Adirondack Hikes & Great Walks

The Adirondack Park is a mix of private and public lands (6 million acres).  The backcountry acreage is enormous and the Adirondacks has the largest trail system in the nation with more than 2,000 miles.  Enjoy the glory of hiking the Adirondacks, nature's solitude, unbroken forest, lakes and mountains and take the path less taken. 

Also think about joining our 46er' club.  What's that about?  Check it out the 46'er directory! Also, the Park is restoring some of our fire towersThe newest fun is Geo caching.  Go find one, or make one, and have a nice treasure hunt while enjoying the beautiful Adirondack scenery.

When traveling, please always remember safety.   Suit up and plan your hike thoroughly.  Adirondack weather can shift, and the forest have a lot of wildlife to enjoy and RESPECT.  Hike in numbers, or make a safety plan.  Trails are experiencing an increase in numbers of dogs and their masters.  The State asks that dog owners please be considerate of your fellow users, and have control of your pet particularly around small children, remove droppings from the trail and campsite area.  Thanks from all of us hikers.

 

Resources are provided below.  Also visit our Adirondack Fire Tower (see below).  We also invite you to share your nature stories with our readers.  If you wish to get published (free), e-mail us or visit our Ning Community.  By sharing, we better our world.  Save your Adirondack memories, and write them down.  Happy Trails!

                               

 

 

Caroga Lake

Green Lake Trail Kane Mountain (fire tower) (.5 mi, up to 2,200 elev - Green Lake Road or Schoolhouse Road) Nine Cornered Lake, (2, mi, Pine Lake, Route 29A)
Broomstick Lake (1.7 mi, grassy shore lake) Good Luck Lake (1.8 m, sandy shore lake) Spectacle Lake (2.5 mile off Good Luck Lake - great fishing, camping)

Elizabethtown

Blueberry Cobbles (3.8 miles - easy) & Ball Peak (7.8 miles difficult)

Hurricane Mountain (5.2 miles difficult)

 

 

Glens Falls Region

Glens Falls Feeder Canal, Glens Falls & Queensbury, 518-792-5363

Gurney Lane Nature Trail - Gurney Ln, Queensbury, 518-761-8216

Crandall Park Int'l Trail System, Route 9, Glens Falls

518-761-3831

 

Gore Mountain Region

Warren County Nature Trail System - Hudson Ave, Warrensburg, 518-623-5576

Dynamite Hill Nature Trail (.5 miles) easy, Rt 8 Chestertown

Pack Demonstration Forest - Rt 9 & 28, Warrensburg (2500 acre environmental Demo Forest) 518-623-9679

Carol A. Thomas Memorial Walk, North Creek, 518-251-2421

Crane Mtn., trail at Garnet Lake Road

 518-623-1200

Gore Mt., Peaceful Valley Road, North Creek, 518-251-2411

Adirondack Safaris (birding & nature hikes by guide)

Siamese Pond Wilderness*

(low mtn, wetlands, ponds, & Sacandaga River east branch)

 
Titbit:  The Siamese Pond Wilderness has 108,000 acres/172 square miles of gentle mountains, forest, streams and 36ponds.  Major trail heads are located at Thirteenth Lake (end of Old Farm Clearing Rd.); south of Indian Lake village at Big Brook Road, or the east shores of Indian Lake.
 

 

Hamilton County

Moose River Recreation Area

(Rt 28 to Limekiln Road from Inlet)

