Whiteface Mountain (Franklin Falls) Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

5.2
FIETS
11.6 mi
DISTANCE
3,307 ft
GAINED
5 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

The route to Whiteface Mountain summit from Franklin Falls is less difficult than from the Wilmington side. From Wilmington, the climb to the junction of Route 431 and Veteran’s Memorial Highway is three miles at 8.2%; from Franklin Falls it is 6.4 miles at 2.4% (with 0.6 miles at 10% beginning at mile 4.6). We share the last five miles (at 8.5%) of this climb with Whiteface Mountain from Wilmington
The average grade for this climb is 5.1% (6.4% for climb only).  14% of the climb is descent, 31% is at grade 0-5%, 52% is at 5-10%, and 2% is at 10-15%. 
Roadway:   The first 6.4 miles on Highway 431 are excellent and the last five on Whiteface Memorial Highway Toll Road are pristine - the best you will ever find. 

Traffic: Traffic can be moderate along the first 6.4 miles, but there is a good shoulder and the climb feels safe. Traffic on the five-mile toll road is light and travels at a moderate rate of speed.

Toll: There is a toll for cyclists to enter the toll road ($15 in 2020). There is a local custom that cyclists go around the gate before the toll road opens at 8:45 a.m. to avoid the fee.

Parking: You can park at the start of the climb (MapStreet View) or at the small pond on the left just before the toll booth if you prefer to ride just the toll road section of the climb - Map.
Consult the PJAMM "Full Forecast" feature for the time you expect to arrive at the finish to assess what clothing to bring on your ride - it can be extremely cold and windy at the top. I've climbed it four times, in May, June, and twice in September - its always been cold and windy at the top for me. 
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Use the “Routes in Area” button on the menu bar to see other bike climbs in this area. 

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Northeast Fall Colors
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24 ROUTES
37 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
98
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DISTANCE
35,116
ft
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - Elevation sign for 4499 Feet Above Sea

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, New York.

Near Lake Placid, this is the top New York bike climb.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, lush greenery surrounding two-lane roadway, roadsigns for route 72, Whiteface, Franklin Falls

The route to Whiteface Mountain summit from Franklin Falls is less difficult than from the Wilmington side.  From Wilmington, the climb to the junction of Route 431 and Veteran’s Memorial Highway is three miles at 8.2%; from Franklin Falls it is 6.4 miles at 2.4% (with 0.6 miles at 10% beginning at mile 4.6).

Before heading out to cycle Whiteface Mountain, be sure to rely on our list of Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip, and use our interactive checklist to ensure you don't forget anything.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - bike parked in front of sign for Whiteface Veteran's Memorial Highway in front of toll booth on road

Toll Booth is at mile six if you begin the climb from the town of Franklin Falls.

Toll Road:  As of June 2020 the toll for cyclists was $15.00.  The toll road is open to cyclists during nearly the same hours as automobiles (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for autos, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for cyclists).  There is dated internet information that reports cyclists are permitted on the Toll Road only after 5 p.m. – this was previously the case, but is no longer.

I began my June 2020 climb at 5:30 a.m. from Wilmington and went around the gate without paying toll. My riding partner rolled up to the gate around 8 a.m., before gates open, but was charged $15.00 by the attendant who spotted him.  The attendant advised that my partner wouldn’t have had to pay if he went through without being seen.  According to the cycle-based hotel we stayed at in Wilmington (Don at Cadence Lodge, a half block from climb start), it is customary and acceptable for cyclists to ride around the gate before the toll booth opens.

 

Whiteface Mountain is the fifth highest peak in the state of New York (after Mount Marcy [5,344’], Algonquin Peak [5,114’], Mount Haystack [4,960’] and Mount Skylight [4,926’]).  Most of the climb is on Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway[1] which is 7.96 miles of the most pristine roadway we have ever cycled on.  The roadway was constructed and paid for by New York State.  Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1935.  

Note:  This section of the climb summary duplicates our Whiteface Mountain from Wilmington climb report, because the climb to the top after turning onto Whiteface Mountain Highway from Route 431 is the same for both climbs -- 5.2 miles gaining 2,310’ at 8.5% average grade and ZERO descent.

Whiteface Mountain bicycle climb, what a ride! So many positives to this climb, which include:

  • It is a legitimate Top 50 U.S. climb (#43).  It has a consistent moderately steep grade throughout – no flat spots or descents between start and finish.

Climbing Whiteface Mountain by bike - steep grade sign.

