Ney York Rt3

[sully349]

Im going to be skippin across NY in June and from Watertown I want to take Rt/Sr 3 thru the Adirondaks to Saranac Lake. Can anyone tell me how steep the grades are thru that area. Ill be pulling my pop up with a Ford E150 conversion van ( 6 cyl) and dont want to burn up my brakes...again. :yikes:

[vermont4]

Im going to be skippin across NY in June and from Watertown I want to take Rt/Sr 3 thru the Adirondaks to Saranac Lake. Can anyone tell me how steep the grades are thru that area. Ill be pulling my pop up with a Ford E150 conversion van ( 6 cyl) and dont want to burn up my brakes...again. :yikes:

Don't worry about burning up your brakes on this side of the Adirondacks, it's all uphill.  My only question is why aren't you using that Dodge of yours to pull your pop up.  You are going to run into some pretty steep uphills, mostly between Cranberry Lake and Saranac Lake.  Please don't let me discourage you from going there, I believe this is one of the most beautiful areas on earth.  With our 6 cylinder Grand Cherokee we do just fine in this area, so try to judge from that what your van will do.  I encourage you not to rush to Saranac Lake.  Cranberry Lake and the adjacent Five Ponds Wilderness is spectacular for the geology of the area, eskers, poster-nos lakes, and glacial eratics.  You can park at a trail head in Wanakena and be deep in the Wilderness in minutes.  Tupper lake is a blue collar logging town with prospects for a real future including the soon to be Museum of natural history.  There are some nice camping areas around Horseshoe Lake  south of Tupper.  The Adirondack  Museum in Blue Mountain Lake is a great place, especially if you like small wooden craft and Adirondack style Architecture and lore.  Unless you like being camped 10 feet from your neighbor avoid Fish Creek campground and Rollins Pond.  The only exception to that is if you have a power boat with you.  I spent 6 summers guiding in this area and am willing to share info if you will swear secrecy.  Oh by the way, to go easy on your breaks you will want to exit to the northeast toward Plattsburgh.

Rich