Dewey Mountain Recreation Center inaugurated 5.5 miles of new mountain biking trails with a ribbon cutting Sunday in Saranac Lake.

Volunteers from Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA) built the trails over the course of the past four years. There are options for beginners as well as experts, made clear by a new trail map and signage installed by BETA and North Country Healthy Heart Network. The trails are free and open to the public. Hikers and runners are also welcome to use the Dewey network of ski, snowshoe and bike trails during non-snow months.

Dewey Mountain Recreation Center is a four-season mountain-sports venue founded by the town of Harrietstown in 1980. The entrance is one mile west of downtown Saranac Lake on state Route 3.

BETA develops, maintains and advocates for diverse and connected multi-use trails in the Adirondack Tri-Lakes region. BETA is currently building a network of trails at Mount Pisgah, Saranac Lake’s downhill-ski venue.

North Country Healthy Heart Network, Inc., promotes physical activity and other strategies to decrease the incidence of cardiac disease, stroke and related issues in northern New York.

Also participating in the trail opening were Franklin County Traffic Safety Board, Human Power Planet Earth, Placid Planet Bicycles, Tops, Hannaford, Price Chopper, Kinney Drug and Blue Line Brewery.

For more information on Dewey trails call Adirondack Lakes & Trails Outfitters at (518) 891–7450 or visit deweymountain.com.

Photo: Jasper Wiech and Adrian Hayden break the ribbon on 5.5 miles of new mountain-biking trails at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center. Holding the ribbon are Harrietstown town Councilman Ron Keough, left, and Matt McNamara, president of Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA), which constructed the trails. Photo courtesy Chris Morris.