Olympic Trail
Olympic Trail is a State Scenic Byway in New York. Within New York it covers roughly 170 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Olympic Trail with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Olympic Trail runs 170 miles across northern New York, connecting Lake Champlain at Keeseville to Lake Ontario at Sackets Harbor. It takes its name from Lake Placid, host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, along the way. The best-known stretch — a 33-mile drive on NY 9N and NY 86 from Keeseville to Lake Placid — follows the Ausable River so closely that in places the water runs just feet from the pavement, then opens onto sweeping Adirondack Mountain views once the route turns onto NY 86. High Falls Gorge in Wilmington offers viewing platforms over a dramatic waterfall along this stretch. Farther west, the byway threads the Saranac chain of lakes, Tupper Lake, and Cranberry Lake on its way toward Watertown, with camping, canoeing, fishing, and hiking access at nearly every turn. Few New York byways cover this much ground or connect two such different Great Lakes-and-mountain landscapes in one continuous route.
- 170 miles, Lake Champlain to Lake Ontario
- Named for Lake Placid's 1932 & 1980 Olympics
- Ausable River & High Falls Gorge
- Saranac, Tupper & Cranberry Lakes
- Keeseville to Sackets Harbor
- Adirondack Mountain views on NY 86
Plan a drive on Olympic Trail →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Olympic Trail
2 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Olympic Trail.
Campsite, lodging, RV rental and membership links are affiliate links — booking through them may earn Road Sorties a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Recreation.gov links are not affiliate links.