The hikes listed here can only be accessed as a guest of the Elk Lake Lodge or with special permission. Please abide by this rule so these trails can continue to be enjoyed. Elk Lake Lodge is wonderful and we highly recommend you stay for a night or two! The four mountains are: Sunrise, Clear Pond, Lightening Hill, and Grandpa Pete. There are 40 miles of private trails on the property -- explore them all!

Getting here

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 4.25 miles to Elk Lake Road on the right. Follow Elk Lake Road to the end at Elk Lake Lodge.

Sunrise Mountain

Sunrise Mountain is one of the Adirondack 100 Highest. It's a delightful hike with fantastic views. The trail follows an old abandoned woods road, which is a pleasure to walk on, so soft and colorful. The trail narrows and becomes tighter as you ascend, but the colorful mosses of the forest keep the mood light. Multiple viewing rocks are passed en route to the summit, each one with a finer view than the last. The trail is mostly moderate with only one really steep section near the summit. Check out our blog about hiking Sunrise Mountain!

Clear Pond Mountain

The trail is very soft under foot and not very long. This is a great leg stretcher! Check out our blog about hiking Clear Pond and Grandpa Pete mountains!

Lightening Hill

An awesome little hike that is enjoyed by everyone!

Grandpa Pete Mountain

Grandpa Pete Mountain is not named as such on any other map than the one you get from Elk Lake Lodge itself. Its open summit and interesting trail will help you understand why this trail is so important to the area. The footing is a little tougher, with exposed roots and rocks. 

Towering trees and peaceful forest are the norm on this lovely hike to a beautiful pond. This hike is also part of the Moriah Hiking Challenge. 

Key statistics

• Distance: 5 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 550 feet

Hiking Crowfoot Pond

The bridge over Crowfoot Brook has been out, but the brook crossing isn’t difficult when the water is low. The trail is relatively flat with a slight gain in elevation that is spread out over a long distance. 

This old forest road turned foot trail climbs through a dark evergreen forest as it passes over the low shoulder of Stiles Hill, which is on the left. The trail reaches the pond and passes left of it. The trail eventually ends at private property on the north shore of Crowfoot Pond. Please respect the rights of private landowners and do not proceed farther.

How to get there

Ensign Pond Road is 2.5 miles north of North Hudson. (Casa Turn Road/Route 4C leads to Ensign Pond Road.) Continue for 10.7 miles and turn left on Tracy Road. Continue for 1.75 miles to the trailhead on the right. The trailhead parking is down a steep dirt entrance, so take your time pulling off the road. 

The Roosevelt Truck Trail is a perfect place for birding, cross-country skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and accessible camping. It is surrounded by boreal habitat, so you really feel like you are the in the middle of wilderness.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 2.6 miles one-way
• Elevation gain: 260 feet from north to south, 375 feet from south to north
• Trail has two handicap accessible tent sites

Hiking the Roosevelt Truck Trail

The trail has minimal elevation gain, only going uphill slightly in a few places. You can choose to do this as a out-and-back if you only have one car. However, doing this as a point-to-point, and spotting a car at each trailhead, is the easiest way to do this. The route finding is straightforward.

In the winter

This would make for a good beginner snowshoe or cross country ski, when conditions permit and snowpack is good. Be prepared for winter conditions.

Camping

There are two accessible tent sites located along this trail. Access to the sites is from the Route 28N trailhead with a Motorized Access Permit for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD) permit. This is available from the DEC. Four wheel drive pick-ups or other high clearance vehicles are recommended. The tent sites have a firm, level surface with accessible picnic tables and accessible privies.

Birding

This boreal habitat is perfect for finding unique birds! Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadees, and Canada Jays are present year-round, but in warmer months, there are warblers aplenty! This is one of the few known locations Cape May Warblers nest in the Adirondacks.

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

There are two trailheads for the Roosevelt Truck Trail, making it possible to do a thru-trip if you have two cars available. The trail runs between Blue Ridge Road and Route 28N. A map is available here. GPS coordinates are available on the NYSDEC website and may be more helpful finding this location since there is no trailhead sign.

To access from Blue Ridge Road, travel west on Blue Ridge Road from North Hudson. Follow this road 15 miles to the location on the right. The entrance is on a curve and can be difficult to spot, but there is a a metal gate and stone wall on each side of the trail. There's room for 2 cars to park on the side of the road.

