About

This short out-and-back ride into an historic great camp is one to savor.

How to get there

The entrance to Camp Santanoni (Santanoni Preserve) is located on the Newcomb Lake Road in the Town of Newcomb. There is a sign on NYS Route 28N identifying the intersection.  (Coordinates: 43.972526, -74.163974)

Ride through history

This ride will take longer than you expect, not because it’s difficult, but because there’s just so much to see at this captivating historic site. You will know this isn’t your ordinary ride the moment you cross a small river that connects Belden and Harris Lakes and catch sight of the enchanting stone and wooden guard house. Since parking and the start of the ride are up the hill and beyond the guard house, you will almost certainly begin this ride by going in the wrong direction as you will want to see this building. And this is just the start. As you hop on your bike and head into the woods, you pedal up a gentle hill toward your destination. Along the way you pass over one stone bridge after another including trickling streams and a roaring brook. In less than a mile, you pass by the old farmhouse and remains of historic barns where you will undoubtedly stop to read the exhibits and enjoy cozy homestead.

The road then ride climbs to a height of land approximately 2 miles beyond the farm, and it is then pretty much downhill all the way to historic Camp Santanoni. At the camp you can park your bike in the available bike rack and spend several hours soaking in the historic structures, reading about life in this remote camp in the late-19th and early 20th centuries, and the influence of Japanese architecture on the design of the camp itself. After enjoying the sights, return back the way you came.

By the numbers

• Level of Difficulty: Easy
• Route length: 9 miles (14.5 kilometers)
• Elevation: 692 feet (211 meters)
• One lane dirt road

Additional info

A few additional notes about this ride: Electric bicycles are not permitted. Also, the road is shared with horses and is a very popular walking trail; bicyclists must yield to both. For safety’s sake should you meet a horse on your journey you should stop and stand quietly at the edge of the road until the horse passes. You also must be mindful of your speed, especially on the downhills as you will likely encounter other trail users during this trip. The first half of this dirt road is in very good shape and then becomes more rugged as you descend to the camp.

Ride With GPS Link: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42362665

Due to limited cellular coverage, please be sure to download this route and save for offline use before you leave home.

Views of the High Peaks dominate the scene from the shore of Boreas Ponds, the 320-acre waterbody for which this region is named. LaBier Flow, Boreas River, LeClaire Brook, Casey Brook, Slide Brook, and White Lily Brook can also be found on this tract.

This tract is a new addition to the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve and the Department of Environmental Conservation is in the process of adding new features, such as trails, campsites, and maintaining roads. Please check their website for the most up-to-date information.

Getting there

Gulf Brook Road is the main route to Boreas Ponds. It's located off Blue Ridge Road, about 16.5 miles east of Newcomb and about 7 miles west of Exit 29 on I-87. Visitors are permitted to drive on Gulf Brook Road as far as the fourth parking area, after which it's an easy 3.5 mile walk or bike ride to the pond.

Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing

Gulf Brook Road is currently the main route to Boreas Ponds, but a number of other trails are in the works that will lead to ponds, mountains, and existing trails in the High Peaks Wilderness.

Hikers can park at the first lot to walk the entire 6.7 mile Gulf Brook Road to reach Boreas Ponds, or they can park at one of the other three lots along the road to shorten the trip. From the fourth lot, it's about 3.5 miles to the pond. The road travels through a dense, young forest for most of its length and doesn't really get scenic until it reaches LaBier Flow, a mile or so from Boreas Ponds. Shortly after that is a four-way intersection — take a right to pass by a cabin and another view of LaBier Flow before reaching the shore of Boreas Ponds.

Paddling

The views from the ponds themselves make for a fine distraction while padding. Venture onto the Boreas Ponds themselves or head into LaBier Flow for a quick paddle.

Cycling

Bicycling is permitted along Gulf Brook Road, from Blue Ridge Road to Boreas Ponds Dam. Bikes are not allowed past the dam.

