Adirondack Birding:
Jackrabbit Trail at River Road

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The Jackrabbit Trail at River Road is primarily a birding destination. The site offers an opportunity to see birds found in wetlands, mixed forest, meadows, old fields, and early successional forest.    

The Jackrabbit Trail is a 25-mile ski and mountain biking trail linking Keene, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake.  It was developed in 1986 and is named in honor of Herman “Jack Rabbit” Johannsen, a legendary skiing pioneer.

Jackrabbit Trail Overview

The section of the trail just outside of Lake Placid along River Road and up Intervale Way is a prime birding location.  It is part of the river corridor following the West Branch of the Ausable River along the four miles of River Road. More than 100 species of birds nest along the corridor.

• Parking for those interested in birding this part of the Jackrabbit Trail is available at an unpaved lot on River Road at the intersection of River Road and Intervale Way, by the steel bridge over the Ausable River. 
• The brushy areas around the parking lot, adjacent roadway bordering the river, and areas across the bridge on Intervale Way are good places to look for warblers, including Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, and Chestnut-sided Warblers.  Also check for Cape May Warblers foraging the spruce trees lining the parking area and roadway.
• A number of duck species can often be seen from the bridge and along the roadway bordering the river, including Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, and Mallards. Check the marshy areas bordering the river for Great Blue Herons, American Bitterns, Belted Kingfishers, and Black-crowned Night-Herons.
• After crossing the bridge, walk up Intervale Way, then bear to your right at the Jackrabbit Trail sign and walk up the hill by the Jackrabbit kiosk.  This part of the trail passes through old fields and early successional forest, leading into a mixed woods area.
• The section of the trail which runs along River Road, south from the parking area, takes you through open fields.  Check for raptors on power lines and fence posts and grassland birds such as Savannah Sparrows in the open areas.  The roadway also offers spectacular views of the Sentinel Range.

As with several other birding destinations covered here, this location lacks many of the attributes associated with an ideal spot to appreciate nature.

• River Road is a cut-through from Route 86 to Route 73; and birders walking along the shoulder have to contend with a large number of fast-moving vehicles. The road is bordered in some sections by fencing that limits opportunities to maneuver in pursuit of a better view of the bird.
• Road noise and noise from neighboring farms obliterates the wilderness feel of the location and can make it difficult to listen for the birds. 
• However, the convenient access of the site on the outskirts of Lake Placid and the variety of birds compensate for these drawbacks.

Birds Seen along the Jackrabbit Trail

Directions to the Jackrabbit Trail at River Road

The bird list was generated from field records and photographs of birds taken from 2017 to 2022.