Adirondack Park Loop
| Adirondack Park Loop Albany, NY to Albany, NY 1 Map Set (431.5 mi.) |
GPX Data | Overview
Adirondack Park Loop Overview Image
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|---|---|
| 1. Albany, NY to Albany, NY (431.5 mi.) | Detail
Adirondack Park Loop Section 1 Detail Image
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Due to limited resources, the paper map versions of this route have been discontinued and will no longer be available once sold out. All sections of this route are still available digitally. More info here: Going Digital: App or GPX.
Explore Adirondack Park by bicycle.
The Adirondack Park Loop is almost entirely within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park. Starting in Albany, New York, the route travels north through Saratoga Springs before crossing the “Blue Line," the term that many locals and frequent visitors use for crossing the boundary into the park. Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the lower forty-eight states, greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon national parks combined.
The loop gives an excellent representation of what northern New York has to offer. There is no shortage of beautiful scenery along the route as it travels mostly on roads with very little traffic. The route passes over rolling hills of rural farmland and historic battlefields, through quaint towns, and climbs to some of the highest elevation points in the state.
This loop begins and ends at Jennings Landing Amphitheatre in the capital city of Albany. You’ll follow the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway along the Hudson and Mohawk rivers for some traffic-free riding to start the trip. After crossing the river and riding the first thirty-nine miles, you’ll need to decide to ride clockwise or counter-clockwise.
Heading counter-clockwise, cyclists will approach Saratoga Springs, famed for the Saratoga Race Course which is said to be the oldest continually operational sports venue of any kind in the country. Directly across the street from the race track is the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, located at 191 Union Ave. There you can learn about stories like how the legendary Man O’ War lost the only race of his career to a horse named “Upset.”
Continuing north from Saratoga Springs, it’s a short 15 miles before entering the Adirondack Park. Half of the acreage of the park belongs to all of the people of New York State and is constitutionally protected to remain “forever wild.” The remaining half is private land that includes farms, businesses and homes.
Past Ticonderoga, the route starts to hug the shore of Lake Champlain. While there won’t be a notation along the actual roadway, you’ve also just joined up with Adventure Cycling’s Green Mountains Loop. Arriving in Port Henry, there is an optional spur route that continues north along Lake Champlain to Port Kent. Here you can take a ferry to Burlington, Vermont. The ferry, which runs eight times a day in the height of the summer and four times a day in the fall, takes an hour and ten minutes to cross Lake Champlain. It should be noted that the ferry only operates from mid-June until late September.
Staying on the main route, you will soon encounter Lake Placid. Most everyone associates Lake Placid with the Olympics, and for good reason, because the small town of 2,500 people has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. There is a host of activities to see and do around the town that are associated with the Olympics, from watching ski jumpers fly off of ramps into a pool of water, to seeing ice skaters practice pirouettes in the historic ice arenas. Combine all of this with the many hotels, restaurants and coffee shops, and Lake Placid is a great place to spend an extra day or two.
The route continues to travel through smaller towns. And while they might not have the notoriety of Lake Placid, they are quaint, scenic towns in their own right. Tupper Lake is home to The Wild Center, and Blue Mountain Lake is home to Adirondack Experience. Both places are a must see for park enthusiasts.
After leaving the park traffic increases so use caution. Twenty miles or so after Gloversville, you arrive back at the point where you had to choose your direction of travel.
The 32.7-mi. Great Sacandaga Lake Alternate connects Broadalbin and Hadley. This alternate stays within the park and skips Saratoga Springs.
Photo by Dennis Coello
The loop gives an excellent representation of what northern New York has to offer. There is no shortage of beautiful scenery along the route as it travels mostly on roads with very little traffic. The route passes over rolling hills of rural farmland and historic battlefields, through quaint towns, and climbs to some of the highest elevation points in the state.
| Adirondack Park Loop - Main Route | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section | Distance | Elevation | Total Climb | Avg. Climb/mile |
| Total | 431.5 miles | Minimum: 0 ft. Maximum: 2,380 ft. |
23,835 ft. counterclockwise bound 23,890 ft. clockwise bound |
55 ft. per mi. counterclockwise bound 55 ft. per mi. clockwise bound |
| Adirondack Park Loop Alternates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Section | Distance | Total Climb | Avg. Climb/mi |
| Whiteface Mountain Alternate | 1 | 23.0 miles | 1,860 ft. counterclockwise bound 1,430 ft. clockwise bound |
81 ft. per mi. counterclockwise bound 62 ft. per mi. clockwise bound |
| Burlington Ferry Spur | 1 | 43.4 miles | 3,400 ft. north bound 3,485 ft. south bound |
78 ft. per mi. north bound 80 ft. per mi. south bound |
| Great Sacandaga Lake | 1 | 32.7 miles | 1,425 ft. north bound 1,650 ft. south bound |
44 ft. per mi. north bound 50 ft. per mi. south bound |
This route can be ridden anytime between late spring to mid-fall (typically April to mid-September).
