LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk Northeast Adirondacks High Peaks Region There are first-class mountain bike destinations, and then there are great places to live that happen to have access to some good mountain biking. Not too many places can claim both distinctions. But the High Peaks Region, including the communities of Wilmington, Lake Placid, and Saranac Lake, is one such place. Over the past five years, local mountain bikers have been hard at work building, maintaining, and mapping over 50 miles of community-based single track trails in an area where options for this kind of riding were previously very limited. The Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) formed in 2009 and quickly capitalized on the groundwork laid by previous volunteer initiatives. BETA has made collaboration and volunteerism a priority, and the result is a diversity of trails situated on public and private land that are sure to keep even the most seasoned mountain bikers busy for days on end. The Flume and Hardy Road trail systems in Wilmington are a great place to begin your visit to this region. At the Flume, riders will find 15 miles of single track featuring everything from twisty, buttery- smooth sections to steep, rocky climbs and descents. Head to Hardy Road to test your climbing fortitude on "All In" and then enjoy your reward, an insanely fun downhill with tons of rock features and fast straightaways. Hardy Road has seven miles of trails with something to please any rider. Wilmington is also home to the infamous "Poor Man's Downhill," which descends 1200 vertical feet in three miles. Originally conceived as a snowmobile route, the trail has become one of the popular downhill runs in the area (though a full downhill rig is not necessary to enjoy yourself). Leaving a car at the bottom and driving to the top is the preferred method, and the Town of Wilmington will begin offering weekend shuttles for mountain bikers this year. The next stop on your list should be Lake Placid. The Olympic Village now boasts over 30 miles of single track. The Lussi Trails behind the Lake Placid Club golf course provide the highest concentration of trails and easiest access from town. Be sure not to miss "Twisted Sister" and see if you can figure out which trails were given names lifted from a popular 1980s cult movie. Ride south from the Lussi Trail network on the Jackrabbit Trail to find the new trails on town property, near the Craig Wood Golf Club. BETA began construction on these machine-built trails in 2011, and they are surely unlike anything else you'll find within the Blue Line. Most obstacles were removed during construction, providing a fast, firm, riding surface that will appeal to beginners and experts alike. Finally, no tour of the region is complete without a stop in Saranac Lake to ride nine miles of trails at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center and Mt. Pisgah Ski Area. At Dewey, hand-built single track is intertwined with a system of cross-country ski trails, but the two rarely overlap. Mt. Pisgah provides three miles of buffed-out, machine-built multi- use trail on the flanks of this tiny downhill ski area, and will soon feature a gravity trail for those looking to test their free-riding skills. More Information: Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) barkeatertrails.org Placid Planet Bicycles placidplanetbicycles.com High Peaks Cyclery highpeakscyclery.com Bill Frazer and Mark Nassan ride the magical forest, Coniferous Trail, Hardy Road, Wilmington Mountain Bikers hop the Adirondack Scenic Railroad to Carter Station Photo by Kurt Gardner Photo by Josh Wilson

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