The trail leads to the western shore of Bass Lake

Getting there

From Exit 29 off of Interstate 87, follow Blue Ridge Road toward North Hudson and take a left onto Route 9 and follow it north. Continue for 2.5 miles and turn right onto Caza Turn Road. Look for an obscure road into the woods just before the houses — this is the trailhead. It is unmarked and on the roadside.

Hiking

Bass Lake can also be approached from the east, so a traverse hike is possible if a second car is spotted. This trailhead is used much less than the one from the east, so conditions are much more variable and the trailhead is harder to find. There are a few decent-sized hills to traverse, giving this trip a bit more of a challenge, but overall it's fairly similar to the trail from the east. The trail leads to the western shore of Bass Lake, and from there another path to the left leads to better viewing. The trail also continues straight, where more views off of the south shore add to the beauty.

• Elevation Gain: 325 feet
• Distance Round Trip: 3.6 miles

It's not all about fishing at Bass Pond. The hiking is wonderful, too!

Getting there

From Exit 29 on Interstate 87, follow Blue Ridge Road toward North Hudson and take a left onto state Route 9 and follow it north. Continue for 2.5 miles and turn right onto Caza Turn Road, then take the next right onto Ensign Pond Road. Follow Ensign Pond Road for just under 3 miles to the trailhead on the right.

Hiking

At the trailhead there is an immediate split; left leads toward Hammond Pond and right leads toward Bass Lake. Bass Lake can also be approached from the west, so a through hike is possible if a second car is spotted. The trail is mostly gentle, with only a couple of spots that might be considered a moderate climb. The path remains high above Berrymill Brook before branching away and starting the climb to the lake. To lengthen the trip, continue along the shore to the western portion of the lake, where additional views await.

• Elevation Gain: 250 feet
• Distance Round Trip: 6.0 miles

The loop around Rock and Heart ponds is so interesting you might want to do it twice! From beautiful pond views to historical remains, this hike has it all.

Getting there

From the intersection of Route 9 and Route 74 in Schroon Lake follow Route 74 toward Ticonderoga. Continue for around 12-miles to Putts Pond Road on your right. Follow Putts Pond Road to the end to the Putnam Pond Campground. Enter the campground (day-use fees apply during operational periods), and take a right and then a left to the day-use parking area near the beach. 

Hiking

From the day-use area locate the trail on the right of the parking lot near a couple out-buildings. Follow this through the woods of tall pines to the campsite road and follow this to the left. Continue on the road for around a half mile to the trailhead on the left.

The trail goes through an attractive forest and after 0.4 miles comes to an intersection near Heart Pond, which will very soon be on your right. Take a left here and pass by Heart Pond, a small path leads to a wonderful overlook. After a decent descent you will come to North Pond which you will hike by and soon be at the Shore of Rock Pond. This is a lollipop loop of sorts and for the sole purpose of this description follow right.  

Heading in a counterclockwise direction you can enjoy a wonderful loop around the pond, but heading in either direction you won’t be disappointed. The portion around the north side will access you past an old mine shaft and the remnants of the mining village located there. But soon after this the hike gets very interesting. Scrambling up steep cliffs, walking atop steep drop-offs, and taking in outstanding vistas over the pond await you. Big Clear Pond Mountain and Peaked Mountain can be seen across the way. Once you drop down off the rocky shore you will come to rock peninsula that juts out deep into the pond, a perfect place to take an extended lunch break or if the temperatures agree, a nice dip could be in order. As you move along the shore just keep the pond to your left and follow the signs for the loop; more views and vistas will await you around every corner. Once around the pond proceed to follow your route back out to the campground or extend you hike by going up and over Bear Pond Mountain and visiting the Bear Pond Loop. 

• Distance Round Trip: 6.6 miles, loop

Complete with a fire tower and magnificent views, Vanderwhacker Mountain is a perfect option for hikers looking to explore the area!

How to get there

*PLEASE NOTE: The dirt road to the trailhead is closed for the foreseeable future. The bridge along the road is closed due to needing repairs, rendering the road closed to motor vehicles. However, it can still be hiked on foot. For the time being, please park across the bridge in the parking area on the other side of Route 28N. DO NOT park along the shoulder of the road. The road closure adds 2.6-miles of road walking to the trip. In total, this trail will be 5.3-miles one way.

From exit 28 in Schroon Lake, follow I-87 north for one exit to the North Hudson exit, #29. From here follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue all the way to Newcomb and Route 28N. Take a left onto 28N and continue for just under 6-miles to the access road for Vanderwhacker Mountain on the right, just before the crossing of the Boreas River. Follow this road for 2.6 miles to the trailhead. The access road is dirt and very rough. OK for low clearance vehicles but take it very slow. It can also be hiked to make a fine full day.

By the numbers

• Distance: (from the trailhead) 2.7 miles, one way
• Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
• Mountain Elevation: 3,325 feet

Hiking

From the trailhead, you will hike on a moderate trail with slight elevation change. While wet under some conditions, it’s a nice trail to be on. About half way to the top, a snowmobile trail will come in on the left, often missed, but no less there. At around 1.5 miles from the trailhead, you will come to the old observer's cabins. From here the trail gets quite steep with much of the elevation remaining. It will level out again to a more moderate hike as it approaches the fire tower. From the fire tower the views are stupendous.

