Ride, refuel, repeat
It’s that time of year, where everything (literally everything) turns white, the icicles cascade from the rooftops, and winter has successfully dug in for the next few months. We have a few options when the winter weather arrives… one can ski, skate, snowboard, snowshoe, stay cozy in their cabins sipping cocoa, or, as I prefer, make some noise and shred some trails.
Snowmobile season is here. It has arrived semi-early this year (which is fantastic), and areas of the Adirondacks have already seen a weekend or two of decent early-season riding. But let’s talk about a weekend of riding, shall we? For instance, if one had a three-day weekend to explore Hamilton County by sled, where would they even start? Let's find out!
Leg 1 – Speculator to Long Lake
Ok where would I start? BOOK YOUR ROOMS AHEAD OF TIME (ok, maybe all caps is a bit dramatic but honestly, no one should have it in their minds that vacancies will be available on good snow weekends so be sure to plan ahead).
Speculator is a great place to start the trip due to its amenities. Easy-access parking, a fuel station at Mountain Market, a grocery store at Charlie John’s, and, of course, a snowmobile repair, parts, and rental shop at Village Motorsports are all within the confines of this Adirondack gem of a town. You can also grab a coffee or breakfast sandwich at Perks before you head out.
Head north by sled out of Speculator and find maps online, then make your way to Indian Lake. The goal is to reach the center of Indian Lake by early midday, giving you time to stretch, grab a coffee once in town, and recharge before heading up to Long Lake. There are plenty of places to grab a bite, including Axes and Irons, the Pig Deli II, and Puterko’s Pizza. You can also refuel at your choice of gas station; Indian Lake has two.
Next stop, Long Lake. Fuel up first, as services can be limited heading north until you reach Long Lake proper. Head west from Indian Lake and take the C8A, which will inevitably run into the C7B trail, leading you into the Long Lake area. At this point, we hope you are ready to check out one of those amazing rooms or cabins you booked! Long Lake is where we are staying for the night, and folks looking for a stay-and-dine option will find that the Adirondack Hotel or the Long View Lodge can help you recharge for the following day.
If you have time to spend in Long Lake or get there early, there are wonderful storefronts like Hoss’s Country Corner, the ADK Trading Post, and several others that cater to the winter crowd. There is a gas station in the middle of town where you can refuel, always top off, for the next day’s adventure to Inlet.
Leg 2 – Long Lake to Inlet (and surrounding trail systems)
Riding from Long Lake to Inlet offers some of the nicest scenery our area has to offer. Remote locations are at their best, and riders get to traverse Raquette Lake, which is exceptionally beautiful. Once in Raquette, fuel and food are available at the TapRoom. As you make your way into Inlet, riders should know that to access the Inlet area trails, a permit is required. Permits can be purchased at the Tourism Information Office in the center of town or online in advance.
Inlet trails link to Old Forge area trails, so we are going to spend the remainder of our day riding here. Inlet itself offers a variety of lodging and a bustling main street, making it the perfect place to cap off our second day on the trails. But what did we do first? That’s right, we called ahead for our rooms.
A little saddle sore but now fed, fueled, and soon to be recharged, we will be ready to head out in the morning for the long ride back to Speculator via the Moose River Recreation Area, stopping first in Indian Lake and then heading south again, much like on our first day of riding.
However, once in the Perkins Clearing section, we suggest riding west again to Piseco to grab a late lunch and probably some fuel at the Oxbow Inn. Don’t be discouraged. From the Oxbow, you can take the lake systems back to Speculator, capping the weekend with a much shorter ride before heading home from this epic adventure.
Start planning your next snowmobile getaway!
So, a weekend in Hamilton County by sled… this is what we would do. This region has just the right mix of groomed trails, wide-open expanses, mountain views, and small towns that are sure to charm. Oh, and it’s just enough riding to put on some semi-serious miles while filling your required fresh-air intake for the week.
