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From North Hudson: Exit 29 off I-87 (Northway) at North Hudson. Drive north on Rt.9 0.3 miles, turn right onto Johnson Pond Road (Essex County Rt.2). You can park anywhere along the road. If you park in the vicinity of Johnson Pond you will avoid an initial climb. General Description: See Adirondack Forest Preserve for trail regulations and other important information. This self-guided mountain bike tour, combining scenery with solitude, is located in the southern part of the Hammond Hill Wild Forest in the Adirondack Preserve. The remote unpaved roads pass through mixed hardwood and evergreen forest in the hilly Adirondack backcountry. This was formerly mining country and ruins of old forges, mills and railroad beds are visible along the route. Pieces of glassy blue “slag”, a by-product of early blast furnaces, can be found along the road. Visit the Penfield Museum in Ironville to learn about the local ironworking industry and ties to the early electric age. Swim and relax south of Ironville at Penfied Pond before heading back. More riding, for all ability levels, is possible at the nearby North Hudson Mountain Bike Center with its trail network on town and Hammond Pond Wild Forest land.
The Mountain Bike Tour: Take Johnson Pond Road for about 5 miles and bear left onto Old Furnace Road. This section of the bike tour takes you past Paradox Creek, 600 ft. Bald Pate and Moose Mountain to the north, eventually bringing you into Ironville (Penfield Museum). Take County Rt.2/Creek Road (paved) south out of town along the western shore of Penfield Pond. Just short of 2 miles turn right onto Stony Lonesome Road. After about 5 miles you will pass Fleming Pond on the left. Continue on to Letsonville Road and turn right (A left turn here will take you to Rt.74, the village of Paradox and Paradox Lake, with a day use area and campground). After a couple of miles turn left onto Johnson Pond Road and return to your car.
Historic Note The Penfield Museum in Ironville is dedicated to preserving the history of the 19th century ironworking industry in the North Country. The village is also known as the “Birthplace of the Electric Age” with the first industrial application of electricity in the U.S. The area was vital to both modern progress and the Civil War Effort. Iron ore, separated in Ironville, was shipped by rail to Lake Champlain where it was used in many application including the Civil War ironclad “Monitor”. The Penfield family operated their iron business here during the 1800s.
For more information: Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau
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