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4 out of 5 Rider Rating 4
4 Reviews

The Great Sacandaga Lake Loop

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By MCR Contributor (1039 McR Points) on May 18, 2011

Rider Reviews

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vfm2010
2 McR Points
September 27, 2017
One of my regular runs that is always a blast.…
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Twinstar Driver
2 McR Points
April 18, 2013
Best in the off-season when traffic is light as…
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Written Directions

Take the Thruway to Exit 26 at Amsterdam, ride Rt.30 north to Vail Mills and take a right on Rt. 29 (to ride the loop the other way, just keep going north on Rt. 30 to Northville). Take your next left on to 2nd Ave. There's a Stewarts' Shop on the corner where you can pick up gas. Follow 2nd Ave into Broadalbin, turn right on to Main St., bear left on to N. Main St. (Co. Rd. 117) and follow it out of town. Turn right on Co. Rd. 110. Follow this road, which becomes Co. Rd. 7/S.Shore Rd. just north of Fish House Rd. Turn left onto Kathan Rd. Follow Kathan Rd./Overlook Rd. over the Conklingville Dam to the pulloff on the other side. Take a left on N. Shore Road/Co. Rd. 4. In Edinburg, turn right onto Northville Road (Co. Rd. 4/113). Turn left at the stop sign on to Main St. Ext. and follow it across the bridge into Northville. Take a left at Bridge St. to follow Rt. 30 South.

Scenery

This route traces the shoreline of the Great Sacandaga Lake. The lake itself and Adirondack Park lands surrounding it are absolutely gorgeous making the area a major vacation destination during the summer months. In the fall, Great Sacandaga Lake, actually a man-made resevoir, provides unique scenery opportunities. The water is drained out of the lake in autumn and sometimes reveals foundations of old houses left on the bottom when the Sacandaga Valley was flooded in 1930(?) to create the lake. Great photographic opportunities year-round from the Conklingville Dam near Hadley and from the side of either South Shore or North Shore Road.

Drive Enjoyment

Both North Shore and South Shore Roads are fantastic motorcycle roads. The roads' surfaces are well maintained for the most part with a few rough patches here and there. Rt 30 on the west side of the lake, however, is in perfect condition and makes for great laid-back cruising. In springtime, watch out for large amounts of sand on North Shore and South Shore Roads left over from the winter. It usually takes a couple good spring rains to wash this stuff away. Both of these roads provide tons of great views of the Great Sacandaga Lake, and enough curves to keep any rider's heartrate up. The stretch of North Shore Road between the Conklingville Dam and Day Center is especially curvy with tons of twisties in that area.

Tourism Opportunities

Lots of nice places to stop and eat along this route. For a great roadhouse, there's the I-Go-Inn on South Shore Road just north of Fish House Road, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. For a more upscale dining experience, try Lanzi's on the Lake just off Rt. 30 in Mayfield on the west side of the lake. You can fuel up at gas stations in Broadalbin, at Fullers Corners in Edinburg, in Northville, in Lake-Luzerne or Hadley, and at any one of several gas stations along Rt. 30 in Mayfield. Looking for something other than motorcycling? Great Sacandaga Lake has got it: boating, camping, fishing, you name it. Try whitewater rafting on the upper Hudson River in Lake Luzerne at the Hudson River Rafting Company. If you're riding this route around labor day, be sure to stick around after dark the night before Labor Day for the Ring of Fire, an annual tradition where bonfires are lit all along the lake shore to celebrate the end of summer.
 

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vfm2010
September 27, 2017
2 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
One of my regular runs that is always a blast. Road conditions are pretty good in most areas, some of the "bad" spots have been redone this year. If you have never taken this route, you should. There are lots of curves so be on your toes.
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Twinstar Driver
April 18, 2013
2 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport
Best in the off-season when traffic is light as there are many hidden drives. Fun but has some turns that can take you by surprise, also watch out for occasional sand or dirt.
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adamgirard
May 21, 2020
22 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Other
This was a good, fairly laidback ride with almost constant lakeside views. The roads are pretty good, worst on the west side of the lake. The sections near the northern part of the lake are the curviest. If you get stuck behind someone going slow, there are limited opportunities to pass, this happened to me several times on a Thursday afternoon in May. Also, this is a lengthy ride, about 4 hours round trip from Albany.
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