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Camp Santanoni Historic Area, Newcomb, NY
Did you know that the five-mile gravel road that leads to the Historic Camp Santanoni is perfect for a family bike ride?
The Newcomb Lake Road Trail is a 5-mile gravel former carriage road that extends from the trailhead at the Gate Lodge to Newcomb Lake. Bring a blanket and snacks and enjoy a picnic by the lake before exploring the camp.
The road is open to biking when there is no snow on the ground. The trail ascends 350 feet in 3.0 miles and then descends 250 feet to the Main Complex on Newcomb Lake. The trail passes through the Farm Complex 0.7 mile from the trailhead.
The Camp Santanoni Historic Area is a very unique location in the Adirondack Forest Preserve. It is considered one of the most sophisticated and distinguished of all of the surviving great camps in the Adirondacks. This National Historic Landmark was created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Robert C. and Anna Pruyn, serving as a place to entertain guests and find refuge from city life.
Almanack file photo
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However, be aware that about 4 miles of it is uphill and then a steep run down to the camp. Bur coming back the 4 mile ride out is marvelous! Have biked it three times, skied it and hiked it. It’s a treasure and too bad the barn burned down too!
I biked the road many years ago and found it strenuous. Luckily I was in good shape. The main problem was sand – very difficult to pedal in. Has the road improved?
A very nice easy dirt and gravel ride is from Horseshoe Lake out to Lows Lake. Easy and flat (former rail road). You can park about a mile past Horseshoe (space for 4-5 cars) and bike the remaining 2-1/2 miles. Great for families
We w rode in one time to the picnic table to eat lunch. There was a canoe chained up to the table. A group of canoeists paddled in and came up to eat lunch also. One guy kept looking at us and then at the canoe and finally asked us how we got our bikes in the canoe!!!
This in reference to the trip above into Hitchins Pond!
Is this ride good for road bikes and hybrids or only mountain bikes?
Its a gravel/dirt path. A 23-25mm road tire might be a bit sketchy, a buddy rode on 28mm slick tires with no issues. We extended another 3 miles on the road to Sabattis, which is questionable as to whether its open to the public. No signage stated “private road”, but the trees along the road stated private property. The Sabbatis road was more rugged and had many sandy washouts my buddys bike at trouble with. I was on a gravel bike with 43mm semi knobby tires with no issues, perfect bike for this.