New York State Adirondack Hiking guide

Easy Trails
Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (roundtrip)
Point Au Roche State Park	There is a network of easy trails leaving the nature center that has a map that includes the hiking trails of Point Au Roche State Park. Most trails lead to views of Lake Champlain and some along its shoreline	Located off Route 9, 6 miles north of Plattsburg	Varied
Blue Ledge on the Hudson	Blue Ledge on the Hudson hike takes you to the shore of the Hudson River. It leads to a turbulent section under the Blue ledges. The trail has wildflowers in spring.	From North Creek, take NY 28 north for 9.4 miles, then left on North Woods Country Rd. for just under 7 miles.	5 mi
Mount Baker	From the 2,452 foot summit of Mount Baker, there are views of the Saranac Lakes and the High Peaks but you have to walk around the summit to clearings.	From downtown Saranac Lake, go to Main Street then turn right on Dugway. At the end of Dugway take the first left on to Forest Hill Ave. Go to Moody Pond where the trailhead. Park across from the trailhead alongside the pond.	2 miles
Peaked Mountain Trail	The Peaked Mountain trail to the pond at 2.5 miles is easy and leads through pretty forest. If you continue to the summit of Peaked Mountain, at 2,919 feet, the last third of a mile is rough climbing 600 feet. The views from the summit include Peaked Mountain Pond and Big and Little Thirteenth Lakes. There are also distant views of the Adirondack High Peaks and Vermont's Green Mountains.	By North River on NY 28, south on Thirteenth Lake Road for Siamese Ponds Wilderness/Thirteenth Lake. After 3 miles, make a right on a beach road that enters the wilderness area. The trailhead is .5 mile.	6 miles
Red Dot Trail	The Red Dot Trail Passes glacial ponds, and an old canal that connects two ponds to the larger Osgood pond. Views overlooking Osgood Pond	From NY 30, take NY 86 a short distance	2.5 miles
Mount Arab	Mount Arab has views of surrounding lakes from a restored 1918 fire tower. Also some distant views of the high peaks and Raquette River Valley. Good hike with children.	From Tupper Lake, 3 miles west on Rt 3, left on Conifer Road, a few miles to the trailhead	2 miles
Murphy Lake Trail	We took the Murphy Lake Trail in the fall and the forest of maple, birch, aspen oak and ash was incredible. Murphy Lake Trail leads past a deserted mining area where you still can see some signs to Bennett, Middle and Murphy Lakes	From NY 30 them east on Creek Road. The trailhead is 2.2 miles.	10 miles
Moderate Trails
Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (roundtrip)
Azure Mountain	Good views from a huge ledge on the summit of Azure Mountain or from the refurbished firetower. This is a good spot to view ravens and the distant High Peaks.	Located off the Blue Mountain Rd., take NYS Rte. 458 to the Blue Mountain Rd. and travel approximately 6 miles to the trailhead.	2.1
Good Luck Cliffs	The Good Luck Cliffs trail climbs through a small gorge circling behind 500+ foot cliffs that lead to an overlook of the Adirondack foothills.	The trailhead is on NY10 300 feet past a bridge over the Sacandaga River 6 miles north of the intersection with NY 29A
Bald Mountain	The Bald Mountain trail and the peak of Bald Mountain have great views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Also from the peak, where there is a fire tower, are views of Mounts Marcy and Colden 56 miles away. This trail can be combined with the Vista Trail.	Trailhead is off Rondaxe Road, just off the intersection with NY 28, 4.5 mi. east of Old Forge.	2 mi, 400 ft.elev. change.
Santanoni Preserve	Santanoni Preserve was once a private estate that is now a wilderness retreat. The hike to Newcomb lake is quiet and except for the distance is easy with only a 200 foot gain in elevation, The lake is remote and surrounded by mountains. You can arrange to to have your canoe transported by horse to the lake (see link at left) or just enjoy the hike and swimming in the lake. The trail is an old road so it is broad and is also used by cyclists.	The entrance to the preserve is in Newcomb	10 mi.
Haystack Mountain	The view from the top of Haystack Mountain (4,961 feet) includes the High Peaks, Saranac Lake and several other lakes.	From Saranac Lake, take NY 86 East to Ray Brook, proceed 1.6 miles past NY State DEC Headquarters to parking area on left. Follow blue DEC trail markers.	6.3 miles
Goodnow Mountain	Goodnow Mountain is 2,685 feet tall but at its summit is a 60-foot fire tower that has good Adirondacks views that include the High Peaks. The trail is steep rising 1,025 feet but short. A map by the fire tower helps identify the mountains. The north view is through Indian Pass and includes the Wallface and MacIntyre Mountains. Mounts Marcy, Adams and Haystack are also visible. For the effort, this is probably one of the best views of the Adirondacks.	The trailhead is on NY 28N, 1.5 miles west of the Newcomb Visitors' Center	3.5 mi.
