Mountain Biking

The Wilmington-Whiteface Region’s growing network of single track has something for every skill level. Several trail systems on and around Whiteface Mountain – and just minutes from Cadence Lodge – are maintained by our friends at the Barkeater Trail Alliance (aka BETA).

Downhill mountain bikers can enjoy lift service at nearby Whiteface Mountain Bike Park. Or take a tear down “Poor Man’s Downhill,” so named because of the local tradition of shuttling your bikes up in the back of a buddy’s pick-up. On select Sundays throughout the summer the Town of Wilmington operates a shuttle service for a modest fee. On these same weekends, a great group of riders can often be found at the bottom of the trail barbecuing and getting ready for another run.

Local Trail Systems
Hardy Road Trails Craigwood Trails
The Flume Trails Brewster Peninsula Trails
Whiteface Connector Trails Bloomingdale Bog
Whiteface Mountain Bike Park Mount Pisgah
Lussi & Logger Trails Dewey Mountain Trails


Hardy Road Trails
Just a few miles from our parking lot, the Hardy Road Trail System in Wilmington, sometimes referred to as the Beaver Brook Trails, consists of 7 miles of trails open to mountain biking. From the Lodge, take a right on to Rt. 86 and go about 1/4 mile before hanging another right on Springfield Road. In approximately two miles take a left on Hardy Road. Drive. Not far. The parking is on the right in a mile or so but you may end up parking on the side of the road if the lot’s full. Trails branch out from both sides of the road. If you’re determined to meet the local gang (and you should be) head down to the trail head on a Friday night around 6:00. This is the famous “Hardy Hour” where we all regroup and unwind after another annoying week in the trenches; we ride a bit before enjoying a bit of Adirondack conviviality back at the cars. Tomorrow is for hammering; tonight you’re sittin’ by the fire and telling some lies.

Check out the Hardy Road Trail map thanks to our friends at BETA.

Trail Mileage Difficulty
Double Time 0.6 Easy
Make Believe 0.8 Easy
Twisted Pine 0.3 Hard
Safe Bet 0.4 Moderate
Good Luck 0.9 Hard
Coniferous 0.6 Easy
All-In 3.0 Hard


The Flume Trails
The Wild Forest Flume Trail System, or the “Flume Trails,” consists of almost 10 miles of trails open to mountain biking and connects riders to Whiteface Mountain Bike Park. The trailhead is located approximately 2 miles south of Cadence Lodge, and the village center, on State Route 86. All trails except for the Flume Knob and Bear Den Mountain Trails are open to mountain biking. Trails closed to bikes are clearly posted.

Check out the Flume Trail Map courtesy of BETA.

Trail Mileage Difficulty
Corridor 0.3 Easy
Delta 0.4 Easy
Bluff 0.4 Moderate
Corridor Loop 0.4 Easy
Cedar 0.4 Moderate
River 0.4 Easy
Marble Mountain 0.6 Moderate
Erratic 0.3 Moderate
Ridge 1.5 Hard
Flume Knob 1.0 Hiking Only
Bear Den Mountain Trail 1.2 Hiking Only
Whiteface Upper Connector 1.0 Hard
Whiteface Lower Connector 0.9 Easy


Whiteface Connector Trails
All trails in the Wilmington Wild Forest, Flume Trail System are open to the public free of charge. This includes the Upper and Lower Connector Trails to Whiteface Mountain Bike Park. All mountain bike trails at Whiteface, with the exception of the Upper and Lower Connector Trails, are fee-use only. Trail passes for Whiteface Mountain Bike Park can be purchased at the mountain’s base lodge.

Whiteface Mountain Bike Park
Just three miles from Birch Tree Lodge, you’ll find Whiteface Mountain Bike Park and 27 diverse trails for every ability. Here hardcore downhillers can enjoy the same world-class vertical drop they did in the 1980 Olympics Alpine Skiing events. The Gondola takes experts to the top of Little Whiteface to experience tight turns, big rocks and steep drops. Big bikes, helmets and full pads are the norm here. Each run takes about 40 minutes.

