Jay, NY (Essex County)
I was always curious about this dirt road that seemed to connect Keene Valley to Elizabethtown without using 9N. I ended up using it for a bikepacking trip I did and was pleasantly surprised (I had been prepared to slog my way through an overgrown trail). As it turns out, this road is probably passable by Jeeps and 4x4s depending on the season, although just barely. A long and steep climb up Styles Brook Road is needed to reach the start of this segment from Keene Valley. Styles Brook Road is paved and passes by some fancy residences with million dollar views of the high peaks as well as some larger properties (farms or ranches?). This initial climb really kicked me in the gut, probably because my bike was fully loaded for my trip. I paused a few times to enjoy views of the Jay Mountain Wilderness. The grade finally leveled out as the road turned to dirt.
The second part of the climb was on a narrower seasonal highway with some loose gravel, but it somehow felt easier than the Styles Brook section (safe to say I was now fully warmed up). A crooked sign welcomed me to the Town of Jay and a buck peered at me through the bramble. Near the height of land, there were some nice meadows and a small stream carving through the road. At this point, I was at the base of Frenyea Mountain with the road forming the border between the Jay Mountain Wilderness to the North and the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness to the south.
When the track tilted downhill, I really appreciated my dropper post and suspension as I didn't have to quite so picky with my line through some relatively rocky and chunky terrain. However, a gravel bike with a cautious pilot probably would have done fine.
This is road is a fun challenge and neat way to create a largish Adirondack loop with some gravel.
Vital stats:
11.9 mi +1,644 ft / -1,617 ft (including Styles Brook Road)
Look for: Backyard lean-to, tiny red tricycle, curious bucks
Possible loops: To Elizabethtown and back (from Marcy Field)
Surface: Packed dirt then double track with some larger rocks, eroded terrain, and big puddles
Bike: Lots of gears, suspension and big tires if you want to go faster than a crawl on the steeper downhills
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