History Hike | John Brown Farm | North Elba | March 1, 2026

Sunday, March 1, 2026
10:00 AM 11:00 AM

John Brown Farm State Historic Site 115 John Brown Road Lake Placid, NY, 12946 United States (map)

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History In Motion: Snowshoe The Old Road at John Brown Farm

The John Brown farm in winter in North Elba, NY. — All photos courtesy The John Brown Farm.

On Sunday, March 1 at 10 am, history comes alive—on snowshoes—at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in North Elba, just outside Lake Placid. This guided winter hike follows the old road once traveled by abolitionist John Brown and his contemporaries as they journeyed in and out of this remote Adirondack settlement.

Snowshoes are required for this immersive 2–3 mile round-trip hike, which begins at Mountain Lane and climbs gradually past the height of the pass along what is now part of the Jackrabbit Ski Trail. Participants should expect some elevation gain, crisp mountain air, and a deeper understanding of how geography shaped both daily life and political convictions in the mid-19th-century Adirondacks. Advance registration is required.

Walk the road that shaped a radical vision.

High in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains stands a modest farmhouse and small graveyard that anchor one of the most consequential stories in American history. The John Brown Farm State Historic Site preserves Brown’s home and final resting place. Visitors tour the restored cabin, explore wooded trails, and stand before the simple grave marked by a rough-hewn stone.

John Brown Farm covered in snow in winter. — Winter at John Brown Farm.

Many Americans recognize the lyrics, “John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave,” yet few connect those words to this quiet farm in North Elba. Brown chose this rugged landscape as both refuge and proving ground. Here, he supported a community of formerly enslaved Black farmers and prepared for what he believed was a moral reckoning.

From North Elba to Harper’s Ferry.

On the night of October 16, 1859, Brown and his followers attacked the U.S. Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, intending to seize weapons and ignite a widespread slave uprising. Authorities captured him two days later. The Commonwealth of Virginia tried him for treason, murder, and inciting slave rebellion. The state hanged him on December 2, 1859.

His body returned to North Elba and was buried in front of his home on December 8, 1859. In 1899, supporters reinterred the remains of several of his followers—men who died at Harper’s Ferry—at this same gravesite. Today, their shared resting place overlooks the High Peaks, a stark reminder that national conflict once traced its roots to this mountain community.

Brown’s final prophecy—“I, John Brown, am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood”—proved chillingly accurate. Within two years, the Civil War began.

Old barn at the John Brown Farm Historic Site.

Experience Adirondack history underfoot.

This March 1 snowshoe hike offers more than exercise. It places participants directly on the route Brown himself once traveled, turning a winter morning into a moving history lesson. Snow softens the landscape, but the story remains sharp and urgent.

For visitors searching for meaningful Adirondack events near Lake Placid—especially those who love history, hiking, and winter adventure—this program delivers all three. The route’s moderate length makes it accessible for most active adults, while the historical context elevates the experience beyond a typical snowshoe outing.

Advance registration is required. For details and to reserve a spot, visit the New York State Parks website for the John Brown Farm State Historic Site or check their official Facebook page for updates.

History doesn’t just live in textbooks. On March 1, it waits along a snowy mountain pass in North Elba.