The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has announced Cycle Adirondacks, a week-long, road bike tour through the Adirondack Park featuring daily routes that will allow riders to be immersed in the forests, lakes, streams and abundant wildlife habitat of the famed Adirondack region.

Local WCS wildlife experts will be on hand all week to provide information on wildlife and other natural history. Registration is now open for the ride, which will take place August 23-29, 2015.

According to a statement issued to the press, WCS created this eco-tourism event to provide a world-class, fully supported cycling adventure that gives hundreds of riders the opportunity to enjoy the Adirondack Park’s natural and recreational resources. Registration fees will cover infrastructure and rider services, and will also support WCS’s programs in the Adirondack region. WCS’s mission in the Adirondacks is to promote wildlife conservation and healthy human communities.

“Cycle Adirondacks is a unique way for the Wildlife Conservation Society to showcase the picturesque natural landscape that is home to an incredible variety of wildlife​ and historic towns and villages of the Adirondack Park,” said Zoe Smith, director of WCS’s Adirondack Program. “From the quiet seat of a bike, this new event will provide a personal discovery of Adirondack wildlife and natural scenery. Riders should expect a top-notch event.”

The 2015 tour starts and ends in Saranac Lake, the headquarters of the WCS Adirondack Program, and includes overnight stops in Star Lake, Boonville, Camden, Old Forge and Long Lake. There will be a “layover day” in Old Forge where riders can pedal an optional route or take the day off the bike and enjoy the amenities available in the towns of Old Forge and Inlet.

Cycle Adirondacks is expected to benefit host communities by bringing roughly 600 riders and 100 volunteers to each town (organizers will also seek local volunteers to help stage the event in each community). This past year, WCS received a marketing grant from I Love New York through the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council to help build and promote Cycle Adirondacks. “The event has added two full-time positions to the region, and local vendors are being used whenever feasible,” a press announcement said. “While camping and meals are included in the event registration, riders will be encouraged to stay in local lodging and patronize local businesses along the way. The regional economic impact of the event is estimated at well over $1 million.”

Registration for Cycle Adirondacks includes three catered meals daily, stocked rest stops, camping, hot showers, baggage service, on-course safety support, a wellness tent, and a beer/wine garden and live entertainment that are both open to the public.

Total mileage for the week will be 400-500 miles, depending on options, with daily route ranging from 50 to 75 miles; total elevation gain will be roughly 2,000 feet. The cost is $1,495, and registration is limited to 600 participants. For more information visit www.cycleadirondacks.com.

Cycle Adirondacks 2015 kicked off with an ongoing preview tour of the proposed cycling route. The preview tour start with a public event in Saranac Lake on Saturday. On Sunday, a small group of event staff and guest riders set out on the route. They are expected to complete the tour by returning to Saranac Lake this Saturday, September 13th.

Follow Cycle Adirondacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A promotional video for the event has been posted online.

Photo above courtesy Kurt Gardner Photography; below, riders testing the route on Sunday pass Fish Creek Pond (from the Cycle Adirondacks Facebook page).