Photo at left: The Au Sable River at Au Sable Chasm along US 9 near Port Kent, NY on Lake Champlain.
One of the most beautiful and enjoyable places to ride in the Lower 48 is the Adirondack Region of northern New York State. I have ridden there multiple times since the early 1980s and have enjoyed it immensely. I have not camped more than a dozen times since 1980, but when I have, it's almost always been in the Adirondacks, along Middle Saranac Lake or the KOA near Jay.
Whenever I ride anywhere near the area, I try to include a path through this region. Here are some of the reasons why:
- There are many interesting places, such as Lake Placid, where the Winter Olympics have been held twice, the second time in 1980 when the US hockey team defeated the USSR and went on to win the gold medal. I also enjoy stopping in Old Forge, appreciating the fact that it's summer when I'm there. Old Forge has the distinction, along with places such as International Falls, Minnesota, as being one of the coldest populated places in the Lower 48 states. (See second photo.)
- I'm not a big fan of Kampgrounds of America (KOA) because most of their sites are too developed. However, the laws restricting development in the Adirondack region mean that the KOA on NY86 between Lake Placid and Jay is exceptional. There you can rent a cabin or pitch a tent that is actually in the woods, and in spring and early summer, when the snow melt is still flowing, you can hear the roar of the Au Sable River, which is adjacent to the KOA property. It's an easy walk to the river from the camping area.
- Also between Lake Placid and Jay lies Whiteface Mountain, upon which is built a road that will take you near to the summit. You'll have to walk or ride an elevator to reach the actual summit. From the top of Whiteface you have a fantastic view of Lake Placid and the surrounding region. I recommend taking a half day to ride up there.
- Along with the wonderful roads, scenery, and smells--the wonderful aroma of the region stands out in my memory--there are other fun things to do. The Au Sable is very accessible; more than once I have pulled my two-wheeler over and soaked my feet in the river. I also recommend you ride the ferry from Port Kent, NY across Lake Champlain to Burlington, Vermont and ride over to the Harley dealership in Essex Junction. (This was the first ferry on which I took one of my bikes.) If you can afford a day to swing a little further north, check out the massive locks at Massena, New York, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. West of there are the picture postcard beautiful Thousand Islands. (I will write about touring the Thousand Islands in a later post.)
The Adirondacks offer beauty and nature without being extreme -- in the summer. You do want to pay attention to the weather forecasts when traveling in this area. My friends and I once woke up to six inches of snow on the ground on Memorial Day at Middle Saranac Lake. It had been sunny and in the 70s each day since Friday! It was a scary and miserable ride out of the mountains. Note: Memorial Day is technically still spring. :-)
Photo at right: In Old Forge, NY I imagine how cold it must feel in February.