Adirondack Hiking & Backpacking

Boots on the ground, hearts in the mountains

There are endless hiking options available for finding adventure and solitude in the Adirondacks, where a lot of the land is publicly owned and available for recreation. It's a place where hiking trails crisscross the landscape and outdoor opportunities for any age and skill level abound. That means there's also variety — trips ranging in length from under an hour to several days can all be found here. We have short walks in the woods (many to waterfalls) as well as more challenging terrain (like some of the fire tower hikes) for those who are ready to tackle the bigger mountains and trips. Unsure where to go? Let a licensed New York state guide show you the way! Looking for a little more adventure? Try checking out either the Fulton Chain Trifecta or ADK 6 Pack hiking challenges. Earn a unique souvenir or add to your hiking patch collection!

For trip ideas, see which hikes the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation recommends: Hikes outside of the High Peaks (ou en Francais).

Leave No Trace and Love Your ADK

The magic of the Adirondacks is the result of previous generations taking a long view and protecting the mountains, lakes, and rivers within the Blue Line. That tradition continues today as we support and encourage everyone to practice Leave No Trace ethics, which help protect the lands and waters of the Adirondacks. Before heading out, be sure to review the Leave No Trace principles and make sure you are prepared with hiking essentials!

Preparation is important in any season, but specially so in colder months. In winter, it is especially important to come prepared and practice ways to Love Your ADK; the best way to avoid emergencies is to properly plan and prepare for your trip.

If you're interested in keeping our trails in great condition, consider donating to the Hamilton County Trail Improvement Fund! This partnership with the DEC is an opportunity to improve access to some of our favorite local trails.

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Day Trips on the Northville-Placid Trail

Hiking for Beginners in Hamilton County

A New "Bang for your Buck" Hike

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I hike safely during hunting season?

During this time, hunters may also be out and about in our shared outdoors. It's important to stay alert and know who you’re on the trails with. Always prioritize safety during hunting season to enjoy your hike without incidents. We know how essential it is to prepare for your next hiking trip during hunting season, and we've come prepared with all the info you need! For more guidance on hunting zones, dates, and times, visit the NYS DEC website to learn more.

How can I hike safely during mud season?

"Mud season" is the time between winter and early spring when the snow starts to melt and temperatures finally heat up. This snow melt can make for some pretty messy and muddy conditions on the trails. It's important to be prepared if you're going to hike during this time.

To prevent trail erosion and damage to plants during mud season, avoid hiking trails above 3,000 feet until they have dried.
Before you go, check trail conditions. Pack rain gear, hats, gloves, and extra warm layers for higher elevations.
Wear or carry snowshoes, crampons or other traction devices, use of snowshoes is necessary as the snowpack melts and softens.
Do not try to cross through cold, high, fast flowing waters. Stay where you are and call for assistance.

For more information, visit the NYS DEC website.

Goodnow Mountain

Route 28N

Newcomb, NY 12852

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.

The view from the Goodnow Mountain firetower is one of the best in the Adirondacks.

Owls Head Mountain

Endion Road

Long Lake, NY 12847

Owls Head Mountain is part of the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest, which covers an impressive approximate 45,000 acres. This rather prominent peak in the Long Lake area is made up of four separate summits, two of which are referred to as the horns.

The fire tower adds more scenic possibilities.

Coney Mountain

Route 30

Long Lake, NY 12847

As far as views go, this is one of the best in the area and should not be missed. The waters of Tupper Lake can be seen to the north as well and the wooded hills of the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the west.

Great views and a sense of accomplishment when the summit is reached.

Moody Falls

Route 56

Cranberry Lake, NY 12927

These falls are unique and not often visited. Here, you’ll only find the peaceful sound of water rushing the falls. The views downstream of the falls are just as lovely as the falls themselves.

Spring is the most lively time at Moody Falls.

Oswego Pond

Twitchell Road

Lake Pleasant, NY 12108

Oswego Pond is gorgeous in late fall.

Falls Pond

Otter Brook Road

Inlet, NY 13360

This short hike is perfect, especially during the splendor of fall. The Falls Pond and West Canada Wilderness Area trailhead has a large parking area leading to some 4,000 acres of pristine forest.

Look for this distinct sign in the trail.

Old Dam Nature Trail

Limekiln Lake Road

Inlet, NY 13360

The Old Dam Nature Trail loop, located near Limekiln Lake campsite #87 on the back side of the leach field, is an easy 1.6 mile hike.

There's interesting scenery on all the hiking trails at Limekiln Lake.

Lost Ponds

Moose River Plains Wild Forest

Inlet, NY 13360

The easily accessible Lost Ponds are some of the most scenic bodies of water in the region. Great for hiking, mountain biking, and paddling, any activity you choose is going to memorable.