To access from Route 28N, travel east on Route 28N from Newcomb. Cross over the railroad tracks, and then in another 0.4 miles, you'll reach a road that leads north of the highway (it looks like driveway). Turn here, and park in the woods, but do not block the gate. Again, there is room for 2 cars.

Views of the High Peaks dominate the scene from the shore of Boreas Ponds, the 320-acre waterbody for which this region is named. LaBier Flow, Boreas River, LeClaire Brook, Casey Brook, Slide Brook, and White Lily Brook can also be found on this tract.

This tract is one of the newer additions to the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve and the NYSDEC is in the process of adding new features, so keep up to date on the latest information.

Getting there

Gulf Brook Road is the main route to Boreas Ponds. It's located off Blue Ridge Road, about 16.5 miles east of Newcomb and about 7 miles west of Exit 29 on I-87. Visitors are permitted to drive on Gulf Brook Road, and if paddling you'll want to park at the Four-Corners parking area, which is 500 feet beyond LaBier Flow access, and just under a mile walk to Boreas Ponds. 

Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing

Gulf Brook Road is currently the main route to Boreas Ponds, and the only other "trails" in the area are overgrown and difficult to navigate.

Hikers can park at the first lot to walk the entire 6.7 mile Gulf Brook Road to reach Boreas Ponds, or they can park at one of the other three lots along the road to shorten the trip. The road travels through a dense, young forest for most of its length and doesn't really get scenic until it reaches LaBier Flow, a mile or so from Boreas Ponds. Shortly after that is a four-way intersection — take a right to pass another view of LaBier Flow before reaching the shore of Boreas Ponds. In the winter, you will have to ski or snowshoe the entire length of the road.

Paddling

In low water, the best option is to do the walk from Four Corners parking area to Boreas Ponds, instead of putting in at LaBier. Once on Boreas Ponds, you can make your way northeast through the main parts of the ponds and into the Boreas River, where depending on the water level it can be quite navigable and scenic.

Cycling

Bicycling is permitted along Gulf Brook Road, from Blue Ridge Road to Boreas Ponds Dam. Bikes are not allowed past the dam. The Handlebarley, an annually-organized social gravel bike ride, includes stopping at Boreas Ponds. 

Fishing, hunting, and trapping

Boreas Ponds is open to fishing, hunting, and trapping.

This is a remarkable hike in a truly unique area!

Key takeaways

• Distance: 4.8 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 575 feet

Hiking

Blue Ledges extends 2.4 miles from the trailhead to the rock ledges on the northern rim of the Hudson Gorge. Follow the trail around the east end of Huntley Pond. Look for the blue DEC markers. At the river there is a small sandy place for wading and viewing. At the end of the trail are cliffs known as the Blue Ledges. There are many boulders at this right angle bend which put on a fine show, depending on water levels.

Snowshoeing

This is an easy, well-marked trail and recommended for snowshoeing! It is a wonderful snowshoe destination, mainly because it freezes up the wet early stages of the trail as you pass by Huntley Pond. You won’t have to worry about any major icy conditions on this one, as the trail never gets too steep. The ice formations on the cliffs and in the Hudson River are quite interesting. As a reminder: snowshoeing is a beloved winter past time; it can provide access to areas not seen by most in the summer. Since the Hudson is a swift moving river, we do not recommend that you step onto the ice that forms on the river. It is a dangerous activity to cross frozen water bodies.

Fishing

At this location the Hudson River will require an easy to moderate hike of 2.5 miles each way to reach it. Once at the river, the fishing is quite good and you can work your way up and down the beach areas to access eddies, flat calm waters, and rapids. The shore is lined and dotted with boulders that work perfectly as platforms to fish from. This is also a great area for fly fishing. The pool at the base of the ledges is quite deep, allowing you to fish the cooler waters as well.  

Fish species types: brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout 

Special regulations: Always follow state fishing regulations and be sure to pick up a NYS Freshwater Fishing Guide at your local outfitters or regional NYSDEC office. 

