The Ironman USA Lake Placid Loop

by Brandon E. Boutelle

To many people “Ironman” represents the ultimate in athletic challenges. Human endurance is pitted against some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world, and this is no more evident than the legendary Ironman USA triathlon bike course in and around Lake Placid and Essex County.

The “loop” begins at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid, and takes riders on a 56-mile tour of some of the most historic and picturesque landscapes the Adirondack region has to offer. While this article will give the rider a general overview of the course, complete turn-by-turn directions can be obtained at www.ironmanusa.com. Mileages are marked in blue paint at roughly every 10 to 15 miles along the shoulder of the route.

Most people start and finish the loop in Lake Placid, as such, it is recommended that you park your car along Lake Placid Club Drive near Mirror Lake beach. While one could start anywhere along the loop, the Lake Placid amenities make it a great place to finish.

Before heading out, a brief note on equipment and clothing. Adirondack weather is notoriously unpredictable, therefore dress appropriately and be prepared if conditions deteriorate. Additionally, while the loop does pass through some towns, several stretches are desolate and assistance can be miles away. Be sure to carry – and know how to use – spare tubes, patches, a tire pump/CO2, tire levers, etc. Enough of the lecture from mom, let’s roll.

Leaving Lake Placid, the loop follows NY Route 73 (Sentinel Road) past the North Elba Show Grounds with the 1980 Olympic Torch on the left and the MacKenzie-Intervale Ski Jumping Complex on the right. After crossing the West Branch of the Ausable River, you encounter one of the loop’s longer sustained climbs for approximately one mile. As you climb this moderate pitch, to your right is a postcard picture view of the High Peaks.

After this first climb, the route takes riders over rolling terrain for the next couple of miles, eventually passing the access road to the Verizon Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. “Van Ho” is home to the Olympic bobsled/luge track and the cross-country ski/biathlon trails. Proceed up a brief incline to the highest elevation of the loop at 2,202 feet. At this point, you’ll be at the parking pull-off areas for Cascade Mountain (ranked 36 of the Adirondack 46ers) to rider’s right and Pitchoff Mountain to the left.

The route now hugs the banks of the Cascade Lakes. A word of caution, road conditions through the “Cascades” are horrible. The road surface is cracked, broken and full of potholes. Shoulders are non-existent in places and generally unsafe to ride on when available. Add traffic and sometimes high winds, bottom line: be careful. Fortunately, this section is brief and road conditions improve for the rest of the loop.

As riders leave the Cascades and start down the Keene hill, to the left are the Pitchoff Walls that are known for some of the best rock and ice climbing in the Adirondacks.

The Keene hill: love it or fear it, get ready to descend from 2,200 feet in elevation to 700 feet in approximately four miles. The “hill” is really only a steep pitch, then a moderate to flat section and finally another steep pitch. The shoulder is generally in good shape but there are few cracks and sinkholes to watch out for. Riding slightly to the left of the fog line in the travel lane (being mindful of traffic) is, in my opinion, the safest place to ride on the Keene hill.

As you enter Keene and throttle back from warp speed, the loop takes a left onto NY Route 9N towards Upper Jay and Jay. The terrain of this section is the “flattest” on the entire loop as it follows the East Branch of the Ausable River. Upper Jay is reached at mile 25 where riders bear right continuing to follow Route 9N after crossing the river.

Approaching Jay, riders pass a large pull-off/picnic area on the right and pop up a small hill into the population center. In Jay, take a left onto Route 86 (uphill) toward Wilmington. At the intersection of Routes 9N and 86 is a small grassy park on the right referred to as the “Village Green,” which is a popular spot to park for cyclists heading out on some of the other routes in the Ausable area.

Leaving the intersection, riders encounter another of the loop’s longer, sustained climbs. After the climb, riders can catch their breath as they cruise downhill passing the headquarters of “Adirondack Life” magazine on the left. In addition, Whiteface Mountain with its clearly visible ski trails is now in view.

