Easy Tupper Lakes Hikes: Tupper Lake Triad's Goodman Mountain (Litchfield Hill)

At the summit of Goodman Mountain, Tupper Lake 

Climbing any one of the three mountains (Goodman, Arab, and Coney) that are part of the Tupper Lake Triad is trophy enough, but it is still fun to complete an Adirondack challenge, and add another patch to the collection.

Tupper Lake’s Goodman Mountain 1.5-mile summit brings all the elements of an easy, fast Adirondack hike and still allows us time to visit the nearby Wild Center.






The mountain, formerly known at Litchfield Hill, with its elevation of 2,178’ and vertical ascent of 567’, is a perfect hike for my visiting family of various hiking abilities. With its easy paved beginning to the clear summit view, we are able to bring the whole family. 

A bridge crosses over Cold Brook

After parking the car at the Lumberjack Spring parking lot, we walk to the kiosk that delves into the history for the name change. There is always so much history attached to the mountains, lakes and trails around the Adirondacks and Goodman Mountain is no different.   

Goodman Mountain is dedicated to the civil rights activist Andrew Goodman, who was murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi along with his fellow workers Michael Schwerner and James Chaney. All three men were in the south to help register African-American voters in 1964. 

Goodman Mountain: an easy family-friendly
hike in Tupper Lake 

According to the kiosk “their murders galvanized support for the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and resulted in the first successful federal prosecution of a civil rights case in Mississippi.” 

The first mile follows an
old paved road

The film ”Mississippi Burning” is based on those events. Goodman and his family summered at nearby Bog River Falls with his grandfather Charles. The nearby Lumberjack Spring is dedicated to Charles who designed, financed and supervised the construction of the spring building and donated it to the people in 1937. 

With all that history there is no lack of conversation along the trail.

At the register we cross the new footbridge over Cold Brook. The path follows an old paved road for the 1/2-mile with five accessible ramps placed along the way. It is so nice to see a handicap-accessible portion of a hiking trail. The trail continues along the old road, but it isn't maintained and only accessible by foot.

Lumberjack Spring

The first mile is a gradual climb, but at the first stone staircase the path starts to gain in elevation more rapidly. The trail has a few switchbacks and marshy in sections.

We encounter Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) volunteers working on the second stone steps. After thanking them for all their hard work, it is a short hike through the woods to reach the rocky, open summit.

Since the bugs are out in full force, we make a quick descent back to the bridge to explore the water and nearby Lumberjack Spring.

To get to Goodman Mountain from Tupper Lake, take Rt. 30 south for about 7.3 miles from the bridge crossing over Simon Pond/Tupper Lake. The trailhead is located 0.3-miles south of the Rt. 421/Horseshoe Lake junction. Enjoy!

Adirondack Family Time Tip: Check out the fresh water "Lumberjack" spring that was designed, financed and supervised by Charles Goodman donated to the people of the State of New York in 1937. 

This book has over 38 easy hikes
for the Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid
and High Peaks region as well swimming holes, playgrounds,
ice cream stands, and four-season activities and events. 

© Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Time™ guidebook series. Adirondack Family Time™guidebooks have easy, short Adirondack family hikes for ADK kids, parents, retired, seniors, dog-owners, Adirondack swimming holes, Lake Placid Olympic activities, Adirondack trivia, Adirondack horseback rides, Adirondack snowshoe family trails and more. Look for the Adirondack family guidebooks online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the next Adirondack Family Activities™ guide.