall
So many hikes, so little time
Searching for Philadelphia Vireo and other species
Tri to stay dry
Puppy's first mountain climb
A Rainy Day Birding Trip in Madawaska
Coolest Adirondack Chopped Challenge!
A Ride That Takes You Off The Beaten Path
Tucker Farms - three seasons of goodness
Early Spring Birding!
Wonderful Weddings in Cool Places
Springing!
Spring Ice on the McKenzie Mountain loop
Our Winter Waxwing
Cross-Country Skiing on the Bloomingdale Bog Trail
Yeah, we're cool - no matter what we're wearing!
Jones Hill and Blue Hill, a mighty duo
Gray Jays!
Snowshoeing: day to learn, lifetime of fun!
Fun with Ice: Saranac Lake Creativity
2015 Most Popular Blogs
First thing's first: An insider's guide to First Night Saranac Lake
Dewey Mountain Recreation Area: A Great Place to Enjoy Winter!
Five Great Wilderness Views
Winter Events You Won't Want To Miss
Trotting for Turkeys
Select seven: Family hikes under four hours
Shopping without the stress
Dewey Mountain - satisfy that snow craving
Tubing: the sport to please the masses
Timeless Tubing at Mount Pisgah
John Brown's Other Bodies
Excellent October Birding!
Five top tips for cooking the hunt
Brighton: Dusk 'til Dawn
Unleash Your Inner Picasso
Paddling and Hiking Around Little Green Pond
Camping in the Cold (Disclaimer: This is NOT a How-To Guide)
A Cool Adirondack Adventure
Daddy Longlegs Love Burlap
Fall Warblers and Other Migrants!
Upcoming Fall Events
Enjoying Late Summer Wildflowers!
Dog Days of Summer aka Beach Time!
Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague
Seeing if the boot fits: Exploring the Bays
Lake Clear: Our Secret Paradise
Paddling and Birding Around Jones Pond
Paddling Middle Pond
Paddling in the Adirondacks for the First Time!
Hiking with the Crew up Baker Mountain
Riding the Rails, Adirondack style!
Keeping It Local
July is when things heat up!
Great Birding at Intervale Lowlands - It's that Time of Year!
Finding Lots of Birds Just by Taking a Simple Walk
Coming Home to Saranac Lake
Great Birding and Loads of Warblers in Madawaska!
Saranac Inn, golf with a taste of Scotland
Free Water Park Ride In Our Backyard
Early May Wildflowers: A Kaleidoscope of Color
A Spring Hike Up Baker Mountain
5 reasons we are the Lake Country
Learning to Love Every Season
Exciting Beginnings of Spring Migration!
In Defense of Mud Season
Skiing in April and on Easter - No Foolin'!
Boreal Birding In and Around Town
The Joy of Spring Skiing
Saranac Lake is a dog town
Winter Birding with Signs of Spring
Adirondack Cure for Cabin Fever
Bigfoot in the Adirondacks
Jackrabbit Trail: Lake Placid to Keene
Jackrabbit Trail - Day 2: McKenzie Pond to Lake Placid Pub & Brewery
Winter Birding: Saranac Lake and Paul Smiths
An evening snowboard session at Mt. Pisgah
Jackrabbit Trail: Paul Smiths to McKenzie Pond Road
Newbie Skier Tackles Titus
Memorable Firsts: Carnival & Cross-Country Skis
Friendly Snowshoe Up Baldface Mountain
Skiing the Fish Pond Trail
Wedding planning with the pros
Two sides of the Trifecta
Get ready to jam at Winter Carnival
Enjoying Winter Birding
A Winter Hike into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area
Nordic Skiing - Five Great Places
A Century of Ice Palaces
Adirondack Traditions, then and now
Enjoying White Snow to Take Away the Winter Blues
Wellness Resolutions: Easy does it!
An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks
An Adirondack You for 2015
Race, jam, dance and more in January
A Winter's Hike up Baker Mountain
Four Seasons of High Points
Hiking & Tracking Wildlife on Scarface Mountain
Extreme Ice Fishing
Skiing - and Falling - in a Winter Wonderland
Early Season Cross-Country Ski Destinations
Fly our Adirondack skies
Searching for Boreal Birds
St. Regis Canoe Area - An Interesting Ski Tour
Where to find hot beverages
The First Ski of the Season!
