Home |
| Back Issues |
| Message Boards |
| Calendar of Events |
| Race Results |
| Current Weather |
Advertise |
| Free Issue |
| Subscribe |
| Distributors |
| About Us |
Mountain Biking
in the Adirondacks:
Shelving
Rock Big Loop Trail
By Darryl
Caron
Location: Warren County, Towns of Fort Ann and Dresden, Lake George Wild Forest
Distance: 12.7 miles (with options for 3-4 more miles)
Terrain: Very hilly, old carriage roads, dirt roads, and single track trails
Difficulty Rating: Intermediate/Advanced
Highlights: near Lake George Village, secluded swimming and picnicking spots, primitive camping, and miles of additional, designated trails to explore.
Options: views of Lake George from Shelving Rock Mountain and biking along Lake George shoreline trail.
Directions to Trailhead: Take Adirondack Northway (I-87) to Exit 20: Route 149 - Queensbury. Turn left to follow northbound Route 9 for .4 mile, take first right onto Route 149. Follow for 6.6 miles (1.4 miles past Route 9L intersection). Turn left onto Buttermilk Falls Road, which later bears left onto Sly Pond Road. At 11.6 miles, the road turns to dirt. At 17 miles, stay left onto Hogtown Road. At 17.8 miles, pull into the Upper Hogtown Parking Area.
Maps: ADK Trail of the Adirondack Eastern Regional Map, Lake George Region Map (Adirondack Maps), and Shelving Rock USGS Quadrangle.
Description: Located on Lake George’s southeast shore, this tour represents some of the 38 miles of trails available to mountain bikes in the Lake George Wild Forest. There is a 1,000 foot elevation difference between the parking area and the shoreline of the lake, so these trails are recommended for fit riders who can handle technical terrain. The primitive campsites in Dacy Clearing can be accessed by car.
Itinerary: From trailhead parking lot, go north and uphill on the dirt road to Dacy Clearing, a grassy spot at the site of an old settlement. On the right, notice the well-preserved and interested old house foundation. At approximately 0.6 mile and 0.7 mile, the Buck Mountain Connector Trail and Old Farm Road, respectively, are passed. At 1.3 miles turn left (northwest) onto the Shortway Trail (the sign says Horse Trail). The trail, a wide dirt road, has a few rocks and descends towards the lake.
At 1.8 miles, the Old Farm Road intersects the Shortway Trial. Continue straight, a couple of rocky descents follow. At 2.4 miles and 2.6 miles, bridges are crossed; logs may follow. At 2.7 miles, the Big Bridges Trail goes off to the left (southwest); at 2.9 miles, a trail heading towards Erebus Mountain and the Shelving Rock Mountain appears on the right. Continue on the Shortway Trail past these. Immediately past this junction is a bridge. At 3.1 miles is another trail to the right, continue straight on the Shortway Trail.
At 3.6 miles, the Shelving Rock Mountain trail goes off to the right; take it. The sign says Black Mountain Point. This trail begins easily but begins to climb. There are a series switchbacks and the terrain is steep and rocky.
At 4.4 miles, the trail begins to go downhill; at 4.5 miles there is a trail junction. Continuing straight will bring the rider up Shelving Rock Mountain; turn right. The sign says Black Mountain Point. (Option: continue straight to climb Shelving Rock Mountain for nice views of Lake George).
Approximately 100 feet after this turn is another right turn. The sign again says Black Mountain Point. At this point the difficulty increases; the trail becomes singletrack and climbs.
At 4.8 miles there is a junction. A left turn leads to the lakeshore; go straight. There is a very steep climb, which may require walking. (Option: turn left for Shelving Rock Bay lakeshore for swimming and picnicking spots). At 5.6 miles a trail comes in from the right; continue straight. The trail now climbs and has rocks, roots, and sharp turns.
At 6.3 miles a trail off to the left leads to the lakeshore; it is very steep and may not be rideable. Continue straight. The sign says Erebus Mountain and Lakeshore. The trail ascends then descends. At 6.8 miles there is a junction with a trail off to the right; take this trail. This trail drops steeply and is challenging.
At 7.0 miles, a T-intersection is encountered. Turn right. The trail is now a wide road with rocks and goes downhill. At 7.7 miles the Longway Trail goes off to the left; stay off this, as riding conditions are very difficult. At 8.2 miles you come to the Shortway Trail where the route has been. Turn right and repeat this portion.
At 8.7 miles, ignore the trial up Shelving Rock Mountain, where you have been before, and continue onto Shelving Rock Road.
You can return to Hogtown Trailhead by riding up Shelving Rock Road. An option is to turn left at 9.0 miles onto the Big Bridges Trail. After crossing several bridges the trail begins to climb. At 9.9 miles you again reach the Shortway Trail. Turn right and climb for .9 mile. At 10.8 miles there is an intersection. Turn right onto Old Farm Road. At 11.4 miles ignore the trail (Shelving Rock Road) to the left. Continue straight. At 12.1 miles you return to the road from Hogtown Trailhead to Dacy Clearing. Turn right to return to the Hogtown Trail at 12.7 miles. (If you took both options, you will have extended the trip by 3-4 miles).
Nearest Bike Shops: Inside Edge Ski & Bike Shop, 624 Upper Glen St. (Route 9), Glens Falls. (518) 793-5676. Ricks Bike Shop, 368 Ridge Rd. (corner of Quaker Road), Glens Falls. (518) 793-8986.
Camping Permits and General Information: Forest Ranger Headquarters, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Hudson Street Extension, Box 220, Warrensburg, NY 12885. (518) 668-2233.
Additional Resources: Adirondack Park Preliminary 1994 Mountain Bike Preliminary Trail and Route Listing (Adirondack North Country Assn. & Adirondack Mountain Club), and 25 Mountain Bike Tours in the Adirondacks by Peter Kick (Backcountry Publications).
Current Weather | Trail Conditions | Links
Free Issue | Subscribe | About Us | Contact Us | Home
Copyright© 2000 Adirondack Sports & Fitness. All Rights Reserved.