Camping

The Vanderwhacker Mountain tent site is near the tower trailhead.

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing

Winter means the summit is thick with tall firs and birches, covered with snow, but there are fine views from the cab of the fire tower. The 360° view includes the High Peaks to the north and the Boreas River valley to the east. Take care on the steps, as they are exposed and can be slippery. Please remove spikes or snowshoes before climbing the tower in the winter as traction devices can damage the steps. Due to steepness of the final push, skiing is not recommended.

Visitors may have to park on the main road during winter.

Go with the flow, and get on over to Lester Flow!

Getting there

From exit 28 in Schroon Lake follow I-87 north for one exit to the North Hudson exit #29. From here follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue for 13.5 miles to the trailhead parking on the left at the DEC sign. It is not recommended to drive the access road to trailhead at the gate. 

Hiking

You will need to follow the same access road as for Cheney Pond, but just prior to reaching Cheney Pond there is a gated snowmobile trail on the right. This trail is not heavily used in the non-snow months of the year so it is very soft underfoot. While slightly overgrown in areas, it is a very attractive, green, and colorful walk in the wild. A slight climb over a low shoulder will bring you to a final descent to a small beaver marsh on the right and finally to Lester Flow and the site of the old dam. The vistas here are great, but if you want to get across the Boreas River, you will need to ford it.

• Elevation Loss: 150’
• Distance Round Trip: 5.2 miles

Cross-country skiing

From the trailhead you will start a ski that is mostly downhill toward Cheney Pond. You will come to the trail for Lester Flow on the right about 0.1 miles before the pond. There is a state gate located here as well. Continue past the gate on an easy trail, but don’t be surprised if you need to break trail as it gets very infrequent use. This is also considered a snowmobile trail, but it doesn’t get the heavy use many other ones do. You will have a slight climb to a height-of-land before you descend slowly to the Shore of the Boreas River at Lester Flow or the old site of the Lester Dam; rocks are all that remain of the old logging dam.    

This destination is a herd path at best and lies off any developed and mapped trail system; the use and understanding of GPS and/or map and compass is highly recommended. When traveling off-trail you will experience hazards not realized on a trail, expect more difficult and varying conditions and always lean toward safety as a priority. 

How to get there

From the intersection of Route 9 and Route 74 in Schroon Lake follow Route 9 north toward North Hudson. Continue to the Dirgylot Trailhead on the left.  

Trail Description

Once you have located the trailhead the hike will bring you into forest and soon above a sand pit, then shortly beyond, head under I87 through a hiker’s tunnel. On the opposite side, walk through the grassy field and into the forest again. You will then gradually start to gain elevation. The trail will make a hard left at a T-intersection with a faint herd path leading right; this is the one you want. 

The path is narrow and at times will become difficult to follow without looking ahead for the next move. The trail follows over rolling hills but never becomes too steep. You will need to cross a decent sized brook to stay on the path; this crossing can be hard to see. As you follow the path and keep the brook to your right you will come to faint secondary path down to the brook at an attractive small waterfall. The trail continues and takes on the look and feel of an old carriage road. With the Peaked Hills on your left you climb slightly more and eventually the trail just goes no further and ends I what seems like no place. 

The importance of this trail is not the final destination but the access it provides hikers to the Hoffman Mountain Wilderness, the Peaked Hills, Wyman Mountain, and that wonderful little waterfall that rarely gets a visitor. 

Elevation Gain

~900’

Distance Round Trip

~5.0 miles

Approximate Time Round Trip

Family with Young Kids: Not Recommended

Experienced Hiker: 2.5 to 3 hours

Out of Shape Hiker: Not Recommended

Moxham Mountain is a unique and wonderful hike that includes many scenic overlooks and winds through beautiful forests along the way.

Getting there

From Schroon Lake, go south on I-87 to the Pottersville exit. In Pottersville, turn right toward Olmsteadville on County Route 19. In Olmsteadvillle, bear right toward Minerva. Just before reaching Minerva, go left on Fourteenth Road. Continue on Fourteenth Road as it crosses Route 28N. Bear right at an intersection approximately 0.4 mile from Route 28N. The road is paved until it starts a steep descent to the trailhead on the left at 2 miles from Route 28N.

By the numbers

• Distance: 2.5 miles to the summit
• Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
• Elevation: 2,360 feet 

Hiking

This is a ridge hike with spectacular views all along the way.

From the trailhead you start climbing immediately, but over the entire course of the hike it is never more than a moderate climb. Quickly you will come to your first view as you top out on the first smaller bump of the ridge. A modest descent will bring you to a dried up beaver pond and a brook crossing, a very scenic area, followed by a climb through a shallow valley that ends on a scenic ridge where the views are some of the best in the Adirondacks.