Fishing, hunting, and trapping

The Boreas Pond Tract is open to fishing, hunting, and trapping.

Ride through the lovely area that used to be Frontiertown, a pioneering theme park that closed in 1998.

How to get there

Access via a short road which begins and ends off of Route 9.

Cycling

The entire system is almost 9 miles of system of interlocked trails, from beginner to mid-level. Read our blogger's account of her mountain biking there, Mossy singletrack in North Hudson.

A loop that circles three ponds with side trips to more. Beaver ponds and wide vistas, and more! The side trail to Bass Lake (1.4 miles RT) features rock ledges, cliffs, and great fishing.

Getting there

Take Exit 29 off I-87 and follow Blue Ridge Road east toward North Hudson, then drive north on Route 9. Continue for 2.5 miles, turn right on county Route 4C, then turn right on Ensign Road. Follow Ensign Road for just over 2.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.Hiking

Hiking

This route leads to two ponds and an open beaver meadow. From the parking area, take the right trail to Moose Mountain Pond, not the one for Hammond Pond — both trails are side-by-side, so be careful. The path stays in a nice valley as you pass by Berrymill Hill and the attractive Berrymill Brook. It heads uphill slightly but never undergoes any major elevation change. At 1.7 miles you'll come to a trail junction. Turn right for Bass Lake and head left for Moose Mountain Pond. Turning right leads 0.9 mi. to the east end of Bass Lake and its rock ledges, cliffs, and great fishing. Turning left, you'll soon come to the grassy Berrymill Pond, which has a large bridge over its outlet. The trail remains easy as it goes through a hemlock forest. Its beauty will keep you occupied, and before you know it you are at your destination at 3.2 miles, with Bald and Owl Pate mountains towering over you and Moose Mountain joining in. The trail continues along the shore to an attractive lean-to at 3.5 miles.

• Elevation: 1,265 feet
• Elevation gain: 320 feet
• Distance round trip: 7 miles

Mountain biking

• 6 miles RT, Easy to Moderate Grades, Pond Trail

If you like gravel roads and scenic views, then this is the bike route for you! 

Cycling

The view includes a pond, which is frequented by Osprey. It eventually becomes Stoney Lonesome Road and leads to Crown Point if you follow it all the way.

As far as dirt road cycling goes, this is a fine option in the area.

Getting there

Crane Pond Road trailhead parking area is located at the end of Crane Pond Road off of Alder Meadow Road.

Reach 167-acre Crane Pond via the Pharaoh Mountain Trail.

Cycling

Town maintained dirt roads becomes non-maintained road. Woodsy, moderately hilly, and high likelihood of wind and mud. Approximately 3 miles.

Running

Leads to Crane Pond & Pharaoh Mountain trailhead for even more scenic views and as long a trail run as possible.

Get off the asphalt! This spectacular half day of gravel biking is on mostly remote, unpaved roads, with a variety of hills and valleys, open and wooded terrain, marshes, ponds, and streams.

Cycling

Mountain/cross bike recommended. Remote unpaved roads with limited services. Museum, swimming, wildlife, and low traffic are all here!

This spectacular loop is on mostly remote, unpaved, gently-rolling roads. It's recommended for cyclists in good physical shape with a cross/mountain bike. Traffic is generally minimal. A good start/end point is at the Penfield Museum in Ironville. You can also connect from Ticonderoga via Routes 74 and 2 or off Interstate 87, via Route 2 near North Hudson.

From the Penfield Museum in Ironville turn south on County 2/Corduroy Rd. At the 1.5 mile point turn R on Stony Lonesome Road which becomes Fleming Pond Road–unpaved. At 4.2 miles there is a Bus turnaround. At 4.5 miles look for a beaver dam on the left if you look back. At 8.1 miles turn R on Letsonville Road (no sign). There is a sign for Fleming Pd Road. At 13.8 miles bear R on Old Furnace Rd. At 15.3 miles pavement starts again. At 16.6 miles bear L on Corduroy Road to go back to Penfield Museum in Ironville.