Things to do / Travel Guide
Northern New York includes an abundance of fresh air and open space, with a nearly endless number of bicycle pathways winding along its millions of untouched acres. The region is an ideal location for those interested in anything from leisurely bicycle riding to longer-distance, rigorous mountain biking to competitive cycling, with pathways ranging in length from just a few miles to hundreds of miles. The region encompasses varied terrain, including looping river valleys and steep mountain peaks, with spectacular scenery as well as excellent trail systems and lands open to the public. Biking is a fun and stimulating way to directly interact with the mountainous scenery of the Adirondacks. Although the roads can be challenging thanks to overgrown tree roots and inclines, bikers are rewarded with inns, restaurants, historical sites, and breathtaking scenery all along the way.
The Department of Environmental Conservation provides free basic information about biking in the Adirondacks. New York State Parks provides basic guides to trails in State Parks. Numerous sporting goods stores and outfitters rent bicycles throughout all areas and larger towns of the northern New York region. Bicycles may be prohibited on some unpaved trails.
Biking in Lake Placid
At the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, cross-country ski trails open up in warmer months for mountain bikers. The trails range from moderate to challenging in difficulty, including single-track slalom courses and numerous jumps, making the area compatible with a range of ages and mountain biking ability levels.
At Whiteface Mountain, mountain bikers can take a lift service via gondola or shuttle bus to the top of the mountain. The bike paths serviced by the shuttle bus include beginner to intermediate downhill trails as well as advanced cross-country trails that stretch across the lower mountain. Paths on Whiteface Mountain pass waterfalls, picnic areas, and gorgeous views.
Biking around Saranac Lake
In Saranac Lake bikers will find road bike rides that can range from short jaunts around Lake Placid village to longer paths: Paul Smiths Loop (18 miles), Forest Home Loops (22 miles), North Branch Loop (34 miles), and the challenging Silver Lake Loop (70 miles).
Other bike paths in the Saranac Lake area include the Bloomingdale Bog Trail, good for beginners, which begins just north of Saranac Village. It is a generally flat trail with just a few rough spots and some sandy sections. It is about 10 miles out and 10 miles back (20 miles roundtrip).
The Otter Hollow Loop Trail, located next to Fish Creek Campground is more suitable for intermediate level bike riders. It is about an 8.1-mile loop, and a day use fee is charged to enter the state campground. Advanced bikers can find more challenging pathways south of the St. Regis Canoe Area on the Floodwood Loop Trail, and west of Upper Saranac Lake along the Deer Pond Loop Trail.
Biking in Saratoga Springs
The bicycle pathways around Saratoga Springs offer something for people of all ability levels, particularly intermediate and expert riders. The 2,200-acre Saratoga Spa State Park, just minutes from downtown, includes numerous bike-riding trails.
Some bike paths around the Saratoga area include the 107 trail, which is for intermediate riders and begins from the power lines at pole 107. This ride is a fun one, passing by small rock gardens, and serves as a good warm-up run for those embarking on more demanding rides following. The Dam Trail, which takes bikers out to a beaver dam, is for expert riders. Both biking trails can take from one to two hours to complete.
Biking around Lake George
The Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail stretches eight miles between Glens Falls and Fort Edward, near Historic Lock Park. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on this trail, which runs near the Hudson River and the Old Champlain Canal Trail. Numerous other bike trails run around the Lake George area, for varying skill levels, providing views of the stunning scenery of the Adirondacks, tree-filled forests, and crystal waters.
Biking around the Thousand Islands
Bike touring is one of the most exciting and fun ways to see the beauty of the Thousand Islands region. Pathways span across the scenic countryside, past waterways and islands, suitable for mountain bikes or 21-speed racers. Motorcycle travel is permitted on some of the routes in the Thousand Islands area, though not all. Bicycles are welcomed just about everywhere, and can be rented in local shops and sporting outfitters dotted around the area, especially in the hubs of Clayton and Alexandria Bay. Biking on the smaller islands gets trickier, unless you have a boat on which you can transport your own bike (you're allowed to bring your bike on the ferries).
Biking around the Champlain Valley
The Lake Champlain Bikeways is a public/private partnership encompassing a network of over 1,300 miles of bicycle routes that traverse the Champlain Valley of New York, crossing over into Vermont and Quebec, Canada. The array of bike paths in the Lake Champlain vicinity of northern New York take bikers through quiet back roads, charming villages, and historic sites, as well as the phenomenal scenery of the mountains, forests, and countryside. The bike paths range in length from 10-60 miles in a network that includes the Champlain Bikeway, which runs the 363-mile route around the entire perimeter of Lake Champlain on both paved and unpaved pathways. Bikers can shorten the lengthy loop of the entire lake thanks to two bridges and four ferry crossings spaced along Lake Champlain.
Some other bike trails around Lake Champlain include Water's Edge, Stone Lonesome, Iron to Iron, and Acres of Apples. The Water's Edge Trail is about 21 miles long, snaking along the AuSable River to Lake Champlain with stunning views along the way as well as the historic village of Keeseville. The return route takes bikers through charming back roads, past orchards and dairies. The Stone Lonesome Trail is a 16.5-mile loop beginning in Ironville, recommended for cyclists in good shape and with a cross/mountain bike. Traffic along this route is minimal as it runs primarily on unpaved and remote roads, with some small hills as well. The Iron to Iron path is about 26 miles long, between Port Henry and Ironville, for those advanced bike riders wanting a solid work-out on a minimally-trafficked pathway. A cross-bike is recommended for this ride which includes patches of unpaved roads. Acres of Apples is a nearly 25-mile-long loop winding through apple orchards and farms between Ausable and Peru. The pathway is all-paved, mostly flat, and minimally trafficked, with many restaurants and farmstands along the way.
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