This multi-day experience in stunning Raquette Lake blends gravel cycling with a modern mini-vacation that provides you with a true connection to the landscape and history of this special place.
Dates: August 10-13 & September 7-10
Location: Raquette Lake
Mileage: 20-25 miles/day with 2 days of gravel riding
Participation Cap: 20
Benefits: Great Camp Sagamore Public Trust
Each morning will feature professionally guided bicycle rides on nearby low traffic (or no traffic) gravel roads showcasing incredible Adirondack scenery and gentle rolling terrain. Afternoons are all about camp exploration and relaxation. Think canoeing on pristine Sagamore Lake, hiking the rich pine forest, rolling a frame or two at the historic open-air bowling alley or simply lounging lakeside in an Adirondack chair with a good book.
Built in 1897 by visionary great camps designer William West Durant on 1,526 acres of remote wilderness in the Adirondack Park, Great Camp Sagamore was a wilderness retreat for the Vanderbilt family for half a century. It is now a National Historic Landmark managed by a non-profit educational institution as a public trust.
Registration Includes
- 4 Days/3 Nights at Great Camp Sagamore
- 3 dinners, 3 lunches, 3 breakfasts
- 2 happy hours with beverages and appetizers
- 2 days of fully guided road or gravel cycling with vehicle support
- Fully stocked rest stops
- BikeADK Goodie Bag
- Pleasant surprises
Lodging Options
Shared Bathroom Private room with a shared hallway bath in either our Main Lodge, Wigwam Building or the Collins Building. Most rooms have 2 single beds. Groups over two will be split into separate rooms.
Private Bath, tub only Private room with a private en suite bath, with a historic tub and no shower. Located in either our Main Lodge or the Wigwam Building. Main Lodge Room has 2 single beds. Wigwam Building room has a double bed. Groups over 2 should not select this option.
Private Bath w/ shower Private room with a private bath in either our Main Lodge, or one of our private cabins. Groups that are larger than 2 may be placed in one of the private cabins, which are reserved for groups of 3 or more. Rooms with private bathrooms in the Main Lodge can accommodate groups of any size. All rooms in private cabins have 3 or more beds.
Rider Experiences
"This was living like a Vanderbilt, but biking in the 21st century. The perfect combination."
"The bike routes were well planned, keeping in mind the group experience levels but the lasting memories are from the cyclists and leaders . Really great dynamic from the group."
"I had a blast with the top notch crews at BikeADK and Great Camp Sagamore. The gravel riding in the Adirondacks was super (even saw moose tracks in the dirt). Camp Sagamore is a grand rustic experience not to be missed. The food was delicious too!!!
"This was my second BikeAdk event. Both were very well organized and run. Camp Sagamore is beautiful and a wonderful retreat. I will definitely return to ride with Bike ADK!"
Event Schedule
Arrival Day
4-5p: Check In - Reading Room, Collins Building
5p: Welcome/Meet The Guides (beer, wine & light hors d’oeuvres)
6p: Dinner - Dining Hall
7:15: Camp Orientation
Day 1
6:30-7:30a: Optional Morning Fitness Walk (Meet in front of the dining hall)
8a: Breakfast - Dining Hall
8:45a: Lunch available for pickup for those who'd prefer to eat on the route
9a: Depart for cycling experience
12-1p: Lunch available for pickup at Sagamore
2-3:30p: Optional Guided hike to Sagamore’s Farm Meadow (Meet in front of the Collins Building)
4-5p: Try Bowling on Sagamore’s Historic Lanes
5p: Happy Hour (beer, wine & light hors d’oeuvres)
6p: Dinner - Dining Hall
7:15p: Campfire at the Wigwam Lean-to (w/ s’mores)
Day 2
6:30-7:30a: Optional Morning Fitness Walk (Meet in front of the dining hall)
8a: Breakfast - Dining Hall
9a: Depart for cycling experience
12-1p: Lunch (Dining Hall)
1:30-3:30p: Optional guided history tour of Great Camp Sagamore (Meet at the Upper Complex Chalet)
6p: Dinner - Dining Hall
Day 3
6:30-7:30a: Optional Morning Fitness Walk (Meet in front of the dining hall)
8a: Breakfast - Dining Hall
10a: Checkout - you are welcome to stay for the day to explore the grounds or join a Sagamore guided event
Routes
Faqs
Can I arrive early or stay longer?
