Ride Report: North Branch Saranac River Ramble
I’ve ridden my gravel bike many times on the conservation-easement lands north of Saranac Lake in the vicinity of Loon Lake. They were all good rides, but I especially liked one that I call the North Branch Ramble.
On this 27-mile loop you cross the North Branch of the Saranac River four times and, in a delightful finish, parallel it for much of the last seven miles.
The route makes use of logging roads on the Sable Highlands easement lands, the former New York Central rail bed, and local dirt roads. It entails about 1,300 feet of climbing. Be aware that one section of one of the logging roads is a bit rough for a gravel bike, though I managed to stay in the saddle.
The loop begins at the junction of Goldsmith Road and a logging road. However, I suggest parking in the Saranac Lake Public Use Area about 0.15 miles east of the junction. Under the easement agreement, this 415-acre parcel affords anglers and hikers access to a secluded stretch of the North Branch.
In the description that follows, I calculate the mileage from the Public Use Area. Note that the figures are approximate.
After parking, bike west on Goldsmith Road to the junction and turn right onto a logging road known as Liberty Road. You soon cross the river for the first time and then come to a fork in the road. Bear right here.
About a mile farther into the ride, you cross a brook and begin a long, gradual climb with views of the Elbow Range. At 4.25 miles, you pass Joe’s Club, a hunting camp. In another half-mile, you come to a T-intersection. Turn right on a logging road known as Wolf Pond Mountain Road.
You are about to encounter the roughest stretch of the ride. Parts of this road are eroded, creating a surface of loose stone and dirt as well as rocky downhills. If you go slow, you may be able to ride out the hard parts, but keep in mind you always have the option of dismounting.
At 8.0 miles, Wolf Pond Mountain Road flattens out. For the rest of the ride through the easement lands (more than eight miles), the surface of the roads is excellent for gravel biking.
At 9.25 miles, after passing a camp, you reach another T-intersection. Turning left, you immediately cross the Salmon River, which rises in the Elbow Range and flows to the St. Lawrence. At 9.7 miles, turn left onto the D&H Road, a logging road that follows an old railroad bed.
The D&H Road leads in 5.2 miles to Fishhole Pond, with views of the Elbow Range, Catamount Mountain, and the Loon Lake Mountains. Continue almost two miles to a four-way intersection. Go straight, following a dirt road a short distance to County 26, which passes through the resort community of Loon Lake.
Cross the paved highway and turn left onto a utility corridor that once was a New York Central railroad bed. Sections of the corridor are covered with chunky gravel that is not ideal for biking. Stay on the corridor for a little more than a mile until reaching an easy exit onto a dirt road on the left.
Maps differ on the road’s name. It’s either Mensink Road or the Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road. In either case, once on it, you soon find yourself coasting downhill past a junction with Blue Spruce Road. Beyond here the road gets rougher as it climbs over a hill to a bridge spanning the North Branch (reached at 19.5 miles).
The old bridge is now closed to motor vehicles, but cyclists still use it. The views from the bridge are quite scenic. In one direction, you look across Mud Pond toward the Loon Lake Mountains. In the other, you watch a gentle stretch of the North Branch flow around a grassy bend.
After crossing the bridge, turn left onto Thatcherville Road for a spectacular finish to the ride. The smooth dirt road parallels the river, offering many pleasing views. In less than a mile, you cross the North Branch for the third time.
At 22.6 miles, you cross County 26 again to get on Goldsmith Road. Now the river is on your right until, in another three miles, you cross it for the fourth and final time. In another mile and a half, you’re back to the starting point.
For the variety of scenery and riding, the North Branch Ramble is hard to beat.
