Editor’s note: This originally ran in 2021, and has been updated with information for the 2022 season.
By Jamie Organski
As Adirondack Scenic Rail Bike Adventures comes off the heels of a sold-out summer season, Division Manager Erin Crowe said she and fellow staff are eager to welcome guests to enjoy fall colors out of the rail station in Thendara.
Crowe said the rail bike tours are family-friendly and promote screen-free connection between family and friends while also immersing themselves in the beauty of the rejuvenating Adirondack landscape.
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“We’ve received wonderful feedback from riders,” Crowe said. “The rail bike journey offers them time to connect one-on-one and enjoy the beauty of the natural environment around them. The trip also takes teamwork to get the job done. Some see it as a competition…to see how fast they can make it to the turnaround point, but the majority of people take a more relaxed approach and [travel] at a moderate pace.”
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Made locally through Ficchi-Lozo Rail Bikes based out of Utica, the rail bikes are equipped with pedals that work independently to ensure that if any rider gets tired during the trip they are able to take a break without burdening fellow riders, a feature that Old Forge’s Senior Health Activity Recreation Program (SHARP) Coordinator Linda Grace said she found appealing.
“We had a lot of fun and it was a very pretty ride,” Grace said. “The pedaling was very easy and since there were four people to each bike, people could take a break without making others work that hard. Just for the fun of it, I asked everyone on my bike to stop pedaling for a few minutes and I pedaled alone…It wasn’t too hard even going it alone for a short time.”
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The rail bike tours begin at the Adirondack Scenic Railroad Thendara Station and run to North Street in Old Forge and back, a journey that takes just under 2 hours time, according to Crowe. The bikes operate at an average speed of about 8 to 9 miles per hour, with a top speed of 15 miles per hour.
New for 2022 is a second scenic 1.5 hour “river run” route, as well as a new route from the railline’s northern terminus in Tupper Lake.
If you go:
The rail bikes run from Thursday through Sunday, four times a day, through Oct. 16. The attraction is open rain or shine and rides are cancelled in the event of thunderstorms/threat of storm.
Those who wish to participate in a rail bike tour may reserve a 4-person rail bike for $147, or a 2-person bike for $85. (The reservation fee remains the same no matter the number of riders.) Reservations can be made online at https://adirondackscenicrailbikes.com/ or by calling 1-800-819-2291.
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A good example of how dumb it was to kick out Rail Explorers a few years ago. They are now doing very well in the Catskills. Daks loss-Cats gain. LOL!
I’m not sure exactly what “all abilities” is supposed to mean but it implies that it is inclusive for people with functional differences. It doesn’t look like it could be used by people who have limited mobility.
Thanks for pointing that out. I have revised the headline.
The other riders w/ good abilities can take up the slack so all types of users may be possible for the ride. Imagine hand pump rail bikes as an added option.
Would be much more inclusive if people could ride their hand bikes or take their power chairs. Maybe an ADA rail trail would be better. ♂️
Chris
Are you talking about those old time 2 person hand pump rail bikes and electric power chair rail bikes? Your ides sound cool.
I wonder if sold out rail bike users’ ticket sales help fund rail maintenance.
On the contrary, rail trail users ticket sales do not exist to help fund trail maintenance.
Got no problem with the rail bikes running on the tracks. They can end at Carter Station like they do now, just make it a trail from there to Tupper Lake. Running a slow ASR train on those track is a waste of state money. It’s only October 18th & the ASR will run NO more trains from Utica to Thendara. I thought they wanted to become a passenger service from Utica to Tupper. Fat chance that ever happens. The state is wasting millions to rehab a train line that can barley survive now. Keep the rail bikes get ride of the rest!
Dave being a supporting member of the Adirondack RR, I have asked for their financial report several times to find any kind of source of what you stated the train that only barely survives. Do you Dave have such a source you can share with us?
Very Cool. I’ve driven by these with my wife. Sadly it’s not accessible for many physically disabled people.
People with mobility problems can still ride the bikes with people willing to take up the slack.
“Those who wish to participate in a rail bike tour may reserve a 4-person rail bike for $147, or a 2-person bike for $85.”