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Exit 30 off I-87 (Northway). Take Rt.9 north 2 miles to Rt.73. Travel on Rt.73 28 miles to Lake Placid. Take Rt.86 to Saranac Lake. Trail access to the individual rides are listed below:
General Description: See Adirondack Forest Preserve for trail regulations and other important information. Franklin County offers mountain biking trails through some of the most exciting and scenic cycling country in the Adirondacks. Trails wind through dense forests of spruce and pine or take you past majestic mountains, shimmering blue lakes and fertile valleys. There are also miles of rolling country roads to explore by bike. We have described a few of them here briefly. Before starting out on your Adirondack mountain bike adventure it is advised that you obtain detailed maps and complete information.
The Trails: St. Regis River - Deer River Area Deer River State Forest Trails: (11 miles interconnecting loops) Beginner The Deer River Area is comprised of nearly 12,000 acres along the Deer River in Northwest Franklin County. The trails consist of a series of interconnecting loops which traverse gently rolling hills through northern hardwood forest. Riders can select a variety of routes of varying lengths.
Keese Mills - Blue Mountain Road: (20 miles one way) Beginner (moderate because of distance) This is a 20 mile one way trip on a packed dirt and gravel road. You can turn around at any point for a shorter round trip. If you intend to do the whole length as a one way trip, you can park another car on Rt. 458 at the end of Blue Mountain Rd. to have a shuttle back. Heading northwest on the Keese Mills Road, the pavement gives way to hard-packed dirt and travels through a stretch of scenic woods which open up to blueberry barrens. The road then follows the St. Regis River and enters a beautiful northern spruce/fir boreal forest. At three quarters of the way into the ride, and approximately a mile and a half after the bridge crossing over the St. Regis River, you'll come to the Azure Mountiain trailhead on the left. The short 3/4 mile hike up is worth the effort for a spectacular lunch spot on the summit. The remainder of the ride takes you through forests and past hunting camps. From the Mt. Azure trailhead; it's 5 to 6 miles to your car on Blue Mountain Road.
Debar Mt. Game Management Area Meecham Lake: (7.9 miles) Moderate This trail is easy crusing mixed with some rough sections. Head west on the middle trail. At 1.5 miles, pass small pond on the left and go straight at next junction. Take right fork at 3.5 miles and continue over rolling terrain, crossing Winnebago Pond on beaver dam at 5.5 miles. Hit the junction to Debar Mt. on right at 6 miles. Go straight for another 1.9 miles to Meecham Lake State Campground.
Hatch Brook Loop: (4.5 mile loop) Moderate
This is a good ride for mountain bikers with intermediate level skills. The Loop trail traverses the Debar Mountain Wild Forest, located in a remote portion of the Adirondack Park, just north of Paul Smiths. Heading south from the field (left fork), the trail crosses Hatch Brook, climbs over a ridge, then bends west and passes a pond on the left. At 2.5 miles hit junction of trail to Meacham Lake. Turn right and follow road two more miles to complete the loop. Watch out for fallen trees or other obstructions on the challenging singletrack section south of Hatch Brook. Nearby mountain biking trails: Meacham Lake to Debar Meadow Trail.
Hays Brook Spur: (4.4 miles) Beginner Head west on the middle trail which leads past a small pond on the left in about a mile and a half. Continue straight at next junction. At about 3+ miles, take the left fork onto spur trail. Continue south for a little less than a mile to an old cabin site near Hays Brook. Watch out for fallen trees or other obstructions on the spur trail.
Hays Brook Area Slush Pond Horse Trail: (1.5 miles) or (7 mile loop) Moderate or (2.1 miles) Beginner A short stretch of single-track with a series of small hills. The trail heads in a northwesterly direction through plantations and natural clearings to McColloms Road. Rt. 30 is about 2 miles down the road to the right. Slush Pond 7 mile loop: To turn this into a 7 mile loop, turn right on Rt. 30 and travel another 2.3 miles back to Slush Pond Road. Turn right and continue for another 1.3 miles back to the starting point. Slush Pond Beginner: Beginners will enjoy riding into Slush Pond from Rt. 30 (2.1 miles on seasonal road).
Sheep Meadow Trail: (3.6 miles) Beginner/Moderate Easy cruising on a woods road and horse trail. There are some rolling hills to make things interesting. The trail starts past the metal gate, and follows a truck trail through a pine plantation. After a litle more than half a mile, cross the bridge over Osgood River and take a sharp left onto a single-track horse trail. In about 3/4 of a mile you will rejoin the truck trail. Turn left and cross a wooden bridge over Hays Brook in about a mile and a half. The trail ends at a clearing with 2 lean-tos and a horse shelter at Sheep Meadow. The section of single-track can be avoided by staying on the truck trail (adding another 1/4 mile to the trip).
Hays Brook Truck Trail: (3.4 miles) Beginner This is a great beginner ride on wide dirt roads. The trail travels through a pine plantation, a forest and leads to an old sheep meadow. Spur trails lead to Hayes Brook and to a lean-to on Grassy Pond. The trail begins along the same route as the Sheep Meadow trail but after crossing the Osgood River head straight. After .8 mile the main trail turns left, but keep going straight. This spur bends NE along Hays Brook through Boreal forest. Watch out for fallen trees and other obstructions on the spur trail.
Grass Pond Trail: (2 miles) Beginner This is a nice beginner ride. The trail begins along the same route as the Sheep Meadow trail but after crossing the Osgood River, head east to Grass Pond by taking the old road on the right. There are two nice lean-tos on the east shore.
For more information: Department Of Environmental Conservation Phone: (518) 897-1300
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