Ticonderoga NY to Western Mass.

[ecole]

Does anyone out there have any experience/knowledge about the best route south from Ticonderoga NY to Western Mass.?  I'm looking particularly at route 22 vs. 22A.  Any help would be great- thanks.

[Peaks]

Well, I biked through Ticonderoga on the Northern Tier.  

I have driven the area, but mostly on the Northway.

Years ago I did drive Route 22 & 22A.  Probably not a bad road to bike.  However, if going to Western Mass, you will probably want to swing east at some point and go into Vermont.  Choices include Route 30, Route 67 A, and Route 346.  

[ecole]

Thanks- we will eventually go to Boston.  I bought Rudell maps of Mass. so I feel pretty good about once we get to Mass.  I just don't want to get stuck on high traffic roads getting there.  Thanks for the info.

[Peaks]

Vermont has lots of great biking.  If you are headed to Boston from Ticonderoga, why not try to pick up Route 103 south of Rutland and follow that across the state to Chester, then Route 35 to Townsend, and Route 30 into Brattleboro.  

[ecole]

Thanks, I'll go upstairs and check it out right now.

[FredHiltz]

Hi Ecole,

Having cycled Vermont for years, I finished my XC trip to Boston going through Vermont from Fort Ti to Brattleboro, almost as Peaks wrote. My route was through Shoreham, Whiting, Leicester (pronounced Lester), to Rochester, south on 100 to Rawsonville, then 30 to Bratt. Rte 119 through NH and MA finished it off.

Brandon Gap was the first place I had to walk the bike since Sonora Pass in the Sierras. It's a nice road, but steep. Everything was beautiful, and we moved to Vermont not long afterward. You cannot go wrong here if you avoid US 2, US 4, US 7 and VT 9.

Fred

[ecole]

Thanks Fred- I'll take another look at the map- it looks like we may be entering Mass. along the Con.River maybe, but who knows- there are many little roads, and most are probably beautiful.

[Peaks]

Crossing the Green Mountains usually involves a good climb.  Middlebury Gap, Brandon Gap, Appalachian Gap are all good climbs.

However, probably the route across the state with the least climb is Route 103.  Route 30 goes over Bromley outside Manchester.  Route 9 goes over Woodford and Searsburg, and then Hogback Mountain.

[10thgear]

I just finished a journey from Ft Ticonderoga this past summer. I would suggest that you exit the ferry, take SR73 (right turn), then SR30 south to SR4A. Take SR4A to Rutland (lots of bike shops there). Take 103 South/East to Bellows Falls (SR5). Take SR5 south and cross into New Hampshire at any bridge. Follow SR12 south along the CT river and pickup SR63 South into MA and continue down along the CT river until you want to head east.

I found this a very scenic and low traffic ride (except in Rutland). There is a small place that makes fresh donuts daily along SR4A. It was a pleasant treat.

[JayH]

The Rubell maps of Massachusetts are very good but do be aware that they are somewhat dated. I did some riding in the berkshires once and the maps had some minor errors, roads were misnamed or minor stuff like that, nothing that would prevent you from getting anywhere if you trust your instincts, but stuff like that. I backed up the map with a Garmin Etrex Vista which has a basemap of NA built into it..

Jay