Even though the route travels through smaller towns in the park, there are a plethora of services that cater to tourists. Some cyclists may want to do this route during the colors of autumn. If you do, call ahead to verify campgrounds because many close after Labor Day. If staying indoors, or at campgrounds, advance reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent or RV site, and that can easily be $10-$30/night. If you're friendly and ask around, you can often get yourself invited to camp in a yard. Our routes sometimes go through national forests (moreso in the west) and you are allowed to camp anywhere on national forest land as long as you "pack it in, pack it out." Many city parks are free to camp in.
You may also wish to sign up with Warmshowers, a reciprocal hospitality site for bicycle travelers, for other overnight options.
Route Highlights
- Adirondack Park
- Lake Placid
- John Brown State Historic Area
- High Falls Gorge
More Route Resources
- How to Travel with your Bike on Amtrak
- Bike the Bikeways
- Empire State Trail
- Mohawk Hudson Bikeway
- Bikeatoga (Saratoga Springs)
- Lake Champlain Ferries
- Fort Ticonderoga Ferry
- Lake Champlain Bikeways
- Bike Adirondacks
- Connect and share photos with other riders on Instagram: #acaAdironLoop
RIDING CONDITIONS
The Adirondack Park Loop gives an excellent representation of what northern New York has to offer. If you are flying to New York or Vermont to start the ride, the route is accessible from both the Albany and Burlington airports.
The route travels on a combination of lightly trafficked local roads and state highways with good shoulders. The heaviest traffic is generally confined to the areas immediately surrounding towns.
By mid-June, schools are closed in New York signaling the beginning of tourist season in the park. Also, black flies can be nasty in June; be prepared with bug spray.
If you are camping, be sure to call ahead as campgrounds can fill quickly during the end of summer and early fall. Note that some campgrounds close after Labor Day.
Riding out of Albany, the route follows a portion of the Empire State Trail, advcy.link/empire, locally known as the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, advcy.link/mohawkhudson.
Use caution crossing the Mohawk River. There is a bike path on the east side of the bridge. Visit Biketoga at advcy.link/Bikeatoga for information about other bicycling opportunities in Saratoga County.
The roads around Lake Placid are some of the most visually rewarding of the route and also the most crowded. SR 73 east of Lake Placid has narrow, curvy sections, and at times can be heavily traveled. The easiest way to beat the crowds is to start riding early in the day. Lake Placid (host of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games) is a great choice for a layover day, with several bicycle shops, breweries, and restaurants. North of Lake Placid, SR 86 is narrow and curvy in places but it is mostly flat and has a good shoulder.
The 23-mile Whiteface Mountain Alternate provides a gentler route around the mountain instead of over it. Services are scarce.
McMaster Rd. and Forest Home Rd. are winding, so use caution and stay to the right. On SR 30 the curves continue, though there is an excellent shoulder throughout. For more information about cycling in Adirondack Park, be sure to visit bikeadirondacks.com.
The 32.7-mile Great Sacandaga Alternate provides an option to stay mostly within the Adirondack Park boundary and skip Saratoga Springs. This alternate will work best for cyclists not starting and/or ending the route in Albany.
The 43.4-mile Burlington Ferry Spur deviates from the main route in Port Henry and travels north to Port Kent. From Port Kent, there are opportunities to cross Lake Champlain via ferry to access Burlington and its airport. For schedule and route information see ferries.com and forttiferry.com. Additional information about cycling around Lake Champlain can be found at champlainbikeways.org.
Near and in any major nature park cyclists will have to contend with higher traffic levels and RV drivers who are inexperienced. To avoid heavy traffic try to ride early in the day and make yourself and your bike visible.
All known Amtrak stations are listed on this map but not all stations provide bicycle service. Check if bicycle service is provided at both the starting and ending stations on your trip using the spreadsheet and other trip planning resources at advcy.link/amtrak.
CLIMATE
The climate of New York State is broadly representative of the humid continental type which prevails in the northeastern U.S. Lengthy periods of either abnormally cold or warm weather result from the movement of great high pressure systems into and through the eastern U.S. The summer climate is generally cool in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks. Micro-climates exist in this region with frost and even snow occurring in the mountains as early as mid-August.
Moisture for precipitation for the state is transported primarily from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean through storm systems. The state has a fairly uniform distribution of precipitation during the year. There are no distinctly dry or wet seasons which are regularly repeated on an annual basis. The prevailing wind is generally from the west, though a southwest component becomes evident in winds during the warmer months.
Updated: Jan 5, 2021-
GPX Data |
Overview
Adirondack Park Loop Overview Image
- 1. Albany, NY to Albany, NY (431.5 mi.)
