The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is advising motorists that State Route 73 in towns of Keene and North Elba (Lake Placid), Essex County, will be reduced to one lane of alternating travel controlled by flaggers between Gilmore Hill Road and Lower Cascade Lake (in Keene), and between Bobsled Run Lane (Mt. Van Hoevenberg) and Recycle Circle Lane (in North Elba / Lake Placid), from 6 am to 6 pm weekdays, beginning Monday, August 11, through approximately Friday, Sept 5, to accommodate a pavement re-surfacing project.
Route 73 is a very popular and narrow access route into the Adirondack High Peaks from the Adirondack Northway (I-87) to the Tri-lakes Region (Lake Placid, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake). The route is a crucial part of accessing hiking and rock climbing destinations in the High Peaks and Giant Mountain Wilderness. Parking is tightly controlled in this area.
Backcountry access will be affected, especially for Cascade Pass and Adirondak Loj, but also including Owls Head (the trial to which goes through private property and is restricted to week days only), Pitchoff Mountain, and the Cascade Brook parking areas in Keene; and also Mt. Van Hoevenberg, Mountain Lane Road (the route which was long ago replaced by Route 73), and John Brown’s Farm in North Elba.
Motorists should anticipate travel delays and build extra travel time into their schedule. Construction activities are weather dependent and subject to change based on conditions.
Check the Town of Keene’s Hiker Information Page.
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.
John Warren’s Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Conditions
Photo: Cascade Pass in the Adirondacks looking west from Lower Cascade Lake to Cascade Brook along Route 73.
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