Narrows and cliffs add to the paddling interest of Lost Ponds.

Jockeybush Lake

Route 10

Arietta, NY ‎12139

The scenic trail to secluded Jockeybush Lake follows a stream and passes by several small cascades and a moderately sized waterfall.

An especially scenic trail leading to a secluded lake.

Tomany Mountain

Route 10

Lake Pleasant, NY 12108

This route is NOT officially maintained. It is strongly recommended you bring a map and compass to navigate off-trail.

This is a non-maintained trail, but so well-marked it will not challenge those bushwhacking skills.

Bald Mountain

Rondaxe Road

Inlet, NY 13360

While not part of the Hamilton County Fire Tower Challenge, Bald Mountain is part of the Adirondack Fire Tower Challenge and is a great “bang for your buck” outing.

This is a fire tower hikes with an extra rocky ridge to walk on.

Lows Overlook

Route 421

Piercefield, NY 12973

Lows Overlook is such a beautiful destination; it's hard to put a description into words! Overlooking the breathtaking Bog River, the views here will surely leave you inspired to explore this area further!

The hike to Lows Overlook ends with a gorgeous vista.

Black Bear Mountain

Inlet, NY 13360

Black Bear Mountain is a gem in the Inlet area! One of the nice features of the Black Bear Mountain trail is that you can loop over the top and connect to another trail making for an interesting day in the woods.

Goodman Mountain

Route 30

Long Lake, NY 12847

This mountain, named after civil rights activist Andrew Goodman, has it all: history, a beautiful walk through the forest, and great views from the summit. During the summer of 2014 DEC created a trail to the summit of Goodman Mountain.

Old Uncas Road

Hunt Club Road

Inlet, NY 13360

Get out into some of the besting birding and cycling habitat in the Adirondacks. Getting there Turn right from Route 28 in Raquette Lake, drive 5.3 miles to the end of Sagamore Road, and turn right on Hunt Club Road.

Moss Lake

327 Big Moose Rd

Inlet, NY 13360

Moss Lake is a beautiful place for a picnic, a hike, a cross-country ski, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing!

The wildlife viewing platform is a great way to experience Moss Lake.

Wakely Mountain

Cedar River Road

Indian Lake, NY 12842

Wakely Mountain’s 70-foot tower is one of the highest in New York state, and the tower stairs afford an excellent view of the West Canada Lakes Wilderness to the south and great views of the High Peaks to the north on clear days.

The Wakely Mountain Firetower offers the best views from the wooded summit.

Wolf Lake

Moose River Plains Wild Forest 44.3097817,-75.3235516

Inlet, NY 13360

Wolf Lake was named by French Louie himself, after he saw many wolves in the area. He and Charles Henderson have been photographed here.

Helldiver Pond

Moose River Plains

Inlet, NY 13360

Don't let an intimidating name fool you. This little pond is well worth the effort. Great views and frequent wildlife sightings should put this short trip on your to-do list.

Helldiver Pond is scenic and easy to access with an easy carry.

Icehouse Pond

Otter Brook Road

Inlet, NY 13360

The crushed stone-lined trail makes for a nice and relaxing hike back to a small kettle pond. The trail ends at a small primitive campsite and a picnic table.

Cellar Pond

Moose River Plains Road

Inlet, NY 13360

Cellar Pond is an interesting backcountry gem that gets very little attention from hikers. The trail once used heavily has become less and less padded down. Old relics from logging camps past dot the trail.

This pond is a backcountry hike destination.

Otter Brook

Otter Brook Road

Inlet, NY 13360

It's a bit of a hike to reach this location, but it's wild location is ripe for hiking and fishing.

This lovely brook is in a remote location.

Upper Sargent Pond

North Point Road

Long Lake, NY 12847

Upper Sargent Pond is a great, short family hike to a wild pond setting. This pond is very shallow and tends to be quite calm even in foul weather.

West Pond and West Pond Falls

Big Moose Road

Eagle Bay, NY 13331

The proximity of this hike to the community of Inlet makes this area very accessible to visitors and year-round residents alike. The best time to visit would be early spring or after some good rain, if you want to see the falls flowing steady.

John Dillon Park

Route 30

Long Lake, NY 12847

A fully accessible wilderness area located near Long Lake, it has picnic areas for day trips, space for overnights, and room to enjoy the wilderness.

Sawyer Mountain

Route 30

Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812

Sawyer is one of the more popular routes in the Indian Lake Region, mainly due to its excellent payoff for little effort. Fun for the entire family, Sawyer should not be missed.

Gorgeous views from the summit of Sawyer Mountain.

