LAKE PLACID – In our previous blog, we established hiking as, unquestionably, the most popular recreational activity for those visiting Lake Placid – This link opens in a new browser tab. But thanks to a cadre of groups, shops, municipalities and tourism entities, biking around Lake Placid and vicinity has definitely made noticeable inroads in recent years.
The reasons are the same: natural terrain (for mountain biking), scenery, easy access and rides for all levels of ability and interest. It’s also helped that nearby Wilmington has jumped in with both forks, establishing a bike festival – This link opens in a new browser tab weekend each June.
HIT THE ROAD
If road biking is your preference, you can begin at the Mirror Lake Inn, either on your bike or by renting one from our new fleet. Many of our roads have recently been resurfaced, making biking around Lake Placid a very smooth experience.
Once you leave the inn, turn left to avoid Main Street and use the backside of Mirror Lake, although if your preference is for biking around Lake Placid in the early morning, Main Street will still be asleep.
Keep it close to the town and village and you can’t exhaust yourself too much. But for those who want a dose of adrenaline with the biking around Lake Placid, try tackling a portion of the Ironman course.
Take Route 73 out of town. After a few miles, you’ll reach the Cascade Lakes where the roadway becomes a winding freefall into the Town of Keene. Word of caution: make doubly sure your bike is in working order before trying this. High Peaks Cyclery and Placid Planet Bicycles believe in safety first, so please visit their mechanics or your shop at home and come prepared.
If you take this on, remember….what goes down has to eventually come up….or some such saying. If you decide to climb Route 73 back to Lake Placid, or venture further afield by pedaling up Springfield Road to Upper Jay, you must be in shape for it either way.
HAPPY TRAILS
Biking around Lake Placid has a first cousin, and that’s mountain biking around Lake Placid. The choices here are outstanding and idyllic. Use the cross-country ski and snow shoe trail network at Mount Van Hoevenberg, just five miles from the hotel. A total of 30 miles awaits you – in and out of the woods – offering flats, steeps and pitches in between.
For more on this emerging activity in our region, here’s Andrew Weibrecht.
https://www.facebook.com/mirrorlakeinn/videos/229576814375998/
Another mountain biking choice would be the Whiteface Mountain Bike Park, 10 miles from the Mirror Lake Inn. From easy cruising around the base lodge, to single tracks and features in the woods, to a beautiful ride up Little Whiteface via the Cloudsplitter Gondola leading to some hellacious screamers, there’s something for every biker at the 1980 Olympic (ski) Mountain.
Back in Lake Placid, remember the Peninsula Nature Trails, accessible from Saranac Avenue opposite the Lake Placid Arts Center. Once you’re off the beaten path, you’ll find DEC signage bringing you to the Corridor Trail, Lake Shore Trail, Boundary Trail and Ridge Trail.
This is all fairly docile pedaling but be prepared to share these trails with other bikers, hikers, runners and walkers. After all, these are a few of the reasons why people visit and live here.