Wackley Mountain (fire tower) - Primitive area consists of 120 acres, facilities at foot trail, observer cabins Sly Pond Trail (5.4 miles) - portion of little Moose Mtn. before Sly Pond
Lost Pond Trail (1.0 miles) Hell Diver Pond Trail (.25 miles) - easy trail, short canoe carry Mitchell Ponds Trail (2.8 miles) - 2 mile walk to pond on old roadway
Rock Dam Road (1.4 miles) - from Red River Bridge intersection to end of Rock Dam Road Whites Pond Trail (1.9 miles) Otter Brook Road (3.3 miles)
Ice House Pond Trail (.4 miles) - follows old road, and short canoe carry to Kelly Bog Pond, good trout fishing Beaver Lake Trail (2.3 miles) - west of Moose River Bridge, trail follows old road on the north shore of lake Squaw Lake Trail (8.4 miles) - From Indian Lake Road to Otter Brook Road
Muskrat Pond Trail (.1 mile) - from Indian Lake road Indian Lake Trail (.1 mile) - from Indian Lake Road West Canada Wilderness - numerous lakes & streams
Northville-Placid Trail (W. Canada Wilderness) 16.8 miles Brooktrout Trail (5.9 miles) - W. Canada Wilderness trails lead to Falls Pond, Wolf Lake & Deep Lake Indian River Trail (9.0 miles) - W. Canada Wilderness, Indian River Road past Indian Lake, continues to Horn, Balsam and Stink Lake
Wakely Mtn. Trail (3.2 miles - steep climb to top 3,477' w/fire tower    
Titbit:  The Moose River Recreation Area consist of 50,000 acres purchased from Gould Paper Co in 1963; terrain is flat and great plains of the Moose & Red Rivers, matched with the steep pitches of adjoining forested ridges.  40 miles of roads, and 27 miles of trails, and a public campground at Limekiln Lake.

 

Keene/Keene Valley

Baxter Mountain (2.2 miles - moderate

Blueberry Mountain (4.8 miles - difficult)

Cathedral Rocks/Bear Run Loop  (4 miles, moderate)

Indian Head (8 miles, moderate)

Owls Head (1.3 miles, easy)

Round Mountain Loop (5 miles, moderate)

Snow Mountain (3.4 miles, moderate)

 

Lake Champlain Region

This Region is blessed with having one of New York Natural Wonders, the Ausable Chasm in Ausable Chasm, NY.  Check out NY's www.GEE-ology.com
Belfry Mtn. (.4 miles, easy w/fire tower) Valcour Island Perimeter Trail (5.7 miles) Valcour Island Nomad Trail (2.1 miles of the interior) and 1 mile water crossing from Peru boat launch, site of naval battle, add'l 7 mile trails, easy
Poke-O-Moonshine Mtn. (1.9 miles w/fire tower & campground) Lyon Mtn (5 miles w/fire tower) International Views Snake Den Bay Outlook Trail
Four Ponds - Lincoln Pond - Mineville area (Tanaher Pond, Mill Pond, Murrey Ponds, Russett Ponds) Morehouse Bridge to Boquet, Essex (3.1 miles, easy) Sunrise Trail to Mt. Gilligan (1.l mile, steady climb with great outlooks)
Lake Alice (3 miles, easy) Chazy, wildlife mgt. sites Silver Lake Mtn. (1.8 miles easy) lake views are outstanding, off Silver Lk. Rd, and Silver Lake Bog (2.5 miles, easy) Ausable Marsh (3 miles, easy) at Ausable Point Campground, great bird watching
Lewis Preserve (5.6 miles easy), civil war charcoal kilns, foundations, stone fences, north of Danamora Keeseville - Walking Guide to Keeseville's Historic District, call 518-834-9606 Ausable Chasm - famous waterfalls, 'a must do' (admission fee)
Clintonvile Pine Barrens - (Nature Conservancy Preserve), 900 acre pine barren, guide trail at trailhead Plattsburgh - Historical Walking Tour, famous battles, call 518-563-1000 Point Au Rouche State Park (8 miles trail network, easy) views of Champlain
  Cook Mtn. Preserve - 200 acre preserve, off Baldwin Road, Ticonderoga  
Titbit:  NY State Canal System consist of 4 segments; the 70-mile Erie Canal Trail between Lockport and Fairport; the 36 mile Old Erie Canal State Park Trail between Rome and DeWitt; the 25 mile Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway between Cohoes and Rotterdam and the 8 mile Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail between Glens Falls and Fort Edward.  The Canal System connects the Great Lakes with the Hudson River and five waterways into Canada. (reported by the Lake George Guide, 2006)  NYS Canal System - 800 4CANAL5