Pillsbury Mountain Fire Tower

Lake Pleasant, NY 12108

Pillsbury Mountain is one of those peaks that has a spectacular, remote, backcountry feel. A maze of scenic backroads will get you there, but you need to take it slow as they can be very rough at times.

Blue Mountain

Route 30

Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812

For the better part of the last century, Blue Mountain has been one of the most frequently climbed Adirondack mountains. And for good reason! The striking view, with Blue Mountain Lake below, is very popular among locals and visitors alike.

Blue Mountain is near the center of many lakes.

Snowy Mountain

Route 30

Indian Lake, NY 12842

Snowy is one of the more demanding hikes in Hamilton County and is also one of the 100 highest highest peaks in the Adirondacks. Its steep trail and rugged terrain will make you earn every bit of this mountain's elevation.

A wonderfully framed sunrise is the reward for a winter campout.

Tirrell Pond

3464 State Route 28

Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812

As seen from the summit of Blue Mountain, Tirrell Pond is a beautiful gem hidden in the forest. Despite sharing a trailhead with Blue, Tirrell Pond sees less use, making it the perfect choice for a relaxing stroll in the woods.

Tirrell Pond courtesy sunyolanda [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

Cascade and Stephens Ponds

Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812

Cascade and Stephens ponds are two beautiful gems in the Blue Ridge Wilderness. In any season, you'll find peaceful forests and pristine waters. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of an otter; they've been known to frequent these parts.

Chimney Mountain

Big Brook Road

Indian Lake, NY 12842

*Until further notice, parking and access to Chimney Mountain has been closed. Keep up to date on access on the NYSDEC website.

Echo Cliff-Panther Mountain

Piseco, NY 12139

This is a very popular hike located near Piseco, NY, with easy terrain. The trail to this popular destination is well worn and occasionally steep.

Kane Mountain

Green Lake Road

Arietta, NY ‎12139

In a quiet corner of the Adirondacks sits Kane Mountain. A 60-foot fire tower was constructed here in 1925, making it a very attractive destination.

William C. Whitney Area Trail System

901C Sabattis Rd

Long Lake, NY 12847

The William C. Whitney Wilderness Area is a paddlers paradise. But that said, there are hiking opportunities here for hikers, birders, campers, fishermen and women, and even some hiking for paddlers.

This wilderness area is a great place to view fall foliage.

Bullhead Pond

Chain Lake Road

Indian Lake, NY 12842

A great secluded lake with an easy approach both by foot and with canoe in tow. Surrounded by tamaracks, this lake gives a real backcountry feel with less effort than many other bodies of water.

Rock Lake

State Route 8/30

Indian Lake, NY 12842

This short and easy trail offers a short jaunt for a nature hike, birding, and a perfect Adirondack paddle on a secluded lake. Shhh... it's also a remote fishing lake.

Watch Hill

Indian Lake, NY 12842

A small mountain with big views, Watch Hill follows an easy forest road to the base of the climb. Follow the foot trail up to some short, though extremely fun, sections of steep rock lips, and up to the ridge line.

Bray House Falls (a.k.a. The Potholers)

Powley Road

Arietta, NY ‎12139

The area is a beautiful spot for a picnic and is easily accessed via a short walk upstream.

A great variety of water features at Bray House Falls.

Limekiln Falls

Limekiln Lake Road

Inlet, NY 13360

On this walk you'll find a series of falls flowing along the trail, which is surrounded by a white cedar and hemlock forest. The falls are 15 feet wide and almost a half-mile long.

One of the larger fall systems in this part of the Adirondacks.

Whiskey Brook Falls

Route 30

Speculator, NY 12164

This very small and easily accessible Adirondack hiking gem sits right along the eastern (right) side of the road if traveling from Speculator. The falls is 5 to 6 feet tall and is surrounded by large boulders.

Whiskey Brook Falls is beautiful in any season.

Austin Falls

Wells, NY 12190

Austin Falls is a long, sliding waterfall, that's surrounded by beautiful rock formations and does not require a long hike to reach.

East Jimmy Creek Falls

Route 8

Wells, NY 12190

Jimmy Creek contains 2 lovely, small waterfalls and both are a short walk in from Route 8. This falls is very picturesque for its small size, and less than 200 yards from the road.

This breathtaking waterfall is just a few steps from the road!

Dug Mountain Brook Falls

State Route 30 Indian Lake Islands DEC boat launch

Sabael, NY 12864

This falls is located on the south end of Indian Lake, best reached by canoe from the Indian Lake Islands DEC boat launch. It's a real "surf and turf" adventure!

