Lake George, NY
Hiking
Black Mountain
Black Mountain is right on Lake George, and if you're in Lake George, just scan the horizon around the lake and Black is the tallest mountain. The summit measures over 2600 feet, and the trail ascends 1200 feet. You can take the loop trail or climb and descend on the same trail. This is a medium-level difficulty hike, at about five miles round trip with just a few really steep parts. The summit is wonderful, with views of Lake George below, which seems a million miles down once you get up to the top of the mountain. You can see Mount Marcy and some other High Peaks of the Adirondacks from the top of Black Mountain, as well as the end of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Black Mountain is located off NY Route 22 near the town of Whitehall. The trailhead is located on Pike Brook Road. Take NY 22 north out of Whitehall, turn left on Hulett's Landing, then left onto Pike Brook Road. Then look for signs put up by New York State Department of Conservation (DEC).
Buck Mountain
Buck Mountain is near Black Mountain, and also moderately difficult. The summit is over 2300 feet, just a few hundred feet shorter than Black Mountain, and the trail rises almost 2000 feet. There are some steep areas but keep on pushin' to the top, because you are going to love the summit. Bring your camera for taking gorgeous pictures of Lake George below. Zoom in for pictures of boats on the lake, as the summit overlooks a popular sailing spot on Lake George. Trail length is just over six and a half miles round trip, and you climb almost 2000 feet, so it makes a pleasantly challenging hike for medium-level hikers. Buck happens to be my personal favorite mountain in the area.
Buck Mountain is located on the eastern shore of Lake George. To get to the trailhead, take Route 9L from Lake George Village and follow the eastern edge of the Lake to Pilot Knob, where you will take a right. Then look for signs put up by DEC.
Blue Ledge
This is more of a walk than a hike, a five mile round trip walk, that is. That means you still get your excercise walking Blue Ledge, as you walk along a river to a three-hundred foot cliff. The end of the trail is this overlook, and although the walk is easy, it does lead you someplace beautiful. Check out the wildflowers, too.
Blue Ledge is located near the town of Minerva, off Route 28N. Drive north through Minerva on Route 28, and take North woods Club Road all the way to the end.
Hadley Mountain
Hadley Mountain is a good family hike, or good for beginners. Why? Because it is easy to get to and it's not a terribly challenging hike. You can invest three or four hours and make it to the top of the two-mile summit and down all in one morning or afternoon. The view, however, is one worthy of a much more difficlut hike. The view is so good because of Hadley Mountain's location, wihch is at the southeastern corner of the Adirondacks, affording you a view of the Catskills on a clear day, and the high peaks of the Adirondacks to the north, as well as the Green Mountains in Vermont. The summit is wide and unobstructed, allowing for panoramic views of the terrain.
Hadley Mountain is located off NY Route 9N, 8½ miles south of the town of Hadley. Hadley is a short drive from Lake George, about half and hour's drive, and located on the western side of I-87. The trailhead is found by driving out of the town of Hadley north, on Stony Creek Road for a couple of miles until you hit Hadley Hill Road on the left. After one and a half miles on this road, you'll see a sign for the trailhead.
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