Every season in the mountains holds its own distinct beauty, but perhaps the most dramatic and photo worthy of them all is fall. Different shades appear as the season progresses, with the peak offering a show-stopping display of reds, yellows, oranges, and deep greens. Combine all that with the warm days and crisp evenings — campfires are highly recommended — and you have the perfect conditions for outdoor exploration. To get started, take a look at four of our favorite fall haunts, listed below in order from easiest to most difficult, then get out there and enjoy the beauty of autumn in the Adirondacks!
1. Adirondac, a ghost town
This is more of a site to explore than a hike, but there’s no better way to experience fall than by being in a real Adirondack ghost town. Visitors can drive right into the shuttered old mining town and explore the abandoned community of Adirondac at their leisure. It’s an amazing place where trees emerge from the buildings’ rooftops and moss and peeling paint converge to form a haunting backdrop to the reds and oranges of the seasonal foliage. No great tragedy happened here — the inhabitants were simply relocated in 1964 when National Lead, the company that owned the village and the nearby mines, decided it was time to get out of the landlord business — but the place still conjures images of its former inhabitants. It’s hard not to imagine miners and their families walking down the straight, narrow dirt road before retiring for the evening within the confines of one of these now-decrepit homes. Do resist the urge to follow those spirits inside, though. Many of the houses aren’t safe to enter, so peering through the windows is your best bet. And be sure to check out the enormous blast furnace; it’s on the right as you enter the town.
Fun fact: The buildings of another nearby mining village, Tahawus, were literally picked up and moved into Newcomb in 1963 after iron ore and titanium were discovered beneath it.
Getting there
From I-87, take Exit 29 and turn west on Boreas Road. After about 18 miles, make a right onto County Road 25, which is also called Tahawus Rd. Follow that for about 6 miles and turn left onto County Road 25A, also known as Upper Works Road. After about 2 miles, the ghost town of Adirondac will appear. Park anywhere along the road to explore the remnants of the town, or proceed to the Upper Works parking area and backtrack on foot.
2. Newcomb AIC
If you want a little nature education to accompany the sound of crisp autumn leaves crunching beneath your hiking boots, this is the place for you. AIC stands for Adirondack Interpretive Center, and that’s exactly what this place sets out to accomplish. There’s a lot of cool stuff to learn inside the AIC's main building, but don’t linger too long. From there you can embark on a network of 3.6 miles of trail that wind through 236 acres of woods and waterways. They’re all really easy so seeing the entire AIC in a day isn’t a problem for most hikers.
If you are pressed for time, don’t miss the Rich Lake and Peninsula trails. A lovely bridge gets visitors out onto the large peninsula, where there are great views of Rich Lake and Goodnow Mountain. Side note: Goodnow has a restored fire tower on its summit and is a great hike if you’re looking for a bigger challenge. See the description below!
Getting there
Take Exit 29 off of Interstate 87 and turn left on Blue Ridge Road to head toward Newcomb, then turn right on Route 28N. The VIC is on the right, about 25 miles from the highway.
3. Mount Severence
There’s no better way to see fall colors than by gaining elevation. Luckily, some mountains are easier to climb than others, so killer vistas are still attainable even if vertigo-inducing scrambles aren’t your thing. At a paltry 1,693 feet in elevation, a trip up Mount Severence shouldn’t take the entire day, but it might if you can’t pull yourself away from the blanket of oranges and reds you’ll see from the summit.
The trail leaves the parking area by way of two metal tunnels, which go underneath I-87. The path is well-marked and well-maintained as it winds to the base of the mountain, crosses a wooden bridge, then climbs moderately to the summit at the 1.2-mile mark. Explore the top to discover all of its secrets — there’s a stunning view of Schroon Lake in one direction and another that encompasses the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area.
Stats
Distance: 1.2 miles to the summit
Elevation: 1,693 feet
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Getting there
From Interstate 87, take Exit 28, head toward Schroon Lake, and make a quick right to go south on Route 9. The parking area is in about a half mile on the right.
4. Goodnow Mountain
Goodnow is a little longer and a little more difficult than Mount Severence, but the view from its summit fire tower is simply stunning: A series of High Peaks rise to the north while rolling mountains, twisting rivers, and expansive lakes stretch toward the horizon in every other direction.
The trail starts at a mellow grade and never gets too step as it climbs toward the summit. A lot of trail work has been done to maintain this popular route; you’ll see the result of that in the many wooden bridges, boardwalks, and stairs along the way. Those features will help keep your boots dry and using them also keeps the surrounding trail from eroding, so be sure to take advantage of the trail crew’s hard work!
Depending on when you go, you could see a progression of fall colors as you ascend. Leaves on the lower portion of the mountain might be green while those higher up are brightly colored, a testament to the colder conditions found in high elevations. That’s cool to see and it’s also good advice, straight from the forest! Bring a couple of warm layers, like a windbreaker, hat, and light sweater, for the summit, which is bound to be chillier than the valley below.
Stats
Distance: 1.9 miles to the summit
Elevation: 2,690 feet
Elevation gain: 1,040 feet
Getting 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.
