Ausable River Association (AsRA) and Cycle Adirondacks (CycleADK) have announced the 8th Annual Ride for the River is set for Sunday, July 21st. The family-friendly event is a fully supported road cycling tour featuring four distance options, all showcasing the Ausable River watershed.

Ride for the River was created by AsRA in 2012 to celebrate the resilience of local communities following the devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Irene. In partnership with CycleADK, the 2019 event will feature interactive route stops allowing cyclists to learn about the impacts of road salt, invasive species, and undersized culverts on Ausable streams and habitat.

Proceeds from the event support the AsRA’s efforts to protect the clean waters, natural hydrology, diverse ecology, and scenic beauty of the Ausable. In recent years, the event has grown to draw cyclists from across the Northeast and Canada.

For the second straight year, CycleADK and The Hungry Trout will host the “Tailgater” a casual evening ride on Saturday, July 20. In addition, Adirondack Riverwalking will take interested guests into the river on Saturday morning for an immersive experience with the watershed.

Sunday’s main event will start and finish at the Hungry Trout Resort, located in Wilmington at the top of the Flume, a series of waterfalls that captures the natural beauty of the Ausable River.

Ride distances of 5, 30, 45 and 55 miles will feature Wilmington, Jay and Keene and will be marked with route signage.  Each community will feature interactive route stops where cyclists can get a first-hand guided look at the conservation work of AsRA.

Following the ride there will be food, local craft beer, live music from Steve Langdon, and a raffle including prizes from local retailers and Thule with all proceeds benefiting AsRA. The after-party starts at 1 pm and is open to everyone, even those who don’t participate in the ride. Guests can choose the family, couple, individual or BBQ-only ticket options.

Ride for the River is sponsored by the Hungry Trout Resort, High Falls Gorge, North Country Public Radio and other local businesses.

Registration and full event details are now available online.