Winter Fun at Saratoga

A visitor enjoys cross-country skiing with a view of the historic landscape which shaped history.

Winter is a great time to discover the beauty of the battlefield, bird watch, look for deer, or enjoy the stillness of a snow covered walk at Saratoga National Historical Park. Grounds will be open sunrise to sunset for hiking, walking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. You can explore the battlefield several ways. While the Tour Road is closed to driving, several miles of roadway (between the visitor center parking area and stop 8) are plowed for emergency access and walking and biking are allowed as weather permits. There are also two groomed cross-country ski trails that encompass portions of the Wilkinson Trail, Horse Trail, and the Tour Road. These trails can be accessed from the Visitor Center (Wilkinson Trail) or the South Gate (Horse Trail) parking areas. Each loop is about 3 miles long and connect for a total of 6 miles of trails and are marked American Loop A and British Loop B. There are very limited services during the winter, but partially accessible outdoor portable toilets are available near the tour road entrance and stop 2, and a composting toilet is available at stop 7. See map below. 

Details

Activity

Cross-Country Skiing

Pets Allowed

Yes with Restrictions

Pets are allowed as long as they are on a leash. Please be a responsible pet owner and pick up after your pets! 

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Cross-country ski trails

Start at the Visitor Center (Wilkinson Trail) or the South Gate (Horse Trail) parking areas. Each loop is about 3 miles long and connect for a total of 6 miles of trails and are marked American Loop A and British Loop B.

Reservations

No

Season

Winter

Time of Day

Day

Park grounds are open sunrise to sunset.

Accessibility Information

The Wilkinson Trail is NOT accessible.

Visitor Center

Parking

Two spaces available in main parking lot at bottom of ramp. Ramp has a steep incline to visitor center; additional parking is available on Roosevelt Rd.

Entrance

Automatic front doors (2 sets) open outwards, ramp and automatic rear door opens outwards

Restrooms

Partially accessible indoor restrooms are available in the visitor center - a handicap stall is available, but there is no automatic door. A partially accessible outdoor portable toilet is available in the lower level of the visitor center parking area near the tour road entrance.

Water

Water fountains located inside visitor center between restrooms and one located outside off ramp from main parking lot. Water contains sodium in excess of 20 mg/L.

Picnic tables

Handicap accessible picnic area is accessible from main parking lot, picnic tables are also available behind visitor center

Exhibits

Artifacts on display in glass cases, visually and physically available from a wheelchair. Doors from museum area to paved patio are automatic.

Driving Tour Road (Apr.-Nov.)

A 10-mile driving tour road provides access to areas where the critical 1777 events took place.  Along the way there are a total of 10 stops, each stop has a parking area and interpretive signage.

Parking

Each stop along the tour road has two accessible parking spaces.

Restrooms

Partially accessible outdoor portable toilets are available at tour road entrance and stop 2, and a composting toilet is available at tour road stop 7.

Walkways

All tour road stops have paved walkways, several meet ADA grade and slope requirements, but some do not. Some visitors may experience difficulty accessing tour road stops 2, 7, and 8.

Driving Tour Road (Dec.-Apr.)

The tour road is closed to vehicles. NPS staff will plow the tour road for pedestrian use from the parking lot to the "service road," which is a distance of about 1/2 mile; and from the end of the "service road" to "Stop 8," which is a distance of about 2 miles. While the road is plowed, slippery or wintry conditions may still exist and visitors should exercise extreme caution.

Map of cross-country skiing trails

Explore the battlefield on skis! Start at the Visitor Center (Wilkinson Trail) or the South Gate (Horse Trail) parking areas. Each loop is about 3 miles long and connect for a total of 6 miles of trails and are marked American Loop A and British Loop B.

Currently, with the Tour Road Improvement Project, there is a small detour around Stop 6. See Map for details.