-
Detail
| Map Updates and Corrections
Adirondack Park Loop Section 1 Detail Image
Due to limited resources, the paper map versions of this route have been discontinued and will no longer be available once sold out. All sections of this route are still available digitally. More info here: Going Digital: App or GPX.
Explore Adirondack Park by bicycle.
The Adirondack Park Loop is almost entirely within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park. Starting in Albany, New York, the route travels north through Saratoga Springs before crossing the “Blue Line," the term that many locals and frequent visitors use for crossing the boundary into the park. Adirondack Park is the largest publicly protected area in the lower forty-eight states, greater in size than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier, and Grand Canyon national parks combined.
The loop gives an excellent representation of what northern New York has to offer. There is no shortage of beautiful scenery along the route as it travels mostly on roads with very little traffic. The route passes over rolling hills of rural farmland and historic battlefields, through quaint towns, and climbs to some of the highest elevation points in the state.
This loop begins and ends at Jennings Landing Amphitheatre in the capital city of Albany. You’ll follow the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway along the Hudson and Mohawk rivers for some traffic-free riding to start the trip. After crossing the river and riding the first thirty-nine miles, you’ll need to decide to ride clockwise or counter-clockwise.
Heading counter-clockwise, cyclists will approach Saratoga Springs, famed for the Saratoga Race Course which is said to be the oldest continually operational sports venue of any kind in the country. Directly across the street from the race track is the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, located at 191 Union Ave. There you can learn about stories like how the legendary Man O’ War lost the only race of his career to a horse named “Upset.”
Continuing north from Saratoga Springs, it’s a short 15 miles before entering the Adirondack Park. Half of the acreage of the park belongs to all of the people of New York State and is constitutionally protected to remain “forever wild.” The remaining half is private land that includes farms, businesses and homes.
Past Ticonderoga, the route starts to hug the shore of Lake Champlain. While there won’t be a notation along the actual roadway, you’ve also just joined up with Adventure Cycling’s Green Mountains Loop. Arriving in Port Henry, there is an optional spur route that continues north along Lake Champlain to Port Kent. Here you can take a ferry to Burlington, Vermont. The ferry, which runs eight times a day in the height of the summer and four times a day in the fall, takes an hour and ten minutes to cross Lake Champlain. It should be noted that the ferry only operates from mid-June until late September.
Staying on the main route, you will soon encounter Lake Placid. Most everyone associates Lake Placid with the Olympics, and for good reason, because the small town of 2,500 people has twice hosted the Winter Olympics. There is a host of activities to see and do around the town that are associated with the Olympics, from watching ski jumpers fly off of ramps into a pool of water, to seeing ice skaters practice pirouettes in the historic ice arenas. Combine all of this with the many hotels, restaurants and coffee shops, and Lake Placid is a great place to spend an extra day or two.
The route continues to travel through smaller towns. And while they might not have the notoriety of Lake Placid, they are quaint, scenic towns in their own right. Tupper Lake is home to The Wild Center, and Blue Mountain Lake is home to Adirondack Experience. Both places are a must see for park enthusiasts.
After leaving the park traffic increases so use caution. Twenty miles or so after Gloversville, you arrive back at the point where you had to choose your direction of travel.
The 32.7-mi. Great Sacandaga Lake Alternate connects Broadalbin and Hadley. This alternate stays within the park and skips Saratoga Springs.
Photo by Dennis Coello
RIDING CONDITIONS
The Adirondack Park Loop gives an excellent representation of what northern New York has to offer. If you are flying to New York or Vermont to start the ride, the route is accessible from both the Albany and Burlington airports.
The route travels on a combination of lightly trafficked local roads and state highways with good shoulders. The heaviest traffic is generally confined to the areas immediately surrounding towns.
By mid-June, schools are closed in New York signaling the beginning of tourist season in the park. Also, black flies can be nasty in June; be prepared with bug spray.
If you are camping, be sure to call ahead as campgrounds can fill quickly during the end of summer and early fall. Note that some campgrounds close after Labor Day.
Riding out of Albany, the route follows a portion of the Empire State Trail, advcy.link/empire, locally known as the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, advcy.link/mohawkhudson.
Use caution crossing the Mohawk River. There is a bike path on the east side of the bridge. Visit Biketoga at advcy.link/Bikeatoga for information about other bicycling opportunities in Saratoga County.
The roads around Lake Placid are some of the most visually rewarding of the route and also the most crowded. SR 73 east of Lake Placid has narrow, curvy sections, and at times can be heavily traveled. The easiest way to beat the crowds is to start riding early in the day. Lake Placid (host of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games) is a great choice for a layover day, with several bicycle shops, breweries, and restaurants. North of Lake Placid, SR 86 is narrow and curvy in places but it is mostly flat and has a good shoulder.
The 23-mile Whiteface Mountain Alternate provides a gentler route around the mountain instead of over it. Services are scarce.