A shuttle bus serves the winding cruisers on the lower mountain, ideal for intermediate and beginner riders. Most full suspension mountain bikes with disc brakes are suitable for the lower mountain terrain. Lower mountain riders can expect 2 to 3 runs per hour.

“Downhill Mike,” in the base lodge, can help you choose the right bike to rent, appropriate protective equipment and help you decide if you’re ready to tackle the challenge of the upper mountain.


Lussi & Logger Trails
This trail system is located xx miles from Cadence Lodge on the Lake Placid Club and Resort property. A collaborative effort between the Lussi family and BETA, the trails offers great terrain, several hours of riding and a constant reminder of Caddyshack (yes, the movie). Trail names pay homage to the 1970s classic – and the fact that your feet away from the resort’s golf course – with trails names like “Flying Wasp” and “Judge Shmales.” It only makes sense that the trails are often referred to as the “Caddyshack Trails.”

The trail network is easy to get to following Mirror Lake Drive to Northwood Road and across Route 86 onto the Jackrabbit Trail. The Lussi Family permits parking for mountain bikers at their driving range lot. Please be courteous of golfers and consider putting a donation in the Green donation box at the end of the lot. There is also parking available at the pull-off on River Road. Riders can access the network via the Jackrabbit trail.

Check out BETA’s map for the Lussi & Logger Trails in Lake Placid.

Craigwood Trails
BETA is at it again, this time working with the Town of North Elba on the fun Craigwood Trails. Construction of a fast and flowy section of trail began in the summer of 2012 and is ongoing.

Currently the only access to Craigwood Trails is via River Road. Riders can follow River Road to Birdsong Lane and then hop on the Jackrabbit Trails towards Craigwood Golf Course. Right before the Golf Course the singletrack will begin on your left hand side.

To park, riders may use the pull-off on River Rd, at the Steel Deck Bridge. Follow Jackrabbit Trail signs toward the red barn to find Birdsong Way.

Here’s Craigwood Trail Map courtesy of BETA.


Brewster Peninsula Trails
Explore 3 miles of interconnecting trails and dirt roads in the Saranac Lake Wild Forest, approximately xx miles from Birch Tree Lodge. The Lakeshore Trail sections is a bit rough with roots and rocks. The trailhead is behind the Comfort Inn in Lake Placid on Brewster Peninsula Road.

Bloomingdale Bog
An abandoned railroad right-of-way provides easy access to a scenic bog full of birds, conifers and unique plants with distant views of surrounding mountains. Pine forests surround the northern portion of the route that rides 10.5 miles one-way on sand, dirt and gravel. The trailhead is on Route 86 in Saranac Lake, west of Bloomingdale. At 1.7 miles north of Adirondack Medical Center, turn right and park at gate.


Mount Pisgah
A mountain bike trail adjacent to the ski trail at Mt. Pisgah is new, fast and fantastic- and great for riders of all skill levels. There are nicely shaped berms at every corner as the trail flows over the rolling terrain. Stay tuned – while there is only a short distance available right now, more is expected in the future. There are plans currently underway to expand the riding to both sides of ski slope. The best riding is on the left hand side of the mountain as you are looking up the ski slope. Riders can pedal or push up the ski slope and look for a trail entering the woods on the left. This may be the easiest option to find the trail.

View BETA’s Mount Pisgah trail map.


Dewey Mountain Trails
Ranging from cruiser to core, Dewey Mountain offers 5.5 miles of mountain bike trails. While construction of a new base lodge is underway, the parking lot is being used as a staging area. There are several spaces at the bottom of the lot for riders. Park along the left side and pull as far forward as possible so that you leave space for construction traffic. You can then access the trails by skirting the left side of the construction site. If these spaces are taken, park next door at Algonquin Apartments. The Harrietstown Housing Authority, which manages the complex, has given Dewey users permission to park in the upper lot until construction on the new lodge is completed. They requested that we park as close to the 400/Community building as possible. You can then go around the playground and access the trails.

Check out BETA’s Dewey Mountain trail map.

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