How to get there

To get here from the intersection of Route 9 and Hoffman Road in Schroon Lake, follow Hoffman Road (CR24). Continue on CR24, which eventually turns into Irishtown Road. Take a right onto O’Neill Road just over 11 miles from Route 9 and a left onto Longs Hill Road (CR24A). This will bring you to Route 28N in Minerva in roughly 2 miles. Take a right onto Route 28N for 2.5 miles to Northwoods Club Road on the left. Follow Northwoods Club Road for 6.5 miles to the Blue Ridge Trailhead parking on the right. 

This trail has gentle changes in elevation, many footbridges, and wonderful views of Schroon Brook alongside most of the trail. Midway it crosses East Mill Brook.

How to get there

From North Hudson, follow Route 9 for 7 miles to Sharp Bridge Campground on the right.

Key statistics

• Distance: 4.6 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 600 feet

Hiking

The full trail is a car to car traverse between the Round Pond and the East Mill Flow trailheads. Hikers using the East Mill Flow Trailhead are required to pay a day use fee when the Sharp Bridge Campground is open. 

This wonderful hike and area is not to be missed!

Getting there

To get here, take Exit 28 off of Interstate 87 and follow Route 9 south toward Schroon Lake. Continue for 0.6 miles and turn onto Alder Meadow Road and follow that to East Shore Road and continue for 2.75 miles to the trailhead on the left. 

Hiking

The trail to Spectacle Pond is easy and it's perfect for an afternoon jaunt or a family outing. A slight climb from the trailhead goes past Beaver Meadow Hill before descending to cross Shanty Brook, a pleasant backcountry stream. From here, another slight climb leads to Spectacle Pond, where the trail continues along the south shore for better views. The mountainous terrain around the pond gives it a really interesting feel, with stellar vistas to boot. 

• Elevation gain: 350 feet
• Distance: 3 miles round trip

Paddling

Paddlers will need to carry a canoe or kayak the 1.5 miles to this pond. What you see from the water is a mass of imposing cliffs. Make sure that you visit on a clear day.

• Size: 33 acres

Fishing

There is plenty of shoreline fishing available. Paths lead partway around the pond to access other areas. The northern end of the pond is quite marshy and not good for shoreline fishing, but most of the other sides are good. There are great camping areas on this pond. Use them for an overnight and have fun catching bullhead.

• Fish species present: bullhead, brown trout

Always follow New York state fishing regulations and be sure to pick up a NYS Freshwater Fishing Guide at your local outfitters or regional NYSDEC office.

Camping

There are backcountry camping sites around the pond.

Hit the trail and explore this lovely trail in the quiet woods of the Adirondack Hub. A seldom-visited trail, you'll experience older trail infrastructure like bog bridging. Take care to avoid unmarked side trails that may lead to nearby private property.

How to get there

Take Exit 29 off of Interstate 87 and follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue to Route 28N, take a left and head toward Minerva. Continue for just under 10.5 miles to the Hewitt Pond trailhead on the left.

By the numbers

• The trail takes you 3.3 miles one way, with a total elevation gain of just over 600 feet. 

Hiking

Center Pond Trail leaves the Hewitt Pond Trail 3.1 miles south of the trailhead and extends 0.2 mile to the shore of Center Pond. About 2 miles in you'll reach the top of a small pass between two low peaks. The trail descends 100 feet to the pond in the last 0.1 mile.

Snowshoeing

This hike makes for an excellent snowshoe.

Explore the wild forests of the Adirondack Hub!

Getting there

From Exit 29 off I-87, follow Blue Ridge Road east toward North Hudson, then drive north on Route 9. Continue for 2.5 miles and turn right on county Route 4C, then turn right on Ensign Pond Road. Follow Ensign Pond Road for just over 2.5 miles to the Hammond Pond trailhead on the right.

Hiking

From the parking area, locate the trail to Hammond Pond. There are two trails here — the one you want is on the left; right leads to Moose Mountain Pond.

You will quickly come to an unmarked split in the trail. Left leads to Hammond Pond and dead ends there, so take time to check it out. Right leads slightly uphill toward Black Brook Pond.

There is a crossing of Black Brook, which can be tough if the water is high, but under most instances it’s not too hard. It can always be waded, so bring a towel if it's warm out. From here the trail stays mostly flat and eventually brings you to the west end of the pond. The pond is more grass than water, but it is a nice, attractive location to hang out.

Elevation: 1,047 feet

Elevation gain: 100 feet

Distance round trip: 3.8 miles