Events
2025 Events
Informational Tours
Year-Round
Join our staff and expert guest naturalists for free outdoor education programming featuring diverse ecological themes in the Ausable, Boquet, and Saranac River watersheds. Click here to learn more about our tours and to sign up.
Spotlight on Mirror Lake - May 17, 2025
May is a beautiful time of year to explore Mirror Lake, one of the most iconic lakes in the Adirondacks. Join Ausable Freshwater Center staff on Saturday, May 17th from 9 am until noon to learn about the health of the Mirror Lake ecosystem. The outing begins with a 1.6 mile round trip hike to the top of Cobble Hill to get a birds-eye view of the Mirror Lake and Ausable River watersheds. The hike gains 450 feet in elevation on uneven terrain over a moderately difficult trail with a few steep sections. After the hike, participants will gather along the edge of Mirror Lake where everyone will have an opportunity to participate in an interactive demonstration of water sampling techniques. This is a free event, but space is limited and registration is required.
For questions and to register, please email events@ausablecenter.org
Great Adirondack Trail Run
June 14th, 2025
This beloved wilderness trail run is back! And all proceeds benefit the Ausable Freshwater Center. The 3.5 mile run travels over the shoulder of Baxter Mtn. to Keene Valley. All trail runners, hikers & walkers - young and old - are welcome to enjoy this event!!
The 11.5 mile Great Adirondack Trail Run (2900′ of vertical gain and 3100′ of loss) goes up the back side of Hopkins Mtn & down to Keene Valley. Registration is severely limited and may already be sold out. A shuttle will be available from the parking/finish area at the Mountaineer to the trailhead for both runs. Come for the run, stay for the festivities - great music, food, drinks & more! For more information and to register, visit the Mountaineer's page HERE.
Ride for the River
July 13th, 2025
For over a decade, Ride for the River has been a do-not-miss celebration of the stunning Ausable River watershed. Featuring multiple breathtaking route options, the event also hosts a 20-mile "tailgater" group ride on July 12 for those who'd like to come into town a day or two early to make it a weekend. This fun annual fundraiser directly supports Ausable Freshwater Center's work to protect the clean waters, healthy streams, biodiverse habitats, and scenic beauty of Adirondack waters. Fore more information and to register, visit the Ride for the River page. Registration is OPEN.
Past Events
Earth Month Ausable River Cleanup
April 19, 2025
We'd like to thank the 80+ volunteers who joined us on Saturday for our annual earth month clean up! We couldn't be more grateful to our community for braving the elements to come together for the watershed. Thanks to you, we were able to remove thousands of pounds of trash and prevent it from entering the river. We're grateful for our partners at the Towns of Keene, North Elba, and Wilmington, Casella, Origin Coffee Co., NRS, Valley Grocery, Green Goddess, and Hannaford for making this year's clean up possible. We hope to see you again next year!
The Great Adirondack Trail Run
June 15, 2024
Thank you to everyone who joined us us at The Mountaineer for the 19th annual Great Adirondack Trail Run & 5K fun run! Proceeds from the event benefitted our work.
Friendraiser
June 20, 2024 - 5pm to 8pm
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual Friendraiser! It was a beautiful evening in Saranac Lake celebrating our supporters and 25 years of AsRA. Here's to 25 more as the Ausable Freshwater Center!
Ride for the River
July 14th, 2024
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a beautiful day of biking along the Ausable River! We can't wait to get out and Ride the River with you again next year.
Stream Stewardship Symposium
July 25, 2024
Thank you to everyone who joined us, SUNY Plattsburgh, and University of Vermont for an afternoon of demonstrations and a tour of Adirondack stream habitats at the Stream Stewardship Symposium!
Purple Loosestrife Volunteer Pull
August 11, 2024
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our annual purple loosestrife pull on Sunday, August 11th. Thanks to your help, we continued our efforts to remove this harmful invasive plant from along the shores of the Ausable river. We hope to see you again next year!
September Shindig
September 17, 2024
We're so grateful to all who joined us for our first Shindig as the Ausable Freshwater Center. Thank you for joining our staff, board, and fellow supporters at the Mirror Lake Inn for an evening of good eats, drinks, and friends.
