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.
Key statistics
- Distance: 5.5 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 625 feet
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 0.6 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.
