Capital Region to Northern Catskills
Living in Saratoga Springs has its perks, including being centrally located to the few members of our motorcycle group. With the world being affected by the pandemic, my friends and I were all getting cooped up and wanted an excuse to go out and adventure safely. With some planning by yours truly, our adventure route was created utilizing the wonderful roads east of Albany and the picturesque state forests that lie between interstate 90 and interstate 87. You could call this Northern Catskills or even the Capitol District, but I call it adventure paradise. If you look hard enough and zoom in on google maps, you will begin to learn that there are a variety of roads that wind through the Upstate New York countryside between Saratoga Springs and Burnt Rossman State forest.
We began the ride early Saturday morning and grabbed to-go coffee and breakfast sandwiches at Five Points Deli, a local favorite, before heading out. Working our way east toward Greenwich NY, then south through the Battenkill Valley, brought beautiful farmland and windy dirt roads. We even saw a new calf born just seconds before our ride by. As we worked our way over to Pittstown State forest, the pavement granted us a welcome intermission between the gentle dirt roads of the Battenkill area and what lay ahead near Pittstown State forest. Along the trip, be sure to stop by Edelmann's KTM shop a wonderful place for all things "Ready to Race".
Pittstown State Forest began with wide dirt roads, but quickly narrowed and the tree canopy became more intimate. Taking a right onto "North Long Pond" is where a rocky, steep old trail/road awaited us. Although technically challenging and a workout for those of us two-up, we all made it through unscathed (barely though, as Jon on his new Africa Twin almost went swimming in one of the many deep-water holes found on this 3-mile road). Spitting us out the other side, everyone sweating, hearts pounding, riding gear and bikes muddy, we looked forward to the restful ride through our state’s capital skirting around the city center.
Near the Keleher Preserve we began navigating through the state forests that occupy the land west of the Hudson river. With a few more sections of class 4 roads and forest roads you will have made your way to the Burnt Rossman State Forest. Although it is indicated as a road on OSM mapping source, Partridge Run road is blocked off for a short section that links to Kingfisher road. Please use your best judgment making your route decision here, as its easily re-routeable without missing much.
We pitched our camp at the Arthur Hopkins Campground nestled off a forest road right near a small lake. A beautiful campground well maintained by a local Boy Scout chapter. Please be respectful and remember to carry out what you carry in. After a long day of riding, it was a sight watching the sun set over the water as the trees began to cast shadows on our muddy group of tired adventure riders. We look forward to hearing about your trip reports! Stay safe, rabbit rabbit.
