Adirondacks Cycling Trip: Beavers, Bikes, and Beers
If you missed the short presentation on this August 2026cycling trip to the Adirondacks: Beavers, Bikes, and Beers, here are some of the basic facts. This tour blends the challenge of Adirondacks cycling with the fascinating world of wetland ecology—plus a well-earned pint at the end of the day.
The Fast Facts:
Dates: August 9–18, 2026.
The Route: A scenic ~400-mile loop starting and ending near Saratoga Springs, mimicking Adventure Cycling Adirondacks route.
The Mission: We’ll be stopping at active beaver habitats and restoration sites if you so choose to observe "nature's engineers" in action.
Support: This is a semi-supported "Group Kitty" tour. We’ll have access to my truck and trailer for heavy gear and shared food, but riders should be self-sufficient and comfortable with 35–60 miles of hilly terrain per day. The route is 98% paved.
Lodging: will mostly be camping with two nights in a Lake Placid lodge.
Daily routes are embellished with stops at local microbreweries and local museums. On days where a microbrewery isn't on the route, we will have a group cooler where you can store your fave libation for a post ride beer or cocktail.
The Finale: We wrap up with a morning ride to our cars, followed by a private visit to the Wild for Life beaver rehab center in Saratoga Springs to meet rescued beavers and learn all about wildlife rehab.
About the Adirondacks:
It is the largest protected area in the contiguous U.S. (6 million acres).
It’s larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Parks combined.
It is a "Forever Wild" landscape with over 3,000 lakes and world-class stargazing, and of course lots of beaver ponds. We won't see them all, but we will get a good sampling!
Join the Interested List
This is a friends and family tour, and is not a HVCC sponsored event, with limited spots. If you want to see the full itinerary, have questions about the group fund (cost for the entire trip will be about $850, with any leftover funds from the group kitty returned to the participants), or want to be added to the interested list for 2026, please reach out!
Scott McGill: scottmcgill10@gmail.com