Firecracker 4 Celebrates 20 Years – Let the Fireworks Begin!

By Laura Clark

While the Saratoga Springs has long enjoyed a storied reputation as the “Summer Place to Be,” this year is extra special since the hometown event, the Firecracker 4 Road Race, is celebrating its 20th year. While Thanksgiving Day is undisputedly the most popular race day in the US, runner-up position belongs to Fourth of July events, with the Firecracker 4, holding its own as the largest Independence Day race in New York State. READ MORE

Two Other Rail Trails – Near the Adirondack Rail Trail

By Phil Brown

If you’ve come to the North Country to bike the Adirondack Rail Trail, you’re in for a treat: 34 miles of blissful riding through forests and past lakes and ponds accompanied by the songs of birds rather than the roar of traffic. While visiting, you might want to explore two other rail trails. In fact, you can link all three rail trails in a spectacular 29-mile loop. This is an adventure ride with a variety of scenery and conditions. It’s not for everyone – or at least not every bike. You’ll find roots or sand in places. I recommend a gravel or hybrid bike. A light mountain bike would also work. READ MORE

Saratoga County Flatwater

By Rich Macha

Kayakers, canoeists, and paddleboarders can find quite a variety of waterbodies on which to paddle in Saratoga County. An overview of the county’s streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes follows with, hopefully, just enough information for you to get out and explore and/or seek out more details on each of the bodies of water mentioned. Starting from the less-populated northwest corner of the county in the Adirondack Park, we will work our way east and south across the county. READ MORE

Robust Summer Triathlons – A Perfect Time to Get Started

By Kristen Hislop

The second half of summer is the heart of triathlon season when water temperatures are comfortable and fitness is peaking. We are lucky to have outstanding race options within a few hours ranging from beginner-friendly sprint races to national championship events. Whether you’re considering your first triathlon or wondering what comes after your first or fiftieth race, our region’s most popular late-season events are amazing. READ MORE

Upcoming Summer Runs

By Mona Kulkarni Caron

Get the most out of your spring training with these summer races. Check out these runs, which welcome walkers, for a fun summer on a variety of terrain and locales. 

The Thursday Nigh Hustle returns to Mt Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid on Thursdays evenings from June 4 through August 6. Join locals and visitors for a low-key, all-levels trail run and mountain bike race series. Whether you’re looking to level up your summer training or just want a fun way to move and mingle with fellow runners and bikers, come out for a weekly dose of fresh air and friendly competition. READ MORE

Nun-da-ga-o Ridge – An Outstanding Hike

By Bill Ingersoll

Maps of the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness tell an unfortunate story: that these mountains were once not viewed in terms of their wildness, but in terms of the resources that people hoped might be extracted from them. Thus today we have inherited a region full of features named Potash Mountain, Soda Range, Coal Dirt Hill, Spruce Mill Brook, Big Slash Mountain, and Limekiln Mountain. These were not places for adventure or romantic contemplation of the sublime, but places where commodities were to be exploited. This historical ambivalence perhaps explains the current scenario, in which only a patch of wilderness remains preserved – almost all of it in the highest reaches of the range. READ MORE

Be Wake Smart – Wake Sports on NY Lakes

By Abigail Caron

Spending time at “the lake” is a quintessential part of summer in New York and for many, that includes motorboats zipping by with a tube or waterskier in tow. In recent years, wake sports such as wakesurfing and wakeboarding have surged in popularity, bringing specialized motorboats called wake boats onto the scene. Some lake-goers say that these new boats enhance their lake activities by creating bigger wakes to ride. For many, however, wake boats are a cause for concern. Lake communities around the country are pushing for regulations on where wake sports may occur in an interest of protecting fragile ecosystems and recreation. On June 11, 2026, the state of Vermont tightened existing rules regarding wake boats and wake sports on their inland lakes. In New York, environmental groups are currently working to understand the concerns of lake communities and organize ways to educate the public on the effects of enhanced wakes. READ MORE