Lake George Region

Buck Mountain (6 miles RT), off Pilot Knob Road Prospect Mountain (4 miles RT), off Smith St. Hadley Mountain (2 miles RT), off Hadley Hill Road, Lake Luzerne
Lake George Land Conservancy Preserve & Trails, Lake Shore Dr., Lake George Blue Ledges (2.2 miles RT) off North Woods Club Road Cat & Thomas Mt. Preserve, (enter Bolton Landing) 518-644-9673
Lake George Rec Park, Route 9N Warren County Nature Trail System, Hudson Street, Warrensburg, 518-623-1265  

Lake Placid/Saranac Lake/Raybrook

This Region is blessed with having one of New York Natural Wonders, the High Falls Gorge in Lake Placid.  Check out NY's www.GEE-ology.com

Cascade Mtn. (4.8 miles, moderate)

Mt. Jo (2.3 miles, moderate)

Mt. Van Hoevenberg (4.4 miles, moderate)

Balance Rocks on Pitchoff Mtn. (3.2 miles, moderate)

Avalanche Pass & Lake (8.8 miles, moderate)

Rocky Falls (* 4.8 miles, moderate)

Haystack Mountain (6.5 miles, moderate)

Mt. Baker, (1.8 miles moderate)

Scarface Mountain (6.6 miles, moderate)

Ampersand Mtn, Rt 3 west (5.4 miles RT - steep climb to summit)

Bloomingdale Bog Trail (7.5 miles RT) past Adk. Med. Center, easy hike or mtn. bike

Middle Saranac Lake (1.5 miles RT), Rt 3, easy stroll

Newcomb

Blue Ledge (5 miles, easy)

Camp Santanoni (9 miles, moderate) Also visit Great Camp Santanoni

Hewitt Pond-Stony Pond (6 miles, moderate

Goodnow Mountain (3.8 miles, moderate w/fire tower)

Vanderwhacker Mtn. (5.8 miles, difficulty w/fire tower)

Calamity Brook to Flowed Land (9.4 miles, moderate)

Indian Pass & Wallface Mtn. (8.8 miles, moderate & rugged 1.2 miles)

Cold River Horse Trail System (between Rt. 28N at Newcomb)

 

Old Forge

Bald Mtn Trail (off Rt 28, 4 miles past Visitor's Center) great views, 1 mile hike Bubb Lake & Sis Lake, 2.3 mile hike, access Rt 28, 2 scenic lakes Cascade Lake, 4.6 mile round trip, swim, canoe, camp, fish & waterfalls, easy grades, parking
Fly Pond, across from Rondax Rd & Bald Mtn. Parking area, scenic mtn. & pond Moss Lake, Big Moose Rd in Eagle Bay, 2.5 mile loop hike, level, canoe, camp, fish & swim Town of Web Visitors Info Center

315-369-6983

Fern Park, South Shore Rd, Inlet (easy to difficult) Catholic Press (.5 mile easy),  Rt 28 Inlet trailhead Ferd's Bog (.4 mile, floating boardwalk) Uncas Rd @ Eagle Bay
Rocky Mtn. Summit (.6 miles, intermediate) Rt 28, Inlet Black Bear Mtn. Summit (3.5 miles steep, 2.1 difficult), Rt. 28, Inlet Uncas Black Bear Mtn. Trail (2.2 miles to summit, intermediate, trails continues to Bug Lake 3.1 & Eagle's Nest 3.8 miles)
Mosse Lake (3.8 miles easy) Big MooseRd, Eagle Bay - also serves as trailhead to Bubb Lake, 1.5 miles & Sis Lake 2.5 miles    