Healthy Holidays, Adirondack Style
A picture's worth a thousand words - epic winter events
Birding Along Lake Colby
Saranac Lake Remembers the Great War
A Guide to the Great Indoors
Fall Paddling; Being Ready for the Cold
New fun at Titus Mountain Ski Area
Doing the Doggie Paddle: Paddling the Adirondacks with your pet!
The biggest Cure Tour of them all
History Comes Alive in Saranac Lake
Learning to Identify Fall Leaves
The Horse Knows The Way
Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season
Paddling and Snorkeling Little Green Pond
A Red Phalarope at Little Clear Pond!
Searching for Fall Warblers and Other Songbirds
Boat Trip Massages: Two Roads to Wellness
Forks, Fests, and Flatwater: 3 Featured Fall events
Paddling Little Clear Pond
3 Short Paddles found in the St. Regis Canoe Area
Paddling Lake Clear Outlet
Hiking and Exploring Azure Mountain
See artists at work in the mountains
An Evening Paddle on Moose Pond
A Great Place to Break Down
The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun!
Adirondack Paddling, Choosing the Right Paddle
Adirondack Paddling - Choosing The Right Boat
Birding at the Spring Pond Bog
“One Particular Island” all to ourselves
Roughing it in style: a tour of White Pine Great Camp
The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Spring Paddling on Lake Colby
One Magic Canoe: The Seven Carries Canoe Route
Roadside Gems, Paddling the Saranac Lake Region
5 Hidden Gems for Hiking, Paddling & Trail Running
Art Event or Fun Party? BluSeed blurs the line
Our lakes were born for boating
Top 10 Spots for Paddling in Adirondacks
Get Ready For Fishing Season
VIC music sweetens a ski Sunday
Skiing Upper Saranac Lake Loops
Winter Foodie Scene
Thursday Night Music Jam
Paul Smith Visitors Interpretive Center
Night Skiing at Mt. Pisgah
Mid-Winter Events 2014
Winter Carnival means live music
Top Five Winter Break Activities
Best Ice Fishing Holes
Building the Ice Palace
Tubing Adventures at Mt. Pisgah
Skiing Before the Melt
Basics for Ice Fishing Gear
First Time Ice Fishing
Slip Sliding Away Winter Hiking
Silent Night
Snowshoe Shopping
Lost and Found
New Years Eve Saranac Lake NY
Short & scenic hikes
Mount Arab
Winter Family Events
First Ski of the Season!
Something to Gobble About
Less than two weeks to Sparkle Village Craft Fair!
Debar Mountain and Black Peak
Saranac Lake Art Attraction Nov 22 - Dec 28, 2013
Ducks and Otters at Lake Colby
Muskrats!
Hiking during Hunting Season
Goodman Mountain
Ducks on the Pond
Saving Einstein
Snow up high on McKenzie
You Don't Paddle Into the Wind
Five things you can do in Saranac Lake on Halloween week
Hiking St. Regis Mountain
Holistic Guiding: Immersing Yourself in ADK History & Culture
Fall at the VIC
Panther Trifecta
A Fall Paddle on Jones Pond
A Fall Hike Up Baker Mountain
Sparrows Along Lake Colby
Going to Church
Visitors in My Yard
A Hike Up Panther Mountain
Where the leaves are on fire with color
Artist at Work Studio Tour this week
The Colors of Late Summer
Fun family events for fall foliage season
Scarface Mountain Adventure
Bloomingdale Bog Birds
Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks
Late Summer Yard Birds
Stomping out the Saranac 6 – Week 2 – St. Regis Mountain
FlavorFest at The Wild Center
Lows Lower Dam to Lows Ridge, A surf and Turf Adventure
The Osgood's
A Birding Trip in Madawaska
Black Pond to Bridge Brook Pond – A new trail
Local Family Friendly Swimming Spots
Take A Swim!
Ampersand Mountain
Hiking and Birding on Baker Mountain
Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend
A Birding Trip to Bloomingdale Bog
Blog on Bogs
Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in the Saranac Lake Area
Searching for Spruce Grouse
Camping in the rain - better known as "damping"
Safe Guiding Services with High Adventure!
Follensby Clear Pond to "Round Pond"
Trail Running the Deer Pond Loop
Birding in Spring Pond Bog
Hiking and Birding on the Jackrabbit Trail
Birding in Massawepie Mire
Lower Saranac Lake Path
Long Pond to Pink Pond's
The Amphibious Choirs of Spring
Little Clear Pond and Grass Pond, a Canoeing experience
The Kettle Trail
Hiking from the North End of the Bloomingdale Bog Trail
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES