ESTN 2009: Suggested roads and routes

[garry]

Use this thread to discuss the good stuff to ride in Lake Placid region or on the way to Lake Placid. As in years past, people will show up on Friday night, organize into small groups for Saturday day rides, and then ride home on Sunday. What I'm looking for is road recommendations that people can use to build their own routes or complete routes (250 - 400 miles) that people with local knowledge can supply.

IMO, riding in the Dacks is more about very scenic sweepers (with a few short twisty bits) than hundreds of miles of hairpins. But it sure would be nice to know where the good peg dragging bits are. I've only done the the state highways in the area, but there have to be a bunch of county/local roads in the mountains that have good twisties on good pavement. The problem is that you need a local to guide to what's good and what to avoid.

So start posting what you know about the Dacks and I'm sure we'll be able to cobble up a few nice loops.

[Sport-Touring]

[danham]

I'n not an expert  on 'dacks routes, but do spend a fair amount of time in the Lake Placid, Sarananc Lake  area , so here's some random thoughts on fun roads.

Forest Home Rd. running east out of Saranac Lake is fun to connect  with one of the best  scooting roads up there, Rt.  30. You can go north on 30 near the Lake Clear Outlet and go as far north on 30 as you like, or head back west on Jones Pond Rd. When you get to Oregon Plains Rd. (no twisties but very pretty), you can go north again toward Onchiota and CR 60, or begin heading back to Lake P via CR 18, 48 & 72 toward North Pole, where you can grab 86 south to LP.

Just north of Paul Smith's on 30 there's some really fun exploring territory heading northwest out Keese's Mill Rd., but I haven't done that on two wheels yet so need to refresh my memory on road conditions (some gravel and bumps galore IIRC), but as you get near Bay Pond the scenery is pretty great (and very unusual for the 'dacks due to years of controlled and uncontrolled burns), though the Bay Pond complex itself is off limits and patrolled (huge privately owned reserve).

My wife's family has a place on the St. Regis lakes and we plan to be there that weekend, so I'm up for joining the fun.

-dan

[garry]

I am cobbling up a "Dacks Sampler" loop that tries to the best of the best. Currently at 370 miles, but I'm trying to fine tune it.

First pointed question: are the two "Moose" roads on the map (west edge of park) worth doing? The southern one is Moose River Rd, the northern one is Big Moose Rd. See attached map.

[garry]

Second Question: Word has it that CR-6 (Tracy Rd) is very nice. A few years ago, I took CR-4 (English Pond Rd) over to Moriah Center on my way to Vermont. Can anyone vouch for road conditions on English Pond Rd this summer? See attached map...

[garry]

Third Question. I'm trying to figure out how to turn the corner. Is the route shown better than taking 9s-74e-9Ns-8w? Is CR-84 in decent shape? Never been on it but it looks interesting... Also, what about CR-24 (aka Irishtown Rd)?

[Oilhed]

I think any county roads would be interesting.  Rough pavement is OK with me.  I just hate deep potholes and loose sand/gravel.  Don't like surprises!

[chas]

I managed to be out in the Tracy Road area this past week.  You want twisties, you got them.  Pavement is great and and no traffic.  That loop should be fine.  The amount of time that is planned is short.  I would focus in and around the Placid area in what is known as the "High Peaks".  The south western part of the park is not as interesting as you get tired at looking at all the trees.  I also think that those roads Number 4, is a long dusty or muddy dirt road.  I seem to want to spend most of the time between Lake Placid and Lake Champlain because that's where the mountains and scenery are the best.  My recommendation is coming from the south you work your way up the 87 corridor via 9 or whatever you choose.  Route 73 Keene Valley is gorgeous.   There are many county roads that can be explored, you won't want to do 350-400 days though.  

[chas]

One of my favorite areas is in the Lake George area.  Once you have been, you will know why they hold the Americade there.  The people who want to do a little sight seeing might want to check in at Fort Ticonderoga, revolutionary war encampment, very colorful.  Route 74 back to Placid is very nice.  It's all good, Route 22 up the Lake is designated as a scenic byway.  Ausable Chasm near Plattsburgh is another interesting stop.

[garry]

OK, here is my first attempt at "Dacks Sampler" route. It's 317 miles. Please feel free to offer comments on stuff to add or skip. And also draw up your routes using GoogleMaps or whatever. I know a "Vermont Loop" would be a nice option. Does anyone remember the URL of the web site that has tons of New England route/road info?

[danham]

@ garry:

I did almost exactly that route recently and I agree it is a great one. I did "extend" it a bit by following 30 all the way down into the Hudson Valley before slabbing it back to Cape Cod for a total of 860 miles [g].

My Ducati pal and I started from his house in Pepperell, MA and cut through NH and VT by way of Mt. Ascutney on the way up. I'll see if I can find my track log image.

Found it; the black is my Rt. 30 south track.

-dan

[garry]

I did almost exactly that route recently and I agree it is a great one.
-dan

That's good to hear.

Taking 30 south then cutting over to 10 north (Caroga Lake) via county roads (6, 125, 112) adds ~60 miles.

Staying south of Speculator on 8, then taking 365 over to 28 north adds ~75 miles.

[garry]

Here's a look at the 376 mile version that extends south via 30, then north via 10. I'm liking this layout as it offers several opportunities for east-to-west shortcuts (28n, 28, 30) to trim the route length down as desired. You could also explore the Lake George area, then use one of those shortcuts as another option on the layout. Thoughts from the locals?