Once the ridge is gained the summit is not too far away — its sheer ledge can be seen in the distance. The high summits of Indian Lake can be seen from the top, as well as the High Peaks Wilderness off the opposite side. Don’t miss out on this hike; it truly is magnificent. 

Snowshoeing

Moxham Mountain is a popular mountain for snowshoeing in the winter, but it is not practical for cross-country skiing.

For a mellow hike in the wilderness, it doesn't get much better than this!

Getting there

From the intersection of Hoffman Road (County Route 24) and Route 9, follow Hoffman Road. Continue for 2.5 miles or so to the trailhead parking on the right. The trailhead has parking for several cars. The trail is on the left of the parking lot.  

By the numbers

• Elevation: 1,281 feet
• Ascent: 75 feet
• Distance: 1.5 miles to the pond

Hiking

This trail maintains an easy grade with very little change in elevation. It's mainly on a wide course through the forest but will get slightly narrower in spots.

Leaving the trailhead, the path soon drops slightly to a bridge near the outlet of a narrow pond. This narrow pond does not have a name, but it could be considered South Big Pond. The trail climbs gently from here. Big Pond is slightly off the main trail, but it can easily be seen through the trees to the left. A path will lead the 100 feet downhill to the shore, where there are outstanding vistas. The trail continues straight and connects to the Hoffman Notch Trail. 

In winter ...

This trail is also perfect in winter for snowshoeing and for a more adventurous skier!

A loop that circles three ponds with side trips to more. Beaver ponds and wide vistas, and more! The side trail to Bass Lake (1.4 miles RT) features rock ledges, cliffs, and great fishing.

Getting there

Take Exit 29 off I-87 and follow Blue Ridge Road east toward North Hudson, then drive north on Route 9. Continue for 2.5 miles, turn right on county Route 4C, then turn right on Ensign Road. Follow Ensign Road for just over 2.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.Hiking

Hiking

This route leads to two ponds and an open beaver meadow. From the parking area, take the right trail to Moose Mountain Pond, not the one for Hammond Pond — both trails are side-by-side, so be careful. The path stays in a nice valley as you pass by Berrymill Hill and the attractive Berrymill Brook. It heads uphill slightly but never undergoes any major elevation change. At 1.7 miles you'll come to a trail junction. Turn right for Bass Lake and head left for Moose Mountain Pond. Turning right leads 0.9 mi. to the east end of Bass Lake and its rock ledges, cliffs, and great fishing. Turning left, you'll soon come to the grassy Berrymill Pond, which has a large bridge over its outlet. The trail remains easy as it goes through a hemlock forest. Its beauty will keep you occupied, and before you know it you are at your destination at 3.2 miles, with Bald and Owl Pate mountains towering over you and Moose Mountain joining in. The trail continues along the shore to an attractive lean-to at 3.5 miles.

• Elevation: 1,265 feet
• Elevation gain: 320 feet
• Distance round trip: 7 miles

Mountain biking

• 6 miles RT, Easy to Moderate Grades, Pond Trail

Goodnow is a very prominent peak when seen from Route 28N. This ragged-looking mountain is home to one of the remaining fire towers in the Adirondacks.

From the restored fire tower (originally built in 1922), excellent views of the High Peaks can be had. A map, used by former fire tower observers to locate forest fires, will give you a better understanding of your surroundings while in the tower. And it’s a cool piece of history!

The trail to Goodnow is on private land owned by the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). ESF staff and students continue to maintain the tower and trail. Please be respectful of their work and the environment. 

How to get there

Take exit 29 from Interstate 87 and head west on Blue Ridge Road, toward Newcomb. After about 18.5 miles, turn right on Route 28N and follow that for about 9 miles as it goes through Newcomb. The large parking area is on the left, about 1.5 miles after the Adirondack Interpretive Center.

By the numbers

• Distance: 1.9 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,040 feet
• Mountain elevation: 2,664 feet

Hiking

As you move along, the trail climbs steady to moderate for about 1 mile. A small brook is passed at 0.5 miles from the trailhead. At 0.9 miles, the trail swings very sharply to the left, where it descends momentarily before resuming the climb. At 1.4 miles a concrete platform is reached. These are the remnants of a State Police radio repeating station.

Soon after, you’ll reach an old horse barn that dates to the early 1900s. The trail becomes rockier and steeper, and you’ll notice the trees changing from hardwood to spruce and balsam. Just before the summit, at 1.8 miles, there is a small open rock that provides a view. The summit and fire tower is reached at 1.9 miles. 

The fire tower is 60-feet tall, making it one of the tallest in the Adirondacks. There are some views on ground level but the best are seen from the tower. You can even look straight down onto the roof of the old fire tower observer’s cabin, which sits just below the fire tower.

Goodnow Mountain in winter

This trail is not recommended for cross-country skiing but does make for an enjoyable snowshoe.

At the fire tower, be extra careful in the winter, as the tower stairs can be very slippery and dangerous. Expect high winds and a serious wind chill from the tower.

This trail is heavily used and typically gets broken out relatively fast after a snow storm.