“Alternate Plan B” Bicycle Ride
in the Southern Adirondacks

by Art Goedeke

The summer cycling season is finally here. Weeknight club rides are becoming less challenging and almost routine. The “Alternate Plan B” ride is a nice break and scenic route from the weekly grind. The 65-mile ride through the Southern Adirondacks provides a challenge to riders of all abilities. The starting point in Warrensburg, New York is only an hour from the Capital District.

Mohawk-Hudson Cycling Club member Ernie Gobeille originally mapped the loop as a club ride in the late 1970’s. It has been an annual club event since that time with the ride remaining mostly true to the original layout.

The route sheet starting point is the Warrensburg Heath Center at the intersection of Routes 9 and 418. Take Northway (I-87 North) to Exit 23 to Route 9North. Take a right on Route 9North. Continue on Route 9 North (approximately 1mile) to the Health Center. You will pass a Stewart’s on your right along with Potter’s Restaurant. Potter’s Restaurant is highly recommended for pre-ride carbo-loading.

There is an alternate start area coming from the north at Exit 24. A sandy parking area is located directly off the exit at Schroon River Road and Route 11 intersection. You would begin your journey at 19.3 miles on your route sheet.

Our ride leaves the Health Center and goes south on Route 9. You will head out-of-town on Horicon Avenue. 1.8 miles from Warrensburg you will take a right on County Home Bridge Road to a new single lane bridge. This bridge takes the route over your first of many Schroon River crossings. An immediate right onto East Schroon River Road parallels the river before the next turn, a left onto Diamond Point Road. Diamond Point is a gentle climb before descending to Lake George. The downhill is long with many curves. If you are a “speed demon”, enjoy the 40 – 45mph “wind”.

The route heads north on Route 9. This is a freshly paved road, with a wide shoulder and terrific views of Lake George on your right. During tourist season Route 9 is a road frequently traveled, however, you are on it for a short distance. At 7.5 miles you will take a left onto Coolidge Hill Road and begin a 2-mile climb. The climb is long and steady, but not steep. You conquered the climb and now the route “rolls” through Trout Lake Road and Potter Hill Road to the Bolton Transfer Station. A 3-mile climb to County Route 11. Again, the climb is steady, but not steep. One of the best things about this ride is after every climb is an awesome downhill. After the trek to County Route 11, you will begin a 2-mile descent to Schroon River. This is another section of the route where you can go “full out”.

At 19.3 miles turn right onto Schroon River Road. This stretch is mostly flat and has some of the most scenic views of the route, as you will meander along Schroon River for 5 miles. A right turn (24.6) onto State Route 8 and then left onto Water Tub Road. This section of the route will take you right by an original artesian well on your left. For you trivia buffs, an artesian well is a deep drilled well through which water is forced upward under pressure. The water in an artesian well flows from an aquifer, which is a layer of very porous rock or sediment, usually sandstone, capable of holding and transmitting large quantities of water. You can fill your water bottles here. Bear left at the well and then turn right onto Valentine Road (25.7 miles). Valentine Road “rolls” past Valentine Pond to the Village of Adirondack on Schroon Lake (32.7 miles).

A must on this ride is a short layover at Adirondack General Store www.adkgeneralstore.com. This store has been in business for over 150 years. This rest stop is biker-friendly and has been a designated lunch area for many, many years. A few years back the Adirondack weather turned nasty. I was able to buy a pair of wool socks there and it saved the day. The ride continues from the general store along E. Shore Road. What a great stretch of road this is; mostly flat with scenic views of Schroon Lake the entire way. At 37 miles you will turn right onto Schroon River Road (past boat launch) to Route 9 South. Depending on the time of year, Route 9 can be busy, however, road shoulders are wide enough for a safe ride. This section of Route 9 rolls past Loon Lake on your left until it merges with State Route 8. Continue south on Routes 9 and 8. You can take in views of Loon Lake on your left. Loon Lake Town Beach is bike-friendly if you would like to cool off.

Next turn at mile 45 is a right onto Friends Lake Road. You should be warmed up by this time; there are not any flat sections here. I would call these ups and downs of “Adirondack rollers”. The tarmac ribbon seen in the distance is not as steep as it appears. After this section, you have earned another downhill descent to the Hudson River.

Friends Lake Road ends at State Route 28. Turn right at The Glen. Shoulder on the bridge is wide enough to stop, take a drink and enjoy a look at the Hudson River. While you are stopped, I would recommend eating a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, you are going to need the energy boost for the next 10 miles of “Adirondack Rollers”.

Immediately after the bridge, turn left onto Glen Athol Road (51.8 miles). This section is all up and down and road surface is “fair”. Views here are only “woodsy”, but traffic is extremely light. Enjoy your fitness on this section.

At the “T” intersection (58.1 miles) turn left. IT IS ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE!! REALLY!! Turn left at river onto State Route 418 and follow back to Warrensburg Health Center. Congratulations, you did it!

Ride Facts
Lowest Altitude: 324 feet (at Lake George)
Highest Altitude: 1,242 Feet (Somewhere on Potter Hill Road)
Total Vertical: ~3.800 feet
Miles of Climbing: 13.5
Miles of “Flat”: 32.7
Miles of Descending: 17

Art Goedeke lives in Delmar with his wife Debby. Art is a lifelong bicycling enthusiast and is employed by Colonial Supply in Albany.

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