Absolutely, depending on availability. Please call 315.354.5311 to request extra nights.
What are the cycling routes like?
All routes are approximately 20-25 miles and feature stunning low traffic backroads with incredible lake, river and mountain views.
It's important to note that some cycling routes may not start at the camp. They will start each day from nearby Inlet, Old Forge or Raquette Lake. Guests will drive to a central meeting point each morning. Doing so allows riders to take as long as they like on the routes and return to Great Camp Sagamore at their own pace. It also avoids cycling on major auto thoroughfares.
Are e-bikes allowed?
Yes, all pedal assist e-bikes are welcome.
What if I have dietary restrictions?
Great Camp Sagamore can accommodate most dietary needs. Please communicate dietary restrictions during online registration.
What does registration include?
This is an all-inclusive event. Registration includes lodging, meals, guided rides and route support, plus so much more.
What is the group size?
The Great Camp Sagamore Experience is designed to be a personal connection to the history and landscape, therefore group sizes for each tour offering is limited to 20 participants.
What is the refund/transfer policy?
BikeADK is a vendor for this event and manages the cycling portions only. Any registration refund requests are subject to the policy of Greate Camp Sagamore.
LODGING
Great Camp Sagamore was built in 1897 by visionary Great Camp designer William West Durant on 1,526 acres of remote wilderness in the Adirondack Park. The Camp was a wilderness retreat for the Vanderbilt family for half a century. It is now a National Historic Landmark managed by a non-profit educational institution as a public trust open to all.
Amenties
- Stay at the Vanderbilt family's rustic summer retreat, now a National Historic Landmark
- Swim, paddle, or fish on secluded Sagamore Lake
- Hike wilderness trails that begin right on property, and explore the 3,500 acre Historic Great Camps Special Management Area, including the original hydroelectric powerhouse.
- Take a tour of the Vanderbilt’s guest and workers’ complexes and enjoy hearty buffets in their grand Dining Hall
- Relax by a campfire at the lean-to at the end of the day
- Bowl in our historic open-air bowling alley
Mission
“To steward historic Great Camp Sagamore as a welcoming place for education and connections to history, nature, and community.”
Land Acknowledgment
Great Camp Sagamore sits on lands and waters cared for by the Algonkian people known as the Mahican for over ten thousand years and more recently by the Iroquoian-speaking people we now call the Mohawk, and the Algonquian-speaking Abenaki people. We remember their connection to this place and recognize the many hardships they continue to endure. In the 19th century, Native people from these nations began to work as guides and artisans in the Sagamore region. Many of Mahican, Mohawk, and Abenaki descent still live in the Adirondacks to this day. We give thanks for the opportunity to share and protect this place and to better incorporate at the Sagamore, Native values of land management and conservation ethics. We hope that this is an opening to learn more.
Objectives
Stewardship: Preserving, protecting and enhancing the quality, aesthetic and historical value of Great Camp Sagamore, a state and national treasure, in recognition of its historical, cultural and environmental significance, and its capacity to motivate others.
Education: Providing multifaceted tours and programs grounded in the natural, cultural and historic resources of the Adirondack great camp tradition that offer enjoyable and thought-provoking intersections for individuals and families to share ideas and camaraderie.
Recreation: Offering individuals and families hands-on opportunities to experience the Adirondacks, learn new skills, and connect with others.
Renewal: Providing space to balance the mind, body and spirit in an inspirational, relaxed natural environment
Partners