  • There are exceptional views through breaks in the forest that surround us as we climb, including Taylor and Franklin Falls Ponds to the north after you pass the Toll Booth up to the switchback at mile 6.6 where we see Lake Placid for the first time.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain - photo collage, Share the Road sign on a long stretch of straight road, view from the center of a bike overlooking blue sky and the hillside, mountain-shaped road sign noting 4499 feet above sea level, view looking down the mountainside, mountain ranges in background, steep gradient road sign along curved portion of roadway

  •  The surroundings are lush and green during the spring and summer.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain - photo collage, long stretch of pristine roadway surrounded by forestation and rock wall, red berries hanging down on side of roadway, small waterfall and large grey rocks

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, cyclists smiling in selfies in the snow on mountain

Well, not all springtimes are created equal . . .

. . . thanks Bo Jensen, Syracuse, NY.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, Cyclist Bo Jensen points to Whiteface Mountain listed on his US Top 100 Climbs Jersey, two cyclists wearing PJAMM Cycling jerseys smile with their bikes in front of low stone retaining wall on mountainside

August, 2020

Bo Jensen sporting PJAMM Cycling’s Top 100 US Climbs jersey.

  •  And, of course, there are the gorgeous fall colors during autumn.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain - view from above with rock wall-lined staircase in foreground and green and golden hillsides in center, with "U" shaped lake in background surrounded by reddish hillsides

  • The top is Spanish Pyrenees-like: a castle! (see last part of Climb Video).

Cycling Whiteface Mountain by bike - view from above of road leading up to small stone castle at the summit of Whiteface Mountain

Summit Castle

(Photo from GAD).

Cycling Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway - Summit Tunnel 

Summit Tunnel

(Photo from Green Racing Project).

Cycling Whiteface Mountain - photo collage, multiple mile-marker mountain-shaped signs noting various feet above sea level, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner

Elevation signs begin at Santa’s Workshop (mile 1.6) and end at the summit.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain - finish - pjamm cycling john johnson with bike

Finish for the bike.

Walk up the steps for epic views of Lake Placid.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain - entrance to tall stone castle with large dark brown door, road bike leaning against door with PJAMM Cycling jersey draped over it

  •  The descent is amazing (note the 25 mph speed limit).
  • Did we mention the 25 mph speed limit?  That counts for cars on the ascent, too – so, it’s a safe and comfortable climb.

25 MPH speed limit sign along stretch of straight road

  • Traffic flow is mild (at least on weekdays).
  • This is a bike-friendly route with many “Share the Road” signs.  

Cycling Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway - Share the Road sign

  • A fun trivia fact is that six events in the Winter Olympics were held here over eight days in 1980.
  • Upstate New York is beautiful.
  • The road and its surface is exceptional.  We have never encountered a better roadway surface.  There were no blemishes anywhere – up or down.  

  Climbing Whiteface Mountain by bike - cyclists climbing on steep portion on straight two-lane roadway

Whiteface opened in 1958 and has earned its place in the annals of big-mountain skiing. It has the greatest vertical drop in the east, which means if pointing the boards downhill is your thing, you'll have plenty of opportunities”  (Whiteface Mountain).  If there is an incredible drop for skiers, then there is the equivalent opposite for us climbing the monster!

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - aerial view of Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort as seen in the summer (no snow), ski slopes can be seen covered in greenery

Slopes of Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort.

Weather for the Whiteface Mountain Bicycle Climb:  This can change in an instant on the mountain.  We went up in fairly good weather and while taking photos at the top had rain come in surprisingly fast -- check the weather and bring extra gear as warranted.

Cycling Whiteface Mountain, Franklin Falls, New York - fogged in atop the mountainside 

Ten minutes earlier that view was perfectly clear. 

Whiteface is spectacular during the fall:

Final note:  If you have the opportunity to climb this mountain, DO IT!

Whiteface Mountain Cycle Climb summary courtesy of then Strava KOM Michael Le Rossignolhe:

 "The climb is beautiful and twisty in the last few miles which I love. There is only one small ramp where the gradient goes up and it's in the final 800m which really bites! It was also a lot colder at the top (i made the rookie mistake of not packing any warm clothes since it was in June! The view was spectacular, you can see Montreal (where I'm from) on a clear day. The race was pretty uneventful, there was a small group selected after only 1 mile of around 8 or 10 guys and it slowly became 6 by the 3/4k to go mark and I attacked and stayed away by a minute or so. It was a great event and well organized!"

The Whiteface Mountain bike climb is truly a bucket list cycling climb.  


[1]Thanks much and again to our Northeast Cleats on the Ground collaborator extraordinaire Matthew Staller for his invaluable input and assistance on this page.

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