Lake Placid to Wilmington to Lake Placid
Whiteface Dog-Bone Loop - 28.7 miles/ 1100' climbing. Total Distance: 28.7 miles (Approx. Your milage may vary.)
Climbing: approx 1100'.

A modified out and back route dominated by views of Whiteface Mountain, The East Branch of the Ausable River. The seven miles that you travel twice is through some of the most scenic riding areas in the region and the focus of your views will be different each way.

Start: Lake Placid, parking lot at High Peaks Cyclery, 331 Main Street (RT 86,) one block west of Rt 73.

The Long-winded Details

The first 16 miles of this ride is predominantly downhill or level. Shoulders on Rt 86 are generally wide after leaving Lake Placid and narrow again in Wilmington. Watch for some misplaced shoulder-high diamond-shaped signs marking a curve that can force a cyclist off the shoulder into the traffic lane. Though you will probably be travelling at a good pace heading out, you will be enjoying the long views of the mountain range ahead. Your return along a portion of this route will be somewhat slower as you climb, giving you a chance to enjoy the sights and sounds of the West Branch of the Ausable River, whose banks you will be hugging in places.

At approx 3.4 miles cross a bridge over the Ausable River and continue straight on Rt 86. (You will travel the road on the right on your return leg to Lake Placid.) The Ausable is a prime trout fishing stream and will be on your left for about the next 7 miles. Watch for a narrowing of the road (Wilmington Notch) where the shoulder fairly disappears, with the added feature of a depressed drainage grate to avoid. The rock faces towering over the river are popular climbing cliffs. You may spot climbers on these vertical trails. High Falls Gorge is on the left at approx. 7.5 miles. A NY State campground is at 8.9 miles. Whiteface Mountain Ski Area is on your left at 9.3 miles. Several restaurants and seasonally operated food places can be found as you enter Wilmington. At approx 12.3 miles, make a right at the stop sign. (see option 1.) Rt 86 turns here also and you will follow it for one block to Springfield Road (mile 12.6) A convenience store is on the corner and a small grocery store (good sandwiches) is another block up Rt 86 on the right.

Shoulders along Springfield Road are narrow but traffic should be very light. There are views of the mountains to the west, even more visable after the leaves fall in autumn. At approx. 14.5 miles, make a right on Fox Farm Road. The Whiteface Chalet Motel is on the left, opposite the turn. (There is no road sign marking this turn and missing it could add about 10 miles and an extremely serious climb to this ride. See LP-Ausable Forks Loop.) Fox Farm is a short road offering a great view of Whiteface as you head west, returning to Rt 86.

A left at the end of Fox Farm Road onto Rt 86 (15.4 miles) will head you back towards Lake Placid. As you approach Whiteface, you will begin to encounter the hills you cruised down earlier. There will be several places where the road narrows as it hugs the river bank and the opposite cliff. Watch for traffic as a stone wall eats up the shoulder.

The Ausable turns to the left at mile 22.2 and so does this route, onto Riverside Drive, a.k.a. 10th Mountain Division Hwy. (See option 2.) This is a winding and gently rolling stretch following close to the river. As you reach some open fields, in the distance you will see the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex looking very much like a pair of gigantic sea-horses peering over the valley. At the end of Riverside Rd. (mile 26.2) turn right on Rt 73 (Cascade Ave.) More views of Whiteface Mountain far to your right. You will pass the Jumping Complex on the left and on the right, the North Elba Show Grounds, home of the Lake Placid Horse Shows. Continue on Rt 73 to the light at the intersection with Rt 86 (mile 28.3.) Make a left and ride one block to the ride finish at High Peaks Cyclery. (Mile 28.5.)

Options

Option 1: Skip small loop in Wilmington by reversing direction and heading back the way you came. Cuts about 2 miles from ride.
Option 2: Skip Riverside Drive portion, heading straight on Rt 86 for about 3.4 miles. Returns you directly to your start in Lake Placid. Cuts about 3 miles.