Heading over a couple of miles of rolling terrain, the course then descends into Wilmington, where you turn right onto Haselton Road. Across from the Haselton Road turnoff is a Wilson Farms gas station/convenience store where you can purchase food or fluids.

The Haselton Road section is a seven-mile out and back, thus riders will be returning to Route 86 after completing this segment. The first mile is flat turning to a slight incline, then leading into a nice downhill (read: uphill on the way back). Past the hill, Haselton Road follows the West Branch of Ausable River through open fields and meadows for a few miles before disappearing back into the woods. A few quick climbs later, you emerge in the neighborhood of Black Brook and the turn-around, which is clearly marked at the end of the road with a big blue Ironman logo and reverse arrow. Turn around and head back the way you came. Now is a good time to take in a gel or energy bar – you will need some energy for the trip back to Lake Placid. At the turn-around, riders are approximately 18 miles from Lake Placid.

As mentioned above, that initial downhill on Haselton Road is now a fairly respectable climb. Once the climb is over, riders will come back to Route 86 and make a right. The loop takes you over the Ausable River and up to the Wilmington four corners intersection where you will take a left continuing on Route 86 towards Lake Placid. Straight-ahead from the four corners is the Whiteface Mountain Veteran’s Memorial Highway, a long steep climb averaging a grade of 8-percent up the shoulder of Whiteface. This is where the Whiteface Uphill Bike Race starts.

Following Route 86, you pass a few restaurants and ice cream shops – your last chance for food and water until Lake Placid. Now begins lady gravity’s revenge as she takes back that vertical drop you took careening down the Keene hill. She will not get you with one mortal wound, but with many tiny cuts.

Outside Wilmington, you reach a modest climb that crosses over the West Branch of the Ausable River at an area called the “flume,” due to narrow canyon the river travels through. The road levels off somewhat as you pass the Hungry Trout Restaurant and approach the Whiteface access road. While learning to respect vertical drops, marvel at Whiteface Mountain ski area which boasts the greatest vertical drop in the east.

Around the access road, you encounter a few little climbs here and there until you reach “Don Cherry,” the first of the cleverly named hills on the way back to Lake Placid. If you look carefully, you will see the faded names of the hills painted on the shoulder of the road.

Past Don Cherry you continue to ascend until reaching High Falls Gorge where there is a quick downhill, and then a flat run out before entering into the Wilmington Notch. Thanks to some recent road construction, the Wilmington Notch section has been repaved and the rock retaining walls along the Ausable River have been reconstructed. The area is much safer now for cyclists due to these improvements. A few short climbs and then you are out of the Notch and traveling along a rolling section of road which hugs the river. This area is popular with fly fishermen so be alert for pedestrians walking along the road.

The ride stays fairly tame until just after you cross the Ausable River near where Riverside Drive intersects with Route 86. Just after the bridge, riders encounter two climbs named “Little Cherry” and “Big Cherry.” The names come from the Cherry Patch ponds which are adjacent to the road.

Past the Cherries, riders are just a few miles from Lake Placid but before you can relax, you must tangle with a sequence of hills known as the “Three Little Bears.” The first is climb is “Mamma Bear,” the second is “Baby Bear,” and the last is “Papa Bear.” Once you ride these hills, you will figure out why they were named in such order.

At the top of Papa Bear, hook an immediate right onto Northwoods Road. After one last short climb, the Northwoods School will be on your right. Just past the school, Northwoods Road intersects with Lake Placid Club Drive. Take a left and head along the Mirror Lake shore back into Lake Placid.

If you parked near the beach, go for a quick dip, then cross the street to the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery for an ice cold Ubu Ale – you earned it. While you may not be an official “Ironman,” you have had a taste of this challenging course. Now imagine doing a second loop like the Ironman triathletes!

Brandon E. Boutelle of Lake Placid is the deputy public defender for Essex County. He is a 2005 Ironman USA Lake Placid finisher and will be competing in the 2006 event on July 23.

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