Please help, planning Scenic Drive! :)

[Snarcher!]

hey whats up everyone, my name is Brian, I have hiked Mt Marcey, camped on island in lake george, did a little hard time at camp chingacook and went to school at SUNY potsdam thus have drive the roads a million times.

I am part of a BMW club, and we are about 15 members that usualy drive around mass/VT/NY but have never ventured as a group up into the adirondacks

anyways my question is, do any of you know any hidden secret back roads that are amazing or anything?

what i was planning is going from albany to lake geoege, getting off at warrensburg
going to blue mtn lake
tupper lake then over to saranac and LP
then way over and take 9 all the way down from fort ticonderoga,

so if anyone knows any cool short cuts of hot spots to stop and take pictures or something please chime in!!

thank you very much!!

[Rookie]

Welcome Brian,

I wish I could be helpful but I have to tell ya, I've been reading this forum religiously for a year and never seen any discussion on places to drive. Maybe I missed that part.

[NukedRocket]

When are you going? Timing may play a big part in what you can and can't see. e.g. Whiteface. If LP is on the itinerary a jaunt up 86 to the toll road and to the summit would be cool, but you can't do that in Feb (at least the driving part).

[percious]

Hey snarcher!

Glad you made it over here. I am sure everyone here will love to lend some info, maybe we can even flush out a few BMW fanatics!

-percious

[Snarcher!]

trip going to be around june/july so you can drive to the top of whiteface? that must be nuts! anyone have pics?


hey percious, are you the same one that sent me some pics of that abandoned mill town??

[Kevin]

I like the section from exit 29 off route 87, heading towards Newcomb. There's a few clearings along the way that are nice. Once near newcomb, take a right to head towards Tahawus, then even take Upper Works road for a ways and look right. Upper Works is a dirt road, so expect dirt and rocks (which may not be the ideal driving conditions).

Other nice stretches are from Saranac Lake to Lake Placid, and north from Lake Placid towards Paul Smith's. Another one is 9N, as well as anything along route 86 between Lake Placid and Keene. You really can't go wrong with your agenda, I would just start at exit 29 instead .

[Wildernessphoto]

trip going to be around june/july so you can drive to the top of whiteface? that must be nuts! anyone have pics?

Hi Snarcher!
Welcome aboard! There's a lot of good roads, that take you deep in, but I wouldn't do them in a B'mer!
If your looking for curves, I'd try Rt. 10 from Canajaharie on the Thruway to Piseco, Rt. 86 from Lake Placid to Wilmington, and another that comes to mind is the Powley Rd. off Rt. 10 (dirt). There are other good dirt roads, like the moose river plains, floodwood Rd off Rt.30, and the road out of Nobleboro heading north of Rt.8.
If your into 4x4's there are some other cowpaths i could put you on if your interested.

Here's a shot from Whiteface:

[Boreal Chickadee]

Hey Gary, you don't need a 4 x 4 for those cowpaths! About every 12 months I have to have my car aligned becuase I treat it like a giant silver truck! The guy at Honda wants to know where the heck I drive.

[Wildernessphoto]

Hey Gary, you don't need a 4 x 4 for those cowpaths! About every 12 months I have to have my car aligned becuase I treat it like a giant silver truck! The guy at Honda wants to know where the heck I drive.

I was thinking of the road into Pharaoh lake from the south, with the deep ruts, and the pond you have to drive through. I wouldn't do it in your car! I know of some trails off 73 too, that almost made me sleep in my jeep!

[forevrwyld]

Whiteface Mountain

BMW, that a new breed of mountain bike ???

Here are views of Whiteface Highway--- your crew needs to do this. Park below summit and hike or elevator to the top too.

Cool drive: Route 30 north from Route 3 (between Tupper and SLK) then take Right onto Forest Home Road back into SLK. Could be cool in a beemer, lots of curves and spinning tires, fun in a Chevy 2500HD with multi canoe's on top too!

'Ev

[Boreal Chickadee]

Oh there are some I wouldn't do again! The road to Pharoah Lake was interesting! Now I park half way. In the fall the road into Pillsbury was fun. I made it but there was one rock that I had to very gently slide over. Don't move Paul! And how about the road to Treadway's trailhead. Now that one I did NOT drive through the pond masquerading as a road. I parked at the clearing just before it. I'm getting more selective about where I'll take the puppy since it now has 200,000 miles. Don't want it to disappear into a pothole. Gee do you think I could fit itno a group of Beamers unnoticed?

OK, now to be more serious:

I really like the road back to Forked Lake and beyond to the backside of Raquette Lake. I always see wildlife along that road. And you can stop for a quick walk into Buttermilk Falls for a little exploring and a picnic.

And I second the vote for 28N. Pretty stretch of road.

Sometimes when I'm done hiking I just turn off on roads and drive to see what's there because I don't really want to go home yet. One time Paul looked up from his book and realized we were backtracking and said, "you mean we've just been driving around when I could have been eating?!?" Yup!

[Snarcher!]

Awsome i have highlighted the roads suggested on a map. Where in newcomb do i turn to go check out that tahawus?

also, whats a good campsite that can accomodate like 30 BMWs overnight that might also have nice bathrooms and showers sort of near lake placid/saranac lake? (dont hate on me we have girls coming that NEED toilets lol)

thanks!

[Kevin]

Wilmington Notch camp ground? Val and others rave about it.

Just before you hit 28N there's a turn off for Tahawus road (there's also a sign for Tahawus there). The loop from exit 29 off interstate 87, to 28N, to 30N (all the way to Paul Smiths) has some awesome views. Then you can head back to Saranac Lake, take 86 to 73 for your return trip to the northway (interstate 87).

For the lack of effort, being able to drive most of the way to the top of Whiteface is just plain awesome. Not my favorite views in the high peaks, but hey - you're a long way up with better views than anyplace else there's a paved road.

[Snarcher!]

boy this is great! that campground looks perfect as it is right next to white face and lake placid so we can hit the local pub before hitting the tents!

[ADKlvr]

If you are into waterfalls.....Buttermilk by long lake and by tupper lake take rt 421 into horseshoe ponds area both are with in couple hundred feet of roads, the second you drive over on old rock bridge.