McMaster Rd. and Forest Home Rd. are winding, so use caution and stay to the right. On SR 30 the curves continue, though there is an excellent shoulder throughout. For more information about cycling in Adirondack Park, be sure to visit bikeadirondacks.com.
The 32.7-mile Great Sacandaga Alternate provides an option to stay mostly within the Adirondack Park boundary and skip Saratoga Springs. This alternate will work best for cyclists not starting and/or ending the route in Albany.
The 43.4-mile Burlington Ferry Spur deviates from the main route in Port Henry and travels north to Port Kent. From Port Kent, there are opportunities to cross Lake Champlain via ferry to access Burlington and its airport. For schedule and route information see ferries.com and forttiferry.com. Additional information about cycling around Lake Champlain can be found at champlainbikeways.org.
Near and in any major nature park cyclists will have to contend with higher traffic levels and RV drivers who are inexperienced. To avoid heavy traffic try to ride early in the day and make yourself and your bike visible.
All known Amtrak stations are listed on this map but not all stations provide bicycle service. Check if bicycle service is provided at both the starting and ending stations on your trip using the spreadsheet and other trip planning resources at advcy.link/amtrak.
CLIMATE
The climate of New York State is broadly representative of the humid continental type which prevails in the northeastern U.S. Lengthy periods of either abnormally cold or warm weather result from the movement of great high pressure systems into and through the eastern U.S. The summer climate is generally cool in the higher elevations of the Adirondacks. Micro-climates exist in this region with frost and even snow occurring in the mountains as early as mid-August.
Moisture for precipitation for the state is transported primarily from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean through storm systems. The state has a fairly uniform distribution of precipitation during the year. There are no distinctly dry or wet seasons which are regularly repeated on an annual basis. The prevailing wind is generally from the west, though a southwest component becomes evident in winds during the warmer months.
Updated: Jan 5, 2021The loop gives an excellent representation of what northern New York has to offer. There is no shortage of beautiful scenery along the route as it travels mostly on roads with very little traffic. The route passes over rolling hills of rural farmland and historic battlefields, through quaint towns, and climbs to some of the highest elevation points in the state.
Adirondack Park Loop
- service waypoints
- 224
- minimum elevation
- 0 ft.
- maximum elevation
- 2380 ft.
- counterclockwise bound total climbing
- 23,835 ft.
- clockwise bound total climbing
- 23,890 ft.
- counterclockwise bound climb per mile
- 55 ft. per mi.
- clockwise bound climb per mile
- 55 ft. per mi.
Adirondack Park Loop Alternates
- name
- Whiteface Mountain Alternate
- distance
- 23.0 miles
- counterclockwise bound total climbing
- 1,860 ft.
- clockwise bound total climbing
- 1,430 ft.
- counterclockwise bound climb per mile
- 81 ft. per mi.
- clockwise bound climb per mile
- 62 ft. per mi.
- name
- Burlington Ferry Spur
- distance
- 43.4 miles
- north bound total climbing
- 3,400 ft.
- south bound total climbing
- 3,485 ft.
- north bound climb per mile
- 78 ft. per mi.
- south bound climb per mile
- 80 ft. per mi.
- name
- Great Sacandaga Lake
- distance
- 32.7 miles
- north bound total climbing
- 1,425 ft.
- south bound total climbing
- 1,650 ft.
- north bound climb per mile
- 44 ft. per mi.
- south bound climb per mile
- 50 ft. per mi.
This route can be ridden anytime between late spring to mid-fall (typically April to mid-September).
Even though the route travels through smaller towns in the park, there are a plethora of services that cater to tourists. Some cyclists may want to do this route during the colors of autumn. If you do, call ahead to verify campgrounds because many close after Labor Day. If staying indoors, or at campgrounds, advance reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
Some campgrounds will charge a cyclist traveling alone less if they have hiker/biker sites, but often they will charge the price of a regular tent or RV site, and that can easily be $10-$30/night. If you're friendly and ask around, you can often get yourself invited to camp in a yard. Our routes sometimes go through national forests (moreso in the west) and you are allowed to camp anywhere on national forest land as long as you "pack it in, pack it out." Many city parks are free to camp in.
You may also wish to sign up with Warmshowers, a reciprocal hospitality site for bicycle travelers, for other overnight options.
- Adirondack Park
- Lake Placid
- John Brown State Historic Area
- High Falls Gorge
More Route Resources
- How to Travel with your Bike on Amtrak
- Bike the Bikeways
- Empire State Trail
- Mohawk Hudson Bikeway
- Bikeatoga (Saratoga Springs)
- Lake Champlain Ferries
- Fort Ticonderoga Ferry
- Lake Champlain Bikeways
- Bike Adirondacks
- Connect and share photos with other riders on Instagram: #acaAdironLoop