Paul Smith - St. Regis

Debar Pond (.6 miles, easy), off Rt 99 Everton Falls (Nature Conservancy Preserve), waterfall just off road, and 10 mile stillwater trip.  Trail guides available St. Regis River Hydro Site (.5 miles, easy) waterfalls & rapids viewing
White Pine Camp (2.5 miles, admission for guided walk) Adk. Great Camp on Osgood Pond Adirondack Park Visitors Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths, 518-327-3000 Azure Mtn. (1 miles, moderate) - fire tower, off Blue Mtn. Road
Jenkins Mtn. (8.4 miles, difficult) contact Interpretive Center @ Paul
Smiths
Elephant Head (1 mile, moderate) Isolated hilltop with views, off Rt 30 Red Dot Trail (2.5 mile loop near Osgood Pond, easy)

St. Lawrence (Star Lake, Cranberry Lake, Fine, Colton)

Clear Pond, (6.6 miles moderate) incl. Lilypad Pond, Long Pond, picturesque glacial ponds , south of Parishville

Tooley Pond Mtn. (2.5 miles, moderate, former fire tower, parking area, west of Cranberry Lake

Streeter Lake (8 miles, moderate or 1 mile easy), 2 trailheads, south of Star Lake

Stone Valley Recreation Area (7.5 mile loop, easy to moderate), rapids, waterfalls, gorges, rock outcroppings, Raquette River) below Colton dam

Grass River Waterfalls (easy), South Branch for great waterfalls, public access, north of Cranberry Lake

Wolf Lake (5 mile loop, moderate) interesting trail around rocks, lakes & bluff overlooking Huckleberry Lake, in Edward

 

Greenwood Creek (1.8 mile)

 

Schroon Lake

This Region is blessed with having one of New York Natural Wonders, the Natural Stone Bridge & Caves in Pottersville.  Check out NY's www.GEE-ology.com

Bear Pond Loop (5 miles, easy), loop w/Rock Pond-Clear Pond trails

Grizzle Ocean (5 miles, easy)

Pharoah Lake (7.2 miles, moderate)

Pharaoh Mtn. (11.3 miles, difficult) + 100 miles of trails

Rock Pond Mine (*5.4 miles, moderate)

Severance Hill (2 miles, moderate)

Treadway Mtn., (*7.8 miles, moderate) trail head at westerly shores of Putnam Pond near Mud Pond outlet

Hoffman Notch Traverse (7.6 miles, difficult)

Crane Pond Road w/ Goose Pond, Long Swing Trails (moderate)

Sucker Brook Horse Trail - village of Adirondack

 Goose Pond Trail (departs at Crane Pond trailhead, .06 mile to pond)

Spectacle Pond Trail (1.6 miles, accessed by Alder Meadow Rd and Rt 9)

     

Ticonderoga

Cook Mtn. Preserve (2.6 miles, easy)

La Chute Trail (.5 miles, easy)

Washington County

Black Mt. Range (@ Pilot Knob, overlooks Lk. George) dec.state.ny.us

 

 

Westport

Coon Mountain Preserve (2 miles, easy, bushwhack 246 acre preserve)

Split Rock Mtn. (6.5 miles, moderate)

 

 

Support Services

Adirondack Mountain Club - (Kids on Trails, Fire Towers, Adk. Guides, Maps & more)

Adirondack Maps (Delorme, Trails Illustrated, Topo Maps, Geogical Service Maps)

Hamilton County Tourism, 800-648-5239 (ask for the "Adirondack Great Walks & Day Hikes")

State-wide Emergency Search & Rescue/Fire Hot Line 518-891-0235

 

 

Fire Towers - Scenic hikes

Adirondack Fire Towers (click here)

 

 

46'er Club Mountain Challenges

46'ers Club

 

 

Backcountry Hiking Rules

Courtesy of NYSCEC

 

 

| Home Page |   Tour the Park Articles |   Concierge  |  History |   Tall Talesblog | e-mail |

 

 *  DISCLOSURE Adirondack Country Homes Realty Inc. and "In and Around the Adirondack Park" is not affiliated with any of the above businesses, organizations or events, nor can we           vouch for the quality,  and is NOT responsible for the actions  of the above parties.  This is brought as a public service message only.   We publish your works (professional or                  amateur free).