The best road cycling routes around Keeseville

Ausable Chasm is a must see!

Climbing Whiteface Mountain from Wilmington village presents you with a long and demanding ascent with world-class Adirondack views. Prepare for an immediate and sustained climb over approximately 8 miles averaging a relentless 8% gradient with very few breaks as you gain over 3,500ft. The steady initial climb through lower wooded slopes to the toll booth, followed by the iconic push towards the summit castle, emerging onto highly exposed terrain near the top. Remember: Cyclists must pay a toll (at the booth partway up), and the highway is seasonally closed until mid-May 2025 (check whiteface.com for exact opening dates, hours, and current tolls). The spectacular panoramic views are your hard-earned reward.

Over millennia, sediment deposited by the Ausable River created a fertile delta used historically for agriculture and timber. Ausable Marsh is managed by the DEC, it supports activities like wildlife observation, photography, fishing, trapping, hunting, and canoeing, crucial for nesting and feeding habitats of diverse waterfowl species.

Rainbow Falls is a majestic waterfall situated at the head of Ausable Chasm, offering a spectacular sight for visitors. Located near Keeseville, you can enjoy a stunning view of the falls from the bridge on Route 9. For those interested in further exploration, guided walking tours through Ausable Chasm provide an opportunity to delve deeper into this scenic section of the river, experiencing its natural beauty up close.

Cycling by Ausable Chasm offers a unique experience through a sandstone gorge carved over millions of years. The Ausable River, spanning one mile to Lake Champlain, has formed caves and tunnels, including the spectacular Rainbow Falls near the visitor center. The chasm's walls reveal a rare exposure of mid-Cambrian Scyphomedusae jellyfish fossils, adding to its geological significance and scenic beauty.

Cycling by Macomb Reservation State Park offers a chance to immerse yourself in the wilderness. Summer activities are open from mid-May to Labor Day. The park features a beach, swimming, hiking and nature trails, fishing, and boat rentals. Additional amenities include boat launches, playing fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, pavilions, restrooms, showers, and campsites. In winter, visitors can enjoy ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, making it a year-round destination.

Whiteface Mountain is actually amazing. At the end of the Memorial Highway there is a car park, restaurant and a gift shop, there is even a granite built castle. When you get there you will need to find somewhere to park and lock your bike. Then if you have the time why not go up to the actual summit. You can either do it quickly in the elevator (yes there is one) or you have the option to walk the hand-railed Nature Trail, both options are good. Failing that you could just have a good break here at the summit parking area and just enjoy the glorious vistas.

There are not many roads that take you directly to the summit of a 4,867’ mountain. You also get to do it all the way on fantastic roads with gorgeous views. Then when you get here at the toll house you have to pay $15 (cyclist fee 2023) to go further up the road to the summit on the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway. Otherwise have a rest here before you head on down. Nearby is Lake Stevens and nearby woodlands, which makes it a nice scenic spot.