LAKE PLACID – The state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Olympic Regional Development Authority will unveil a new trail in time for one of the Adirondacks’ busiest hiking weekends.

On Friday, at 11 a.m., the DEC and ORDA will cut the ribbon on a trail from ORDA’s Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic complex to the summit of Mount Van Hoevenberg.

The trail was built by the Adirondack Mountain Club’s professional trail crew, which the DEC contracts with to do trail work around the Adirondacks. DEC Region 5 Director Robert Stegemann and ORDA CEO Mike Pratt will be joined by ADK President Neil Woodworth, as well as state and local elected officials.

The new trail is part of a recently-approved amendment to the High Peaks Wilderness Area unit management plan, as well as an updated UMP for the Van Ho complex. Under the approved plans, the trail for Cascade Mountain will also eventually begin at Mount Van Hoevenberg.

The trail to the summit of Mount Van Hoevenberg from South Meadow Lane will still be open.

Beginning Thursday evening and going through the Monday holiday, the parking areas for Cascade Mountain, along state Route 73 outside of Lake Placid, will be closed in an effort to increase hiker, pedestrian and driver safety. All people wishing to hike the most popular High Peak will have to park at Mount Van Hoevenberg. The state will be running shuttles from Van Ho to the Cascade trailhead.