Wolf Pond Road to Lyon Mountain

eddie

Cadyville to Lyon Mountain

My buddy took me on this once about 20 years ago..

So I’m not all sure on the path, or how much is left, but have a rough plot on GPS and amd going to see where I get this weekend.

The view from lyon mountain’s sand pit is pretty sweet, and wicked fun.

If anyone wants to try it out with me let me know!

Glennozrx

eddie can you pan out so we can see where this map is located in reference to the entire state?

ponderingjunkman

The railroad bed between Lyon and dannemorra is heavily travelled. As of last summer the tailings pile was gated off, but there is a way in around the back to the mine buildings. I have not ridden past dannemorra-yet

eddie

we’re talking wayyyyyyy up north @Glennozrx

@ponderingjunkman thanks! Given that I might work backwards to see what’s past danemora. Also noticed pulling the bigger map noticed wolf pond road that goes through standish, and so I think I’ll head west through loon lake, then north to Indian Lake and circle back east through Lyon mountain and see how far I get.

Glennozrx

This where I have a summer home. On the Great Lake Sacandaga.

ponderingjunkman

The rail roadbed between Standish and Lyon has some stupid DEC closure on it, but it’s only a few miles on Standish road(rt 1) to bypass it. At the lyon Mountain museum, you can pick up the roadbed again. The sand flats on the other side of rt374 are open to riding. Not much to see, but still kind of cool, and all that sand is pulverized granite that came out of the mine! Opening date for out campsite up there is may 14, so i hope to be up there that weekend, tho i may just be clearing the woods trails with a quad.

eddie

Woohoo! What a great ride.

I jumped on the railroad bed at the north tip of Loon Lake, road that until I cut over to Wolf Pond rd, into Standish. Like @ponderingjunkman said there is a break there, but to keep moving east I jumped on the tracks just past town (Lyon Mountain) on Route 374.

The initial section was mostly dry being a raised bed, but very bumpy. Many sections were potted, one section was deep sand with dunes, almost took me down when I first hit it but we plowed on. Lasted a good while.
That strip was loaded with sideXsides oncoming. I think they were pretty surprised to see a bike on the trail, a few warned me to avoid the puddles, pfft.

.. Though, they were wicked deep.

But we (myself and the bike) made it through it all. Actually feeling really good about the bikes ability and my own which has grown a ton since even 2 seasons back.

loonylyon.gpx

53kB

ponderingjunkman

Nice ride! There is some wheel swallowing sand! The spring just before Lyon mountain has very nice water. I gotta get a dual sport!

ponderingjunkman

Well we opened the camper today! Went up in the woods across from the campsite with the quad. Much easier to bring a chainsaw along for clearing trails on a quad…yeah, i know. The trails were not too bad- at least the couple miles i was on- not alot down. May go into town on the roadbed tomorrow and get gas. Oh, and I’m working on plating the 650!

eddie

ponderingjunkman

ponderingjunkman Much easier to bring a chainsaw along for clearing trails on a quad…

Yeah I mean, of course. Now I want to see the attempts riding with the chainsaw on two wheels 😂

ponderingjunkman

Rode the roadbed from lyon to dannemora today with the xr- 40 miles round trip. Washboard for alot of it. Got a south dakota plate the other day, so time to begin ordering dual sport parts!

eddie

ponderingjunkman Nice! Do you go north of Chazy Lake or south?

I just took my brother on the other side of it (going west from Lyon) this past Friday and after warning him about the sand promptly ate some myself.

But we also found a nice detour for Kushaqua’s bridge-closure that without touching tarmac, it’s a gnarly, rocky ride, lots of fun (Howe Rd and BLue Spruce Rd).

ponderingjunkman

I was south of chazy lake- i don’t know of another road bed around chazy lake. The topo map shows the roadbed being close to the lake, but you would never know there was a lake nearby! Came out in view of the smokestack in dannemora, then went back. Passed a guy on a yamaha quad with a platform on the front- he was giving a ride to his beagle. They were both enjoying the cool shadows of the woods!

I made more progress on the trail over Standish Mountain- but if the sand bit you…

eddie

ponderingjunkman I made more progress on the trail over Standish Mountain- but if the sand bit you…

That’s excellent, well done.

And c’mon now… I just let my GS take a little dirt nap along the ride to cool down… 🤣

I actually really enjoy the challenge of sand riding and it’s everywhere around here so, ya gotta deal with it. Did you capture gps tracks or have pointers? We still did streets from the standish end of Wolf to the snowmobile trails heading south along Route 29 (CHazy lk rd), but I think i saw the trailhead at the intersection of Catalan Forge rd, is that your path? Or am I way different area?

ponderingjunkman

eddie I’m on the opposite side of Standish road from Catalan forge road. Don’t feel bad about the mishap in the sand- that’s all part of off road riding! I too have such mishaps, and others that you can make fun of me for- for example: a few weeks ago i got very lost in the thicket that I was scouting in for this trail, and nearly lost the quad! Sure taught me to mark the potenial trail better! We learn from each other- and a sense of humor helps!

eddie

Was thinking of @ponderingjunkman this past weekend when I started clearing my access road up in Brasher.

I opted to use the truck since on top of saw I needed a brush cutter 😆

. The access road is totally overgrown, hadn’t been used in decades. Previous owner thought the property was landlocked so got it for a steal. Interesting history on the property that involves land barrons, new york city corporations, and federal fraud investigations!

But it’s my land now, with a heavily overgrown access road and much logging in my future.

Only 10 acres, but a few adjacent lots with similarly shady history i might be able to fold in eventually.. Will still be a nice little place for an ADV retreat, simple camp site and some courses to practice on.

ponderingjunkman

That’s awesome Eddie! Lots of trees down from the past winter on the trails here. Seems like a rich history on your land. Would be cool to find out about the iron works there!

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