Has anyone parked at the Olympic sports complex?

[Kyler]

I was reading the guide book for Mt Van Hoevenberg and it says that there is a gate with a fee to get to the trail if you park at the Olympic sports complex. Has anyone parked there recently? How much is the fee?

[adkdremn]

I was there once a long time ago, to be honest with you I don't even remember paying a fee to get in.
If you want to hike Van Ho it can be done from South Meadows off of the Adirondak Loj road. Then you don't have to worry about paying to park.
South Meadow Rd. to the summit of Van Ho->2.2 miles.

[rdl]

If you have two cars, you can drop a car off at the base of the bobsled run then drive around to the South Meadow road and hike up and over Mt Van Hoevenburg, coming down the other side in the old bobsled run.

My recollection is it doesn't cost to park your car, but it does cost money to access the facilities(bob sled run, mt biking center, etc...)

[Kyler]

South Meadow Rd. to the summit of Van Ho->2.2 miles.

Yeah. It looks to be flat for more than the first mile, so I'll probably end up doing that. It should be pretty quick to summit from South Meadow Rd.

Essentially, my plan is to do Mt Jo, Mt Van Hoevenburg, Marcy Dam, and Noonmark in one day at the end of the month (at peak leaf colors) to maximize one day of fall photography. So, it would be better if I could get Van Hoevenburg from the short side.

[hikerdad]

I was on Van Hovenberg earlier this year and the views of the high peaks were great. Easy hike...flat/even slightly down hill to the beaver pond, then a moderate climb. there are any great leadges for viewing (at least 4 or five)...as you go to the farther ledges you can see more and more to the east (toward Giant)....don't stop at the first two ledges....I think we were up and down in 3 hours or so with a good stop on top....enjoy.

[Grumpy]

If you have two cars, you can drop a car off at the base of the bobsled run then drive around to the South Meadow road and hike up and over Mt Van Hoevenburg, coming down the other side in the old bobsled run.

My recollection is it doesn't cost to park your car, but it does cost money to access the facilities(bob sled run, mt biking center, etc...)

Mt. Van Hoevenberg is one my favorite Adirondack quick hikes. Great views of the High Peaks, and the perspective on South Meadow is wonderful.

I have been lucky enough on a few occasions to persuade Mrs. Grumpy to drop me off on South meadow Road for a hike up-and-over Mt. Van H, and meet me (with a cold, frothy adult beverage) at the parking area at the foot of the bobsled run. She was not charged for the parking. An officious EMT gave me a bit of guff for having the audacity to exit the bob run area via the EMT access gate once, but I laughed last and best in the parking lot a few minutes later.

That is a great short hike, with the walk down along the 1932 bob run to the top of the latest facility adds a nice historical note to it. Highly recommended if you can arrange the shuttle.

G.