Case Studies
Four-Season Tourism as an Economic Adaptation: The Adirondacks as a New Cycling Destination
New bicycling opportunities in the Adirondacks show how communities whose economies rely on winter tourism are adapting to climate change with off-season recreation.
The COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis sparked a growing interest in bicycling in New York State. As a relatively low-carbon and socially distanced outdoor activity, cycling serves the recreational and transport needs of an increasing number of New Yorkers. The New York State Office of the Governor recently approved more than $178 million in funding to support transportation enhancements in 75 communities across the state.1 This funding supports the construction of cycling and walking infrastructure and other enhancements that facilitate non-motorized travel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More than two-thirds of these new projects directly benefit environmental justice communities in the state, improving cycling access in low- to moderate-income areas.1
Highlights
- Snow-related outdoor tourism is an important source of winter economic activity in many rural regions of New York State, such as the Adirondacks.
- Changing weather and climate—including less snowfall, a shorter winter season, and more winter temperature variations—are growing concerns for New York State’s winter tourism sector.
- Communities are developing and expanding recreational opportunities for off-season use of winter sport infrastructure.
New trails have already opened in the state. The Empire State Trail opened in 2020 and runs from New York City through Albany to the Canadian border.2 This route, which includes both off-road trails and on-road bike lanes, complements the state’s other major, long-distance cycling route—the Erie Canal Trail, which runs from Buffalo to Albany.2 These and other recently opened cycling infrastructure projects reflect increased demand for safe cycling opportunities.
Cycling routes can also serve as adaptations to a changing climate. Projections show substantially reduced skiing days in the future in New York State,3 but off-season trail activities can help offset tourism revenue losses associated with reduced ski tourism. Within the Adirondacks, ski resorts such as Gore Mountain in North Creek and Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid have opened mountain biking trails for off-season use.
The Adirondack Rail Trail illustrates how cycling infrastructure can support adaptation to changing winter conditions.4 The trail is a former railroad line that has long been used as a snowmobile route from Old Forge to Lake Placid. Construction of the trail is currently underway and entails the removal of tracks and ties and the addition of a gravel surface on the 34-mile portion of the line that runs from Tupper Lake to Lake Placid. The section of the trail from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake opened in Fall 2023 and the remaining sections are expected to open in the next two years. Development of the Adirondack Rail Trail required collaboration across public and private sectors, including local community representatives, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and private landowners. The trail will provide an opportunity for cycling, walking, and jogging during the spring, summer, and fall. In winter months, the trail will continue to serve as a snowmobile route. Despite its location in the mountainous High Peaks region, the trail has a relatively gentle grade, making it accessible to families with young children, older adults, and those with physical disabilities or health limitations. Aligning the opening of the Adirondack Rail Trail with efforts to enhance diversity in the Adirondacks5 can also help ensure that the new trail is accessible and inclusive for all New Yorkers.
The development of the Adirondack Rail Trail illustrates a strategy for adapting to changing winter conditions and repurposing snow-related recreational infrastructure to create recreational opportunities that will attract visitors and tourists in warmer seasons. Identification of new outdoor recreational opportunities is key to climate change adaptation in Adirondacks, as well as in other outdoor tourism-focused areas of New York State.
References
1. New York State Office of the Governor. (2022, June 23). Governor Hochul announces $178.8 million in funding to support transportation enhancements in 75 communities across New York. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-1788-million-funding-support-transportation-enhancements-75
2. Margolies, J., & Ferguson, W. (2021, November 5). A visual tour of New York’s 750-mile bicycle route. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/11/05/nyregion/ny-empire-trail.html
3. Scott, D., Steiger, R., Knowles, N., & Fang, Y. (2020). Regional ski tourism risk to climate change: An inter-comparison of Eastern Canada and U.S. Northeast markets. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(4), 568–586. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1684932
4. Adirondack Rail Trail Association. (n.d.). The Adirondack Rail Trail. Retrieved December 21, 2023, from https://www.adirondackrailtrail.org/
5. Adirondack Diversity Initiative. (n.d.). Adirondack Diversity Initiative. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.diversityadk.org