Difficult Trails
Trail	Description	Directions	Distance (roundtrip)
Van Hoevenberg Trail to Mt. Marcy	Mount Marcy, at 5,344 feet, is the highest point in NYS. The Van Hoevenberg Trail is difficult rising 3,200 feet but is the shortest trip to the summit. There are lean-tos so you can make it an overnight trip. After 2.1 miles you reach Marcy Dam where there are good views of Mounts Colden and Algonquin around the lake formed by the wooden dam just above Indian Falls. As you reach the spot above Indian Falls at 4.5 miles there are more impressive views of the MacIntyre Range with Algonquin in the center. The final three quarters of a mile were difficult with rock scrambling. You have to use your hands. The summit views are incredible with the McIntyre Range, Green Mountains and Lake Champlain all visible. This is an 8-10 hour day hike and has some very difficult stretches.	The trailhead is opposite the High Peaks Visitor Information Center on Adirondack Loj Road reached by going east on NY 73 from Lake Placid Village.	14 mi
Algonquin Mountain	Although this lacks the prestige of making it to Mount Marcy, the trail to the summit of Algonquin Peak and the view from the top, at 5,114 feet, are better and the trail is probably the most challenging in the Adirondacks, if not New York. Looking east and south from Algonquin's summit you can see Colden, Marcy, Grey, Skylight and Giant mountains. North views include mounts Cascade and Porter and the Sentinel Range. The last mile of the hike is tough climbing 910 feet mush of which is on a rockslide that must climb at 45° followed by tough scrambles. There are also a few false summits but cairns and arrows painted on the rock will continue leading the way.	The trailhead is opposite the High Peaks Visitors' Center at the end of Adirondack Loj Road reached by going east on NY 73 from Lake Placid Village.	8 miles
Pitchoff Mountain	The Pitchoff Mountain hike begins with views of Cascade Lakes and the Cascade Range and then southern views of the Adirondacks High Peaks (good views of Algonquin, Colden and Marcy) and Whiteface Mt. and the Sentinel Range to the north. The Pitchoff Mountain summit at 3,497 feet is actually several small summits connected by the trail with ledges on each side. There are several steep pitches, particularly on the last summit after which you begin a steep rocky descent. There are distant views if clear of Vermont's Green Mountains. Mid-summer, there are blueberries along the trail. This was one of my favorite hikes in the Adirondacks, it provided so many unobstructed views as you came out of forest then hit the summit that the 1450 foot rise was easy. There are rock scrambles involved and it can be slippery on the sections that are bare rock if it is wet.	The trail starts on NY 73 and ends also on NY 73 2.5 miles away so you will need a second car unless you backtrack. The west trailhead is 4.4 miles east of Heart Lake Rd. and .5 mi. west of Upper Cascade Lake. The east trailhead is 4 miles west of Keene.	5.1 mi. one way. It is about 4 miles to the final summit and if you have only one car, its probably the best spot to turn around.
Ampersand Mountain	Views from the top of Ampersand Mountain include the Saranac Lakes, Tupper Lake, Long Lake, and the High Peaks. This would not be rated a difficult trail except that there was significant erosion when we went and it required the use of hands and toes up muddy "walls" of about three feet.	From Saranac Lake, take NY Route 3 West about 8 miles to parking area on right and cross the highway	5.4 miles
Tongue Mountain	This trail first climbs the Tongue Mountain Range then continues along its ridge. The views of Lake George are great most of the entire trail as most of the ridge is treeless. If you take this hike in the spring (late-April through May) there in an amazing variety of wildflowers. The views from the top of French Point 4.4 miles into the loop are the best of the trip. The total elevation change is 3,000. As you start on the trail, you will see a pretty waterfall and at .3 mile, you reach an intersection with the return trail on your right, stay straight on the red blazed trail.	The trailhead is NY 9n, 4 miles north of its intersection with County Road 11. The trailhead is by an old quarry.	12.4 mi loop
Ridge Trail to Giant Mountain	This strenuous hike from Ridge Trail rises 3,000 feet to Giant Mountain's exposed summit, 4,627 feet it is the Adirondack's twelfth highest peak. There are views of the mountains near Lake George, the Champlain Valley and the Adirondack high peaks. The views start right from the trailhead with the ledges surrounding Chapel Pond. You can take a refreshing swim on the pond's beach and watch peregrine falcons that live in the ledges. Further along you have views of Giant's Washbowl, a small scenic pond on the mountainside. The hike provides mountain views along most of the route.	Chapel Pond and the trailhead are on NY 73, North of I-87 (exit 30).	12 miles
Blue Mountain	We found this hike when we stopped at the Adirondack Museum. It climbs 1,750 feet in 2 miles to the top of Blue Mountain where there are views of Adirondack lakes and ponds that stretch into the distance. Across from Tirrell Pond in the west is the Tirrell Mountains and many of the high peaks of the Adirondacks can be seen beyond that; there is a nicely situated picnic table with the view making a great lunch spot. The west view from the summit is Blue Mountain Lake and the Eckford Chain There is a fire tower at the summit (3,759 ft) and I understand a ranger is usually there. The view from the tower is even better providing a 360° view.	The trailhead is .1 mi. north of the Adirondack Museum which is a little over a mile from the intersection of NY 28N and NY 30	4 mi
Snowy Mountain	Snowy Mountain is the highest peak in the southern Adirondacks at 3,899 feet. You can not enjoy Snowy's views from its broad summit but you can walk through the scrub at the peak for outstanding views of Indian Lake, the distant High Peaks and unbroken wilderness. The trail is easy until the last mile when it climbs a steep pitch. The last .5 mile is very steep and worn and you may have to use your hands for some balance. The total elevation change is 2,100 feet.	The signed trailhead is on NY 30, 17 miles north of Speculator and 7 miles south of Indian Village.	7.8 mi.
Crane Mountain	Crane Mountain is an isolated mountain offering clear distant views of Vermont's Green Mountains, Lake George, Blue, Speculator, Snowy and several other mountains. There are also distant views of the Adirondack High Peaks. A mile from the summit is Crane Mountain Pond where you can take a clean, cold swim. The first 1.5 mile of this trail are easy then it climbs 700 feet in .5 mile. To reach the peak, you will have to climb 6 foot and 15 foot ladders.	From NY 8 take South Johnsburg Rd. to Garnet Lake Rd. From there follow the signs to Crane Mtn.	4.9 mi. loop