Over the years there has been a lot of work going into the development of a multi-use summertime trail system at Dewey Mountain that is suitable for mtn. biking. Many individual volunteer hours as well as work days hosted by the Barkeater Trails Alliance have turned Dewey Mountain into a 4-season resource for recreation in Saranac Lake. The trail system has been carefully laid to use the natural terrain of the mountain and to route riders off of the ski trails that typically remain muddy well into the spring.
The color coded trail markers are easy to follow. On my ride at Dewey Mountain with local volunteer, Josh Wilson we followed the blue markers that took us on a serpentine route around the lower portion of the mountain. The trail was rolling with a smooth serface that had very few roots and rocks. As riders find themselves venturing further and further up the mountain the trails become steeper and more technical. The orange trail climbs its way all the way to the summoit of Dewey Mountain where the terrain is steep. Advanced riders will love it.
Durign the month of July we found that Dewey Mountain is a great place for kids. For the first time this summer a group of local volunteers led a weekly mountain bike program through the Lake Placid Outing Club. Each week about a dozen youngsters met in the evening, and had a blast exploring the trails at Dwwey Mountain together. The adult leaders found that there was no shortage of kid-friendly terrain for everyone to enjoy.
A word of caution: If it has been raining, or if it is early spring, Dewey Mountain may not be the best choice for where to ride. The soil seems to take a long time to dry out. As we all know riding on wet trails can cause lasting damage, and riders should be careful to avoid wet areas whenever possible. Doing so will ensure a lasting high qaulity resource for mountain biking in Saranac Lake. It is always a good idea to stop into a local shop to find what the conditions are like and pick up a map of all the mountain bike trails in the area. The map is published by the Barkeater Trails Alliance and available at Blue Line Sports in Saranac Lake.
