Touring - Adventure Cycling: Adirondack Park Loop VS Green Mountains Loop-help me pick!

I have been reading good things of both the Adirondack Park Loop (394 miles) and Green Mountains Loop (376 miles) via Adventure Cycling maps. Looking for a mid-fall ride around 400 miles (based on time and proximity to home) Has anyone done both of these routes? I am having a hard time choosing btwn the 2. Am more interested in camping than hotels, but can do some hotels if camping becomes an issue in certain locations. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

Well, I feel that the Adk are much wilder with large undeveloped areas between towns. Also, in general the road surfaces are better in NY. Services are widely spaced and finding campgrounds that are open is hard after mid-Oct.

Vt tends to have many small villages along the route, with the exceptionof the Northeast Kingdom area. That area is more like the Adk with services spaced far apart. Roads tend to be more broken up.

In mid Oct be prepare for below freezing temps and even some snow. Also, that is prime leaf peeking time, so lodging books up and the tourist are looking at the trees, not the road.

Both are great loops, similiar but very different.

PM me if you have more questions

The ADK loop has a lot of campgrounds. Many of them have sites on the banks of lakes and streams. All are a bit pricey at an average of $20 or so. There are some neat attractions in the park.

Both trips are hilly/mountainous. Both trips are incredibly scenic. The weather in fall is unpredictable very far in advance in those areas. You might have a week of gorgeous 70+ degree weather, you might have snow.

I rode the Adirondack loop a couple years ago in September and was fortunate to enjoy great weather. But I agree with Thulsadoom about being wary of potential nasty weather in the fall. Also, although we had no problems, I was told that following Labor Day, some stores, restaurants and campgrounds close for the season. Let us know how the ride goes, whichever loop you choose.

Thank you all for your first hand experiences and info. And you are all right about fall riding. Not sure what you'll get till you get it! I am going to continue to do some research on each loop and the area. Anyone stay at a place they just loved along the way of either route?

In the ADKs especially, many tourist-oriented services close after Labor Day. They do get leaf-peepers up there, but not in the droves that go to Vermont (which keep services open). In the ADKs you can probably find more places to "wild camp" if that's your thing and you are able keep a low profile. One town I kinda like in the Adirondacks is Speculator, which in the (relatively) lower section of the park, right on Lake Pleasant. Charlie John's store there is a great place to pick up groceries and other provisions, BTW, and has an excellent Adirondack book and guidebook section, including maps. Mainly a market, but also a good bit of the old general-store feel, too. It's right on the bike route, I believe.

Do be prepared for LOTS of rolling hills in the ADKs. I think a bit more so than in Vermont.

I've had snow and freezing temps in the Green Mountains in mid-October on more than one occasion.

Just did AC's Cycle Vermont last month, most of which is used their Green Mountains Loop (east alternative through Goose Green and Chelsea, etc), with a few deviations here and there. Quite scenic and quite hilly. Over 28,000 ft. of climbing in 6 days. We camped every night. All state parks except for one private camground. Twice we had to go off route to find camping. Once around S. Peacham to get to Harvey's Lake Campground and once from Bethel to get to Silver Lake State Park. The latter was a 6 mile slog up hill, and the next day you backtrack to get back on route at Bethel. Also stayed at Island Pond, Lake Carmi, Button Bay and North Beach campground in Burlington. All were nice. Bring quarters for showers. If you want to cook in camp, you will find slim pickings in many places unless you carry for a good ways. Except for Island Pond, which had a grocery store maybe 3 miles from the park, and Silver Lake, which had a country store with prepared food and limited groceries, the only food source I remember near a campground was a convenience store maybe 4 miles from Lake Carmi.

The unpaved sections of the route didn't present much problem for my 23c tires. The west side of Middleburry Gap was being paved and must be done by now. The descent into Chelsea had been paved a few days before we rode it. It was like riding in a velodrome. Overall, I was surprised by the road conditions. I expected much worse because of the winters they get up there.

Crossed the Adirondaks when crossing the country. Had a couple of nights in the 40s in mid-August.

Just did AC's Cycle Vermont last month, most of which is used their Green Mountains Loop (east alternative through Goose Green and Chelsea, etc), with a few deviations here and there. Quite scenic and quite hilly. Over 28,000 ft. of climbing in 6 days. We camped every night. All state parks except for one private camground. Twice we had to go off route to find camping. Once around S. Peacham to get to Harvey's Lake Campground and once from Bethel to get to Silver Lake State Park. The latter was a 6 mile slog up hill, and the next day you backtrack to get back on route at Bethel. Also stayed at Island Pond, Lake Carmi, Button Bay and North Beach campground in Burlington. All were nice. Bring quarters for showers. If you want to cook in camp, you will find slim pickings in many places unless you carry for a good ways. Except for Island Pond, which had a grocery store maybe 3 miles from the park, and Silver Lake, which had a country store with prepared food and limited groceries, the only food source I remember near a campground was a convenience store maybe 4 miles from Lake Carmi.

The unpaved sections of the route didn't present much problem for my 23c tires. The west side of Middleburry Gap was being paved and must be done by now. The descent into Chelsea had been paved a few days before we rode it. It was like riding in a velodrome. Overall, I was surprised by the road conditions. I expected much worse because of the winters they get up there.

Crossed the Adirondaks when crossing the country. Had a couple of nights in the 40s in mid-August.

God I hate that.

Again, thanks everyone for your good first hand information. Really appreciate it.

Just an FYI,

In the Adk's, it was 30 in Saranac Lake this morning and

it was 41 at my house in Vermont. Suppose to be even colder tonight.

Fall is here!