Five Routes to Celebrate the Summer Solstice in NYC
The start of the summer cycling season is upon us. This Sunday, June 20th, marks the summer solstice, and for us eager cyclists in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of sunlight of the year. To celebrate, we put together a short list of long rides in the NYC area to get the most out of the long day:
Route 1: George Washington Bridge to the Orchards (65 miles, 4,372ft of elevation gain)
This route takes you up scenic River Road and through the towns of Piermont and Nyack (excellent places for food stops). North of Nyack, the route will take you along the water through Hook Mountain State Park. Note that the path along the river is a multi-use light gravel road which you can ride on a road bike. Since it is multi-use, be mindful of other park visitors. Once you are at the top of Hook Mountain State Park, you will head west toward the Orchards of Conklin. As you make your way west, you will climb roughly 500ft to arrive at the Orchards. The climb is grueling, so save some energy for the way up! Note the Orchards does not have food, so if you choose to stop here make sure you bring a snack. The return trip takes you back a somewhat parallel route to the way you came.
Route 2: George Washington Bridge to the Orchards, through Harriman, and up to Bear Mountain (107 miles, 8,442ft of elevation gain)
This route follows a similar path as Route 1 to the Orchards and then continues through two of New York’s popular state parks: Harriman State Park and the infamous Bear Mountain State Park. This route has a whopping 8,442ft of climbing so make sure you bring plenty of snacks and hydration.
Route 3: George Washington Bridge to Cold Spring (85 miles, 5,100 ft of elevation gain)
This route takes you up 9W to Nyack where you will cross the Cuomo Bridge and continue north through the Hudson Valley. As you ride north, you will pass Croton-on-Hudson where you can stop in Croton Gorge Park to get a scenic picture of the New Croton Dam. Another 10 miles north, you will pass through Peekskill, a good place for a snack break. You then traverse west across the Hudson River to ride alongside Storm King Mountain, which has some breathtaking views. After riding up north a bit further, you will cross the Hudson River (yes, again!) and ride south to finish in Cold Spring. You can take the Metro North Train from Cold Spring to Grand Central (about a 90 minute ride) to get back to the city.
Route 4: Central Park to Kerber’s Farm (103 miles, 4,616ft of elevation gain)
Having grown up on Long Island, I may be biased, but I do think it has some great road rides to offer. Check out routes in Oyster Bay, Huntington, Lloyd Harbor, Stony Brook, and Orient Point to name a few. While Long Island has no mountains—in fact the highest point is only 400ft above sea level—don't let this fool you. The few hills we do have are short and steep with grades that can top over 10%. This route in particular takes you out to Oyster Bay, a quaint town with a number of food and coffee options. Next you will make your way through Huntington and ride along the water. The turn-around point of the ride is at Kerber's Farm. A great place to grab some treats and coffee for the return trip.
Route 5: Ride out to the Rockaways (50 miles, 1,164ft of elevation gain)
An easy urban pedal down through Brooklyn where you can spend your day relaxing by the beach and eating near the boardwalk.
If you are interested in giving your miles some meaning this weekend, consider registering for The Solstice Ride. This is a weekend-long crowdfunding campaign raising money for organizations across the United States that increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cycling industry. Six organizations that align with this mission have been selected to receive the funds raised from this campaign. This list includes NYC-based iChallenge Myself, which provides bike and fitness programming to New York City public school students as part of a holistic effort to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits. If you are interested in finding out more about their mission and programs give them a follow at @ichallengemyselfnyc or check out their website. The Outride Fund and other brand partners sponsoring the event will match all money raised 1:1.
I look forward to seeing everyone out on their bikes this weekend!
Hannah Camhi
Former college tennis player turned mountain bike, road bike, and soon to be gravel bike enthusiast.