This delightful loop follows the route of the Adirondack Marathon. It is mostly flat with short, rolling hills. Breaks suggest themselves, such as the town beach, and two hiking trailheads.

• 26.2 miles
• Intermediate
• All paved.
• Other features: swimming, hiking, lake views.
• Services & commercial traffic on Route 9.

Map & turn by turn directions on the PDF, and also at the Lake Champlain Bikeways website.

See a "virtual tour" of the marathon route on the Adirondack Marathon website.

There are all sorts of adventures to be had here!

Cycling

This paved, flat route runs along the Minerva River and forms a short loop road with Irishtown Road.

Running

Part of the scenic network of secondary, scenic, area roads.

Scenic drives

These drives can be extended to any of the state routes in the area.

This is a great loop that takes you through some true Adirondack wilderness, as well as along a scenic lake.

Scenic drives

Directions

From North Hudson, take Route 9 south. From Schroon Lake, it is 9 miles to Pottersville, take the right at the Wells House (big gray building) to head north and west toward Olmstedville. Next, turn onto Olmstedville-Pottersville Road and go 7 miles through Olmstedville. Turn north on Route 28N to Minerva and continue 12 miles to head east on the Blue Ridge Road (Route 2) in Newcomb. Continue for 18 miles to North Hudson. Head south on Route 9 for 8 miles to Schroon Lake Beach.

• Approximate travel time: 3 hours

Cycling

Steep descent along the Blue Ridge Road (best taken west to east) offers expansive vistas with a variety of foliage progression.

• Length: 56 miles

Highlights and side trips

• Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Center (Newcomb)
• Overlook Park (Newcomb)
• Blue Ridge Falls (North Hudson)

This DEC State Campground is set amid rolling hills of hardwood along a quiet scenic road. Located on the shore of Dark Bay, on Paradox Lake.

Camping

Canoes and rowboats are available for rent at the registration booth.

There are hot showers, flush toilets, trailer dump station, recycling center, boat launch site, picnic area with pavilion rental, and firewood sales.

Boating

Motorboats allowed. The boat launch is a single lane, launch ramp over natural sand and gravel substrate.

Hiking

There is a whole network of trails south of the lake that campers can access within a few minutes of departing. Hike to Crane, Oxshoe, Crab, Putnam, and Horseshoe ponds. Deeper into the wilderness, explore Pharaoh Lake and Pharaoh Mountain, which has a delightful view from the summit.

Take a boat to the opposite shore of the lake for a short trail which leads to Peaked Hill and Peaked Hill Pond.

Cycling

Many quiet paved roads give access to the grounds on Dark Bay. Low traffic, low speed limit, and excellent for children.

A day use pass offers boat rental availability, restrooms, picnic tables, BBQ grills, and showers. Hiking access to Crane Pond, Oxshoe, Crab, Putnam, and Horseshoe Ponds, and to Pharaoh Lake and Pharaoh Mountain. Via boat, the opposite shore of the lake offers a trail to Peaked Hill and Peaked Hill Pond.

DISTANCE: 2 miles of interlocking paths. Paved road, mostly flat, narrow shoulders but very low traffic.

DIRECTIONS: Follow the loops around the shore of the lake, along different campsites, and through the woods.

This lovely route is also a symbol of friendship: look for the stone with an image of the two shaking hands etched in it. The North Hudson Pine Ridge Cemetery is the resting place of a number of War of 1812 soldiers.

Cycling

Access through the Hammond Pond Wilderness, with trails to Trout Pond, Round Pond, East Mill Flow and Moose Mountain Pond and Bass Lake.

DISTANCE: 9 miles, one way. Recommended to be taken east to west, to take advantage of the downhill grade as the road joins Route 9. Services in Moriah Center and North Hudson.

DIRECTIONS: From Moriah, take County Route 4, west, and follow it all the way to North Hudson, near the intersection with Interstate 87, the Northway.

Scenic Drives

Drive south to pick up Teddy's Trail, for exceptional scenery and plenty of interesting stops..

Find out more

Read the blog post, Cycling Ensign Pond Road, for a personal experience.

Take a day long ride through some of the most remote paved roads in the whole park. View dozens of ponds and wetlands, cross several headwaters, and see some historic mining and farming areas.

How to get there

Recommended to be taken south, moving to the west, to take advantage of the down hill grade as Route 4 joins Route 9.

By the numbers

36.3 miles round-trip

Cycling

This route is intermediate with paved roads. The traffic is low. The remote areas have limited services, but some are available in Port Henry, Moriah Center, and Moriah Corners.

Map and turn-by-turn directions on the PDF, and also at the Lake Champlain Bikeways website.

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 Pond 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.