Adirondacks - Warren County

[KonradNYC]

Next week I'm going on vacation with the wife and some friends for a week in the Adirondacks. We'll be staying in North Creek in Warren County. We'll have our bikes. While there, I plan on visiting Lake George and Saratoga Springs (although I probably will not bring my bike to Saratoga Springs...just going for the horse races).

Anyone know of any good rides for a road bike? Also, any nearby MUPs?
I'm mainly concerned with North Creek and Lake George, but I'll consider anything nearby and maybe Saratoga as well.

Thanks!

[redirekib]

9N to Ticondaroga is a great ride. A bit busy until you get past Bolton Landing though, but the climb up Tongue Mt. is great. 9 North just past Warrensburg you can pick up 28 and the ride to Blue Mountain Lake is also very nice. These are the only rides I have done there.

[KonradNYC]

Thanks, redirekib. I'll try to check out both of those routes while I'm up there.

[redirekib]

Konrad, not sure if you saw this (www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=319513)

[cleansheet]

Not sure of what date you are there, but at least here is a map for what looks like a good ride. Read about it in a local paper today.

http://www.ididaride.org/

[KonradNYC]

Thanks for all the great info guys.

Cleansheet, I'm arriving August 13 and leaving August 20, so I'll be in town for the organized ride. I'm gonna look into that and see about registering. It looks like a hilly route, which is fine for me, but I'm not sure if my wife or my friends will be into it (they are kind of new to road riding). Maybe I'll do it on my own though.

[cleansheet]

Thanks for all the great info guys.

Cleansheet, I'm arriving August 13 and leaving August 20, so I'll be in town for the organized ride. I'm gonna look into that and see about registering. It looks like a hilly route, which is fine for me, but I'm not sure if my wife or my friends will be into it (they are kind of new to road riding). Maybe I'll do it on my own though.

Beats the hell out of going to the racetrack on a Saturday.

[zacster]

I see you posted on my thread also. I'm going to be up there on 18th to the 25th, but my guess is I won't be ready to do a long ride on that Sunday where we overlap.

There's a MUP that starts in Lake George village near the little beach and goes down to Glens Falls. I don't think it is all that long but it is still nice. I didn't see anyone else on it the one time I did it.

The Ididaride sounds like a great ride, but again I won't be ready to go that day.

Enjoy.

[mtdecap]

Zacster is talking about this MUP (http://www.warrencountydpw.com/Parks_Rec07/pdfFiles/Bikeway1.pdf) if you want a ride with your family.

The north end of it is in Lake George at Million Dollar Beach/LG Battlefield Park. That end of it is generally the less populated end. Queensbury/Glens Falls section can be (but aren't always) higher use- walkers, dogs, even fishermen near Glen Lake.

The bike path does continue south of Glens Falls but it isnt paved there; I only take my mtb that end.

[cdale56]

The bike path does continue south of Glens Falls but it isnt paved there; I only take my mtb that end.

On our first trip to the Adirondacks last fall (and having never been up there before,) I had no idea where to ride and came across a map of the bike paths that go south from lake George. I went down that path from Lake George got to the feeder canal and turned around. Very nice ride and I recommend it. Not very far but nice none the less.

There is a mountain that has a road up on the southern tip of Lake George, Prospect Mountain, we drove up it and I hoped to ride up if early the next morning but never did. I wasn't sure if bike were allowed but was going to try anyway.

[elfich]

Just so you know: Saratoga is 55 miles from North Creek. If you are coming from the south (southern Tier of NY and points south), hit Saratoga coming or going from your trip to North Creek. Be very aware that this time of year in Saratoga is track season (you said you want to see the ponies). Expect it to be hot, muggy and mobbed and behaving like a tourist trap.

Lake Placid is a bit further north (From north Creek, at least an hour), but is a year round sports training center that hosts biking and triathlon events (in addition to the Winter Olympic Facilities). There are some very interesting roads in the Lake Placid area-be prepared for hill climbing.

Route 9 from Glens Falls to the north end of Lake George is heavily used and not very bike friendly. I'm not saying no to use it, but just be aware it is heavily trafficed.

If you are feeling adventurous: Exit 26 off the northway has a local restaurant/bar called 'The Black Bear'. Good food, reasonable prices. When my brother and I were much younger we would talk to the bear and the bear would talk back (while my dad yukked it up with the bartender who had the microphone under the bar). I don't know though if you'll be going that far north before getting off the northway to North Creek (you can get off as early as Exit 23 Warrensburg).

[Jay H]

Check out Lake Champlain Bikeways, they have a big cue sheet for a round Lake Champlain bike tour but that is generally a 3-4 day thing. However, they also list a lot of short trips that aren't too far from Saratoga Springs that would be nice.. They're not long but you can combine them with parts of the circumnav and make it a trip... also for MUP, you can use Rails to Trails trailfinder to seach the county for any....

Jay

[vtjim]

Next week I'm going on vacation with the wife and some friends for a week in the Adirondacks. We'll be staying in North Creek in Warren County.

Lotsa hills. :) If you had MTBs you could go ride around the Gore Mountain ski area. Alternatively, ride your road bikes up to the base lodge and see how fast you can bomb back down into North Creek. :eek:

[cyclinfool]

If your in N Creek - cross the Hudson on 28N, take a right on bird pond road to Igerna. Take a right at the end out Igerna road, take a right at the end on 9 along loon lake, take a left and stay on 9 at the south end of loon lake and then take a rt on Friend lake road and a left on Atetaka rd the ride beside friends lake. Reconnect with a rt on Freinds lake road and prepare for a long but moderate climb. Return either the way you came or make a left on 8 and a rt on 28 at Weavertown. About 40 mile loop with spectacular views and the lakes to boot.

[KonradNYC]

Hey everyone...back from my trip.

I didn't do as much riding as I hoped to (the people I was travelling with aren't really into it), but I did get some fun little solo rides in.

After talking to some locals, I rode my bike to a secluded little swimming hole on a no-name dirt road off of Route 8. It was sorta like the spot in Breaking Away...good cliffs to dive off from and swinging into the water from ropes like Tarzan!

Also, did some solo riding along Route 28 and I did explore the Gore Mountain Ski Bowl area, but I stuck to the roads since I don't have an MTB.

As for Saratoga, I was well aware it is track season (I've been there before and the track is the reason I wanted to go). I didn't ride my bike there, but I did see lots of cyclists, some of whom appeared to be touring. Anyway, the track was fun and I won lots of money! Yippee!

Thanks for all the tips, I had a great vacation.

-Mike

[redirekib]

Glad to hear your trip was a success:)