[chas]

It's a good route, big ride.  I'm not familiar with the streach from North Creek to Necomb though, I'll have to go take a look.  Is this the ride for Saturday?  I would make sure to do the Tracy Road early before weariness sets in.  Some may want to do it again in reverse.  Generally it is a good overall plan.  I think people will want to modify it somewhat, and that can be discussed Friday night.  This weather we are having better change...  We have reached 80 once this summer and it seems to rain alot.  

[garry]

It's a good route, big ride.  I'm not familiar with the streach from North Creek to Necomb though, I'll have to go take a look.  Is this the ride for Saturday?  I would make sure to do the Tracy Road early before weariness sets in.  Some may want to do it again in reverse.  Generally it is a good overall plan.  I think people will want to modify it somewhat, and that can be discussed Friday night.  This weather we are having better change...  We have reached 80 once this summer and it seems to rain alot.  

I think the route can be done in 10 hours. I figure 8 hours in the saddle is 400 miles plus a couple hours for breaks/lunch. Want a shorter day? Just chop off the bottom extension and head west to Speculator on 30. That saves 60 miles (317 total). I like to be on the road early (7-8) and stay out until dinner (5-6). So a 7am - 5pm ride followed by a shower, BS/beers and dinner at 7pm is near perfect for me. YMMV...

There is no "official" route or big group ride. People divide themselves into small groups and go do whatever they want. But people that are new to the area like to have some pre-planned routes to choose from. So I'm trying to cobble up a couple or three nice routes to get the discussion going.

It'd be great if people from the region could start posting up the "not to be missed" list of roads in the Dacks. BTW, the loop as I laid it out hits the "T" road in the first third (follow the waypoint numbers) and finishes with the back way past Whiteface Mtn. I too like to get my twisty fix in the morning and smell the flowers a bit more after lunch.

[Oilhed]

There is no "official" route or big group ride. People divide themselves into small groups and go do whatever they want. But people that are new to the area like to have some pre-planned routes to choose from. So I'm trying to cobble up a couple or three nice routes to get the discussion going.

I like it!  One of my fav routes is the direct route from Au Sable Forks to Owls head using local and state roads.  I'd do a map but it won't show the roads.  Stuff like 99, 4 & 1.

[garry]

One of my fav routes is the direct route from Au Sable Forks to Owls head using local and state roads.  I'd do a map but it won't show the roads.  Stuff like 99, 4 & 1.

I zoomed as far as I could in Streets and Trips and didn't see anything labeled "99". Did you mean 9N? Anyway, is this close to what your route is? A northern loop might a cool option as people may very well have ridden the south/central Dacks before but never got above the Tupper/Saranac/Lake Placid line.

[NHFZ1]

I zoomed as far as I could in Streets and Trips and didn't see anything labeled "99". Did you mean 9N? Anyway, is this close to what your route is? A northern loop might a cool option as people may very well have ridden the south/central Dacks before but never got above the Tupper/Saranac/Lake Placid line.

Garry,

The section of rt26/99 north of loon lake is a bombed out mess. I rode it two years ago and Hulkedup rode it last fall and it was still the same.

I'll look in my note book for some road suggestions.

Chuck

[garry]

Here's my first attempt at a "Vermont Loop" (375 miles). It includes the "T" road, and the Brandon, Middlebury and App Gaps in Vermont before heading north on 100 to Stowe, then 108 all the way north. Head west back to NY, then south to Lake Placid. Looks like a great ride. I may do this (in reverse) on Sunday and just keep heading south down 100...

[garry]

Garry,

The section of rt26/99 north of loon lake is a bombed out mess. I rode it two years ago and Hulkedup rode it last fall and it was still the same.

I'll look in my note book for some road suggestions.

Chuck

Thanks for the info!

[Corbeau]

I zoomed as far as I could in Streets and Trips and didn't see anything labeled "99". Did you mean 9N? Anyway, is this close to what your route is? A northern loop might a cool option as people may very well have ridden the south/central Dacks before but never got above the Tupper/Saranac/Lake Placid line.

Here's a link on a ride report featuring 99: http://www.grandcorbeau.com/nest/VFR/rides/lake_placid/index.html

Here's a quote:

What the map shows as 99 is indicated as Franklin County 86-or-something. But far more interesting are the historical markers for the Hopkinton and Port Kent turnpike, a road "under construction from 1829 to 1832. Cedar mileposts were set along the entire route with numbers cut into the wood. The entire route is currently maintained," wrote the Town of Franklin historian, but some might dispute the "currently maintained" part.

I didn't because I had a ball. The first half of that road, 15 miles, between the Au Sable river and Hwy 3, is narrow, curvy, and, in the middle, when one is furthest from civilization, covered in chip seal. It goes through the hamlets of Black Brook and Union Falls, place names you only discover by zooming way in, in Streets & Trips. The second half, 99 proper, 20 miles, had the same chip seal but so much sand it looked like the many, many, many kids could not get to sleep over there. The curves were posted as 25 mph but we were taking them at 20 mph, because the only place without sand was the two tire tracks and doing the usual "outside-inside-outside" line that David Hough writes about would have meant going on the sandy part twice at every curve.

Was it a nerve-wracking, butt-clenching, stressful experience? Not for me, once I stopped thinking about the cost of plastics on my VFR. I just picked the right gear (second, mostly, sometimes first or third) and faced the challenge head on. We went through Loon Lake and other deserted hamlets.