Mountain Roads Tour

from September 2006 posting in the foliage forum by PWT.

The Bethel Mountain Road starting from route 100 in Rochester Village and ending on route 12 in Bethel is a good ride and is paved. There are 2 National forest roads of route 100 that I like to ride on (and pick blackberries). Both of these roads are good dirt roads and they dead end, so you have to turn around and drive back. One is the West Hill/nfr 55 road in Granville. It starts behind the Blue Moose Bend craft shop off route 100. When you come to the "Y" intersection bear left onto nfr 55. You will come to a road on your right that is about 4 miles long. It's a nice ride with a couple of views. As you continue nfr 55 you will see a second road on your right. This is a short road to an abandoned farm. The old fields are still open with a good view. The road does go farther but the Rainbow Coalition had their get together here this year and I'm not sure how the road is now. (the buggers stole my blackberries) Continue nfr 55 to the end. It does change numbers but it's the same road. There is one great view near the end. The second road is the Bingo Road. This starts off route 73 in Rochester. Starting from route 100 in Rochester drive route 73 until it takes a hard 90 degree left turn. You go straight onto the Bingo Road/nfr 42 at this curve. There are a couple of side roads on this road. The first is the Flanders Hill road on the right side. It goes to an old cemetery. The road does continue but it is a 4 wheel drive road. Unfortuneatly there is a great view at the end. It's not a very long walk, however. The Bingo Road and the second side road may not offer much to a photographer but are nice rides and I have seen moose on this road. But that view on the Flanders Hill Road is worth the walk. It was on old side hill farm. The land owner keeps the field mowed. It does face southwest, so morning would be the best time to go. Another road I like is the old CCC road in Plymouth. It starts on route 100 about 1/2 of a mile south of Woodbury Pond and is called the Shrewsbury Road. It goes to North Shrewsbury. Also in Plymouth off route 100A is the Ranger Road. Some nice dirt roads to ride on in that area. Look for the Quarry Road off the Ranger Road. As you start on the Quarry Rd. look to the left and you'll see some granite blockks from the quarry. When the road takes a left turn look for a cleared area on the left. Pask there and walk a 100 yards to the quarry. There are vultures living there.