Notes on Carriage Roads Beyond Acadia

The distinct crunch of finely crushed gravel is such an addictive sensation. This feeling is one that always leaves me wanting more; it has a pull that attracts me, like a slice of leftover pizza in the fridge. Combining this type of gravel with sweeping turns, roller coaster steep rolls, and the absence of cars is a recipe for the type of ride that leaves you exhausted and spent at the end of the day but, simultaneously, dreaming about the next ride. This combination of riding surface, terrain, and lack of traffic can be hard to find, but there is one type of area that hits this combination of factors, and that is “carriage road” networks.

The first place that I heard about carriage roads is in Acadia National Park. The carriage roads in Acadia are the most popular example of this type of trail, and to many, carriage roads are synonymous with Acadia. However, the more that I look for this type of trail, I find that they can be found in lots of places, and some even surpass both the quality and quantity of the network in Acadia.

Carriage roads are roads that were either built originally or in the style of roads for horse-drawn carriages. These roads or trails are narrower and have tighter turns than most modern gravel roads, and are closed to car traffic. Furthermore, most of the ones that I have ridden are part of a park, conservation area, or land trust that has dedicated maintenance staff who maintain the roads to a higher level compared to normal gravel roads. The result of the lack of car traffic, potholes, and ruts is that the riding experience is lower stress and more relaxed. This means that if the ride is a relaxed pace, you can ride two abreast and have a conversation, or if the ride is faster, you can focus more on putting the power down.

Not mentioning Acadia, here are some of my most memorable “carriage road” spots and what makes them unique:

Mount Royal is a weird, alternate universe version of Central Park; in fact, it was designed by the same person, Frederick Law Olmsted. Compared to Central Park in NYC, Mount Royal has two main differences that make it a gravel cyclist's dream. First, it is built on a mountain, with an elevation gain of over 500 ft—not a bad climb for an urban ride. And secondly, opposed to a paved loop that you may find in most urban parks, Mount Royal’s main trails are a fine crushed gravel. To me, this makes riding these carriage roads a much more immersive experience and puts them in a tier above other urban riding spots.

Some of my favorite carriage roads are, in fact, close to home. The trails are on Uihlein Foundation land and are some of the area's most popular dog-walking spots, but surprisingly, the riding is great too. These trails are split up into two networks, Henry Woods and Heaven Hill, both of which have great carriage roads throughout. I've been on countless gravel and mountain bike rides that incorporate these trails, and they have become a staple of Lake Placid riding. There is a mix of both climbing and more rolling loops, but my favorite aspect of these trails is that there are countless ways to connect them all together and add sections of singletrack seamlessly, too. These trails provide engaging routes time and time again, and I’m still not tired of riding them. These trails are a great example of how great carriage road networks can be in your neighborhood and hiding in plain sight.

These trails are another hidden gem in our neck of the woods. Located just north of Plattsburgh, these carriage road trails are located in Point Au Roche State Park on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Champlain. The topography of this area is unique with three long and narrow points jutting out parallel into the lake off of the main peninsula. The points are like mini-fjords, and all three of them have great carriage roads on them. This is another spot that is often mistaken for only a dog-walking destination but, in fact, has great riding. This spot is worth checking out if only to see the unique landscape, and the riding is just an extra bonus.

Based on how much I’ve heard about the carriage roads in Acadia, I always assumed that they were the gold standard for carriage road networks. However, upon riding in New Paltz, I can attest that these trails are the lesser-known benchmark for outstanding carriage roads. The carriage roads in New Paltz stand out in quality, accessibility, and quantity. Leaving from downtown New Paltz, you connect and interconnect multiple preserves and parks with perfect carriage roads all while avoiding roads with cars. Some of the more popular loops will often have other riders on them, but if you venture deeper, you will be rewarded with traffic-free trails. There have been times where I have ridden for 10+ miles without seeing anyone else while still being on meticulously maintained carriage roads.

The more places I look, the more carriage roads or carriage road-like trail networks I have found. These trail networks have provided me with some of my favorite routes, combining some of the best aspects of gravel and mountain bike riding. In addition to unique riding opportunities, these trail networks can also be valuable to the larger local communities. These trail networks represent a non-intimidating space for all people to recreate in the outdoors. In addition to being popular amongst cyclists, these spots are often big hits among dog walkers, stroller pushers, and arms-linked meanderers, too. This peacefulness and sense of wandering adds to the allure of these networks and helps explain why I keep wanting to come back for another ride.