Hitchins Pond and Upper Dam

Route 421

Long Lake, NY 12847

From Long Lake, drive 12 miles north on Route 30, to County Route 421 ( 1/5 miles past the Hamilton / Franklin County Line ).

A beautiful spot for paddling with no motors allowed.

Raquette Lake

Route 28

Raquette Lake, NY 13436

This is the largest natural lake in the Adirondacks, with plenty of inlets and outlets to explore, such as South Inlet,

Wilson Pond Trail

Route 28

Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12812

The trailhead is a small parking lot on the SE side of Rte 28 (opposite Eagle Lake), 2.8 miles from the junction of Rte 30 and Rte 28 in Blue Mtn. Lake.

A gem of a backcountry pond for fishing and camping in the lean-to.

Death Falls (a.k.a. Secret Falls)

Route 28

Raquette Lake, NY 13436

Don't be afraid of the name. This short hike is an excellent destination hike for the entire family.

Griffin Falls

Route 8

Wells, NY 12190

Enjoy an 8 foot cascading waterfall on the East Branch of the Sacandaga River. This scenic spot features several drops and many pothole, which were created as turbulent waters and rocks moved over the area.

Spectacular exploring opportunities at Griffin Falls.

Groff Creek Falls

768-812 River Rd

Hope, NY 12134

There are a series of 3 waterfalls along the Groff Creek, all of which take some extra effort to see. The first 2 are more difficult to get to than the 3rd.

Falls on the West Branch of the Sacandaga River and Cold Brook Falls

West River Road

Wells, NY 12190

This is a rugged hike over uneven terrain to the West Branch Gorge, and is recommended in mid-summer when the water levels are low. These falls on the West Branch cascade through a narrow gorge of the West Branch of the Sacandaga River.

A narrow gorge of the West Branch of the Sacandaga River.

Squaw Brook Falls

State Route 30 South

Indian Lake, NY 12842

Squaw Brook Falls is a small roadside waterfall located in a rocky gorge formed on the Squaw Brook. Land surrounding the falls is private. Please do not trespass and view only from the road.

Auger Flats and Falls River Walk

Route8/30

Wells, NY 12190

This area is ripe with hiking opportunities, especially ones that take you along the scenic Sacandaga River! Auger Flats is the name of the quieter stretch of the Sacandaga that winds its way toward the rapids at Auger Falls.

Spring is a great time to enjoy the wild rivers.

Cascade Lake Loop and Falls

Big Moose Road

Inlet, NY 13360

This wonderful hike has it all: beautiful scenery, a spectacular waterfall, and tons of history. A visit to Cascade Falls will take you into the Pigeon Lake Wilderness, with the option of doing a loop around the lake or just an out-and-back.

Leave No Trace 7 Principles

The Adirondack Park provides a haven of pristine wilderness in New York state’s northernmost reaches. It also offers an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities for explorers of all ages and experience levels! While you enjoy your visit, please keep the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace in mind. Set forth by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, and championed by many partners within the Adirondack Park, these principles will not only improve your own nature experience, but they help preserve this unparalleled natural wonder for generations to come.

Know before you go

Be prepared! Remember food, water, and clothes to protect you from cold, heat, and rain.
Use maps to plan where you’re going. Check them along the way so you’ll stay on course and avoid getting lost. Learn about the areas you plan to visit.

Stick to trails and camp overnight right

Walk and ride on designated trails to protect trailside plants. Camp only on existing or designated campsites to avoid damaging vegetation.

Trash your trash and pick up poop

Pack it in, pack it out. Put litter—even crumbs, peels and cores—in garbage bags and carry it home. Use bathrooms or outhouses when available. If they're not available, bury human waste in a small hole 6-8 inches deep and 200 feet or 70 big steps from water and the trail.

Leave it as you find it

Leave plants, rocks, and historical items as you find them so others can enjoy them. Treat living plants with respect. Carving, hacking, or peeling plants may kill them.

Be careful with fire

Use a camp stove for cooking. Stoves are easier to cook on and create less impact than a fire. If you want to have a campfire, be sure it’s permitted and safe to build a fire in the area you’re visiting. Use only existing fire rings to protect the ground from heat. Keep your fire small.

Keep wildlife wild

Observe wildlife from a distance and never approach, feed or follow them. Human food is unhealthy for all wildlife and feeding them starts bad habits. Protect wildlife and your food by securely storing your meals and trash.

Share our trails and manage your pet

Be considerate when passing others on the trail. Keep your pet under control to protect it, other visitors, and wildlife. Be sure the fun you have outdoors does not bother anyone else. Remember, other visitors are there to enjoy the outdoors too.

Adirondack Experience

Adirondack Hiking & Backpacking

Boots on the ground, hearts in the mountains

Leave No Trace and Love Your ADK

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