Lake Placid, NY — The Town of North Elba has awarded ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) a $50,000 grant from the Local Enhancement & Advancement Fund (LEAF) to improve accessibility on the Mt. Jo Long Trail.

Serving over 15,000 hikers a year, Mt. Jo is an iconic mountain in North Elba that is often visited by first-time outdoor recreators and used as a classroom for ADK’s fourth grade school outreach program. However, the Long Trail—one of two approaches to the summit—is severely damaged, creating challenging conditions for hikers. 

To amend this, ADK started rebuilding the trail during summer 2021 and will now—thanks to support from the LEAF grant and ADK donors—be able to complete the project by the end of 2023. This includes defining an improved trail route and installing resilient, sustainable trail features that will keep the trail clear of water and minimize erosion.

“We thank the Town of North Elba for supporting this important community trail project,” said Julia Goren, ADK Deputy Executive Director. “As an excellent introductory mountain, Mt. Jo is important to not only visitors, but also the over 8,000 residents in North Elba who benefit from local, family-friendly trails.”

Photo: Early Fall Foliage From Mount Jo by Brendan Wiltse/Almanack file photo