This is a great hike to a very interesting and unusual geological chimney formation surrounded with a maze of caves and crevices near the summit. Expert spelunkers and amateur geologists will find this area a delight to explore. Chimney Mountain has unique features due to a large proportion of soft, sedimentary "Grenville layers" that have made passageways, cliffs, boulders, and caves. View the large geologic depression that was formed when the Western Rift separated from the Eastern Rift.
Getting there
From the intersection of Routes 28 and 30 in Indian Lake follow Route 30 toward Lake Pleasant. Continue for just under 0.5 miles to Big Brook Road. Follow here for 7.8 miles to King's Flow Parking Area. This is the trailhead for Chimney Mountain, Johns Pond and Puffer Pond. This is pay-to-use parking. Pay the $2 fee at the small kiosk.
Please respect the rights of property owners and stay on the trail — there is no public access to Kings Flow at this time.
By the numbers
- Elevation: 2721 feet
- Elevation gain: 870 feet
- Distance: 3 miles, round trip
Hiking
From the trailhead you will continue up the dirt road on foot for a short distance to the trailhead at the back. The trail will start to climb immediately but under very mellow conditions before starting a much more serious climb up the steeper slopes of the peak.
You will come to the chimney before the summit. Many often mistake the rock chimney location as the summit. The true summit of the mountain is a short hike via a herd path, to the right before the trail to the chimney. From the rocky summit, you get a beautiful 360 degree view of the surrounding area.
Great views are located at both the chimney location and the summit.
Snowshoeing
The trial up is considered a good destination for a beginner snowshoe, but can be a bit steep in sections. Still, this trail gets pretty good use in the winter and has become a very popular snowshoe destination.
Read the blog, Exploring Chimney Mountain.