This is a nice short ride on dirt roads.  After an initial climb into the Wildlife Management Area, you'll have shaded dirt road riding with a side trip to Bear Wallow Pond. The ride ends with two miles of downhill back to the car. Because this is a wildlife area, there is very little development and few signs -- it is left quite natural. Don't be surprised to see work details of prisoners from nearby Camp Pharsalia doing maintenance work in the Wildlife Management Area.

11 miles

Beginner -- dirt roads with some moderate climbs.

How To Get There

From Norwich on Route 12, take Route 23 west to North Pharsalia. Park on the south side of the highway on the ample shoulder opposite the large farm in the center of the hamlet.

From Route 81, exit at Whitney Point and follow Route 26 to Lower Cincinnatus and then Route 23 to North Pharsalia.

The Ride

Head east (toward Norwich) on the wide shoulder of Route 23 and after a quarter mile, you will come to an unnamed dirt road that is marked with a "Pharsalia Wildlife Management Area" sign. Turn left and start the steep climb up through an orchard of apple trees.

After a half mile climb, you will be on top and riding through groves of maples on a Jeep trail. At Mile 1, pedal past an abandoned farm house and the state land begins just ahead. This is perfect mountain bike terrain: the road is rutted and often marked with loose rocks and gravel and there are just enough dips and climbs to make it interesting riding.

Pass by a private road on the right at Mile 1.7 and start down a nice little run. Note the stands of mature evergreens on the left. You'll see plenty of these majestic stands before you are done.

This old barn is part of an abandoned farm you'll pass on your ride.

Bear to the right at the intersection at Mile 2 and cruise through the spruces on smooth level road to the next intersection. (Mile 2.6) Note the gnarled old maples lining both sides of the road just prior to the junction.

Head straight down the hill and right away you will come to the unmarked Pigeon Hill Road. Turn left. As you pedal along, ignore the road coming down from the left and continue straight ahead, passing by another private dwelling. There's a cemetery with a well-built slate wall around it on the left as you climb up from the creek crossing and just beyond, a sharp left turn up the hill on Cole Hill Road. (Mile 3.4)

The climb is steep but mercifully short and soon you are pedaling easily on another road lined with maple trees. At Mile 4, turn left and ride the gentle half mile to visit Bear Wallow Pond. Bears or no bears, it's a pretty little pond with dark tannin-colored water.

Bear Wallow Pond

When you return to Cole Hill Road at Mile 5, turn left and continue west. The next mile is easy mountain bike riding on a level dirt road. When you come to the unmarked intersection at Mile 6.3, turn left and cruise down Preserve Road. The next five miles are going to be fun.

"Ah, the early English summer, there really is nothing like it. Here in the Wiltshire countryside, west of London, the hedgerows are buzzing and the hills are being hugged by the newfound sun." 

That's from a great post on cycling from London to Bath by Daniel Scott in the Sydney Morning Herald.  He continues:

"As I cycle along the footpath beside the Kennet and Avon Canal, midway through my 220-kilometre journey from the British capital to Bath, there is nowhere else I'd rather be. I've just had a ploughman's lunch at a canal-side pub, I'm exchanging regular pleasantries with the captains of passing narrow boats and my calf muscles are finally warming to the rhythm of my constant pedalling..." (read the whole article)

photo by jasja dekker    

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This is a flat ride of twenty-five miles from Waterford, New York to Schuylerville along a historic canal.  There are some traffic situations with good bike lanes. (taken from Cycling Along The Canals of New York State)

How To Get There

Waterford is about 11 miles north of Albany. If you take I-787, go NY 32/Saratoga Street to downtown. Look for signs to the Canal Park, at Canal Lock 2. There is good parking here.

Background

The Champlain Canal was built to connect the Hudson River, which flows south to the Atlantic, with Lake Champlain which flows north into the Saint Lawrence River. The history of the Champlain Canal is closely linked with that of the Erie Canal. Both were begun in 1817, soon after peace came to a territory that had known brutal warfare for over a century. Both followed unsuccessful attempts by private companies to construct navigational improvements. At just 60 miles in length, the Champlain Canal opened in 1823, two years earlier than the Erie. Somehow, the Champlain never seemed to "get respect." Perhaps that was because a canal linking the northern end of Lake Champlain and the Saint Lawrence River, all in Canada, was not completed until 1858. Perhaps it was because of America's fascination with the opening and settlement of the West. In any case, the Champlain, like the Erie, was a vast commercial success. Also like the Erie, and important to us here, is the role the route plays in linking together much of early American history.

Back in the early 1800s, the first Champlain Canal was built parallel to but entirely separate from the Hudson River. The original Champlain Canal followed the west shore of the Hudson northward from Waterford in Saratoga County and crossed to the east shore in Washington County just north of Schuylerville. It followed the east shore northward to Fort Edward. Efforts are being made to open the old towpath for recreational use. It is largely intact, waiting to be redeveloped. You will see many signs of the old Champlain Canal alignment as you pedal north.

The Ride

A great start is to look over some of the exhibits at the Canal Park. Once you're ready to ride, go back to the center of Waterford and take 3rd Street which is Bike Route 9." Bike "9," a continuous route from New York City to the Canadian border near Montreal, is your best guide between Waterford and Whitehall. The segment between Waterford and Whitehall is being developed into a "scenic byway"by Saratoga and Washington counties. Open segments of the old Champlain Canal towpaths can be found in Waterford, Schuylerville and Fort Edward. The Champlain "Barge Canal" which is open for use the entire distance serves the entire route.