Easy Adirondack Hikes: Mt Gilligan (New Russia) Elizabethtown NY
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| View of Rocky Peak Ridge from Mt Gilligan, New Russia, NY |
We are a family that is always on the go. I don’t over schedule my children, but they are involved, active kids. Though we may be going in different directions a lot of the time, one activity that always gives us a positive attitude adjustment is to get outside. Since we are such a busy family, we’ve always migrated to those shorter hikes that we can squeeze in on our way to another activity. (I also find these shorter hikes are a great way to see a beautiful view and still be back in time to have a nice dinner or take in a show.)
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| Adirondack Family Time: Champlain Valley Plattsburgh to Ticonderoga:58 easy hikes, 33 swimming holes, 300 seasonal activities, snowshoe/ski trails, maps trivia and more! |
Mount Gilligan in New Russia (near Elizabethtown, NY) is just one of 58 easy hikes around the Adirondack Champlain Valley from my second Adirondack Family Time guidebooks. With an elevation of 1,421’ and a vertical ascent of 790’, this 1.1-mile hike to the summit offers numerous viewpoints along the way.
There is no parking directly next to the trailhead so the path really begins at the parking area. It is a nice walk over a bridge as we follow the dirt road to the right. We’ve been here before so we know that the trail begins just before the first house. There are private property “No Hunting” signs, but we still take precautions and wear our blaze orange vests.
We immediately enter the tree cover and walk through heavy
leaf litter searching for markers along the way. The trail is a series a short,
steep ascents weaving along eskers to reach rocky ridges and open ledges.
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| This stone "staircase" leads to the first overlook on Mt Gilligan |
At 0.3-mile we reach what my kids always referred to as “the
stone staircase.” For little ones with shorter legs it can be challenging to
maneuver up through these rock boulders without some assistance. At the top of
this pass, a herd path to the left reaches the first overlook. We see glimpses
of Rt. 9 below and a clear view of the Dix Range in the distance. This can be a
great turnaround point, depending on the timeframe and ability of the hikers.
We walk back to the staircase and the trail continues to the right.
The path is marked, but can be confusing. Along the trail we
encounter red and yellow AMC markers as well as Champlain Area Trails markers
(CATS), appropriately a cat paw print, in addition to rock cairns and paint
slashes. Be careful. There are numerous herd paths leading to the various rocky
ledges.
There are three more points where the trail descends to only
immediately climb around boulders and ridges with overlook points. The final
hike to the summit leads to clear views of Rocky Peak Ridge. It is an easy
return, though we still have to pay attention to the marked path. Enjoy!
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| The first overlook on Mt Gilligan shows views of the Adirondack High Peaks Dix Range |
To get to Mt. Gilligan from Keene Valley drive 8 miles south
on Rt.73. Turn north onto Rt. 9 toward Elizabethtown. Drive about 3.5-miles and
turn right onto Scriver Rd and park at the designated area. Walk across the
bridge over the Boquet River and follow the road as it bears right. The trail
is on the left. Diane
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