Walk through quiet, scenic forests and along the river.

Getting there

From exit 28 in Schroon Lake follow I-87 north for one exit to the North Hudson exit #29. From here follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue all the way to Newcomb and Route 28N. Take a left onto 28N and continue for just under 6.75-miles to the trail on the right.  

Hiking

This is the southern approach to Hewitt Eddy and is a mellow and lovely 0.8 mile hike. Only a very small rise over a hogback will be in front of you. A trail continues past the eddy and becomes what is known as the Boreas River Trail. With two cars or a 0.75 mile road walk you could use both trails for an extended hike.   

• Distance Round Trip: 0.8 miles

Winter

The hard part about this trail is finding a good place to park. If the snow banks are pushed back it’s not too bad, but otherwise you may have to consider using the Bores River Trail to access Hewitt Eddy. The trail is short and seldom used, but if you want to experience breaking trail this would be a good place to start. At just over 0.8 miles to Hewitt Eddy it’s not a demanding process. 

The hike to Lester Flow leads to the old site of Lester Dam

Key takeaways

• Distance: 5.2 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 425 feet
• Hike includes trail junctions

Hiking to Lester Flow

You will need to follow the same access road as for Cheney Pond, but just prior to reaching Cheney Pond there is a gated snowmobile trail on the right. This trail is not heavily used in the non-snow months of the year so it is very soft underfoot. While slightly overgrown in areas, it is a very attractive, green, and colorful walk in the wild. A slight climb over a low shoulder will bring you to a final descent to a small beaver marsh on the right and finally to Lester Flow and the site of the old dam. The vistas here are great, but if you want to get across the Boreas River, you will need to ford it.

Lester Flow in the winter

From the trailhead you will start a ski that is mostly downhill toward Cheney Pond. You will come to the trail for Lester Flow on the right about 0.1 miles before the pond. There is a state gate located here as well. Continue past the gate on an easy trail, but don’t be surprised if you need to break trail as it gets very infrequent use. This is also considered a snowmobile trail, but it doesn’t get the heavy use many other ones do. You will have a slight climb to a height-of-land before you descend slowly to the shore of the Boreas River at Lester Flow or the old site of the Lester Dam; rocks are all that remain of the old logging dam. Be prepared for all winter conditions.

Find more trails in the Adirondack Hub

Looking for another hike? With the Adirondack Hub being at the center of so many trails, we’re sure to find another adventurous hike for you!

How to get there

From exit 28 in Schroon Lake follow I-87 north for one exit to the North Hudson exit #29. From here follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue for 13.5 miles to the trailhead parking on the left at the DEC sign. It is not recommended to drive the access road to trailhead at the gate.