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Showing posts with the label Central ADK hikes

Easy, Short Adirondack Hikes Moss Lake Loop trail Inlet (Old Forge) Inlet Outdoor Family Challenge

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Moss Lake is a beautiful 2.5-mile loop trail near Inlet, NY My family searches for swimming spots, every time we go for a hike. We hold tight to the knowledge that have a hot day on the trail we can come back to cool off in a nearby lake or pond. Moss Lake off of Big Moose Rd in Eagle Bay, near Inlet is one such place. Part of the 15,410 Fulton Chain Wild Forest, the trail to Moss Lake has two entrances, one accessible and the other a short jaunt to access the water. The main parking area offers plenty of parking while just 0.1-mile farther, a handicap-accessible parking area leads to a wide level path and observation platform. My family is grateful to learn that we can take members of our extended family to the other entrance on our next visit. For this time we walk the quick 0.1-mile for a quick view of the sandy shoreline of Moss Lake. The loop trail is 2.-5 miles follows the old bridle path when the property was being run as Moss Lake Camp for Girls between 1923 and 1972....

Easy Adirondack Hikes in Eagle Bay- Cascade Lake Waterfall Loop Trail (Inlet Outdoor Family Challenge)

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At the trail register to the Cascade Lake trail, Eagle Bay (Inlet, NY) My family is always looking for those easy Adirondack hikes that still give us a workout and view, but still gets us back to town at a relatively early hour. We still love camping and racking up the 46ers, but we always have time to introduce friends to beautiful easy hikes that are fun for all ages, levels and abilities.  One such hike is the loop trail around Cascade Lake in Eagle Bay (Inlet). It is also an opportunity to cross one activity off the list that gets you closer to earning a badge and your name added to the Inlet Outdoor Family Challenge list*. trail map for Cascade Lake trail loop and Cascade Falls, Inlet NY This 4.9-mile loop hike is located near Eagle Bay and just a few miles south of Inlet, NY. Sometimes a bit muddy, the trail is relatively level path that can be down in two shorter excursions or a longer loop trail. The first 1.1-mile section is a multi-use trail. We encou...

Easy Shorts Hikes in Inlet, Eagle Bay and Old Forge: Bubb and Sis Lake to Moss Lake

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Recently we had to pick up my son from a Nike tennis camp at Colgate University . Since the drive from our house is a lofty 4.5 hours, we needed a place to unwind, stretch our legs and decompress. The beginning of the Vista trail at Bubb and Sis Lake trail, Eagle Bay, NY A favorite hike located between Eagle Bay and Old Forge (NY) is a stroll to Bubb and Sis Lakes. The options are pretty wide open depending on the timeframe from a short hike to a lengthy walk. We weren't under any time crunch, but we'd hiked the Vista trail before and hiked around Moss Lake so we choose to just have lunch on the shoreline of Sis Lake. The hike starts from Rt. 28, about 1.5-miles west of Eagle Bay. Turn north into the parking area. There are two handicap accessible spots so anyone can access the nearby Tobie trail. The only mildly challenging section of the trail is the first 0.2-mile. The trail gains most of its elevation within those first tenth of a mile. My GPS read that it was ab...

Easy Short Adirondack Hikes: Inlet (NY) Ferd's Bog Hike (near Old Forge and Eagle Bay)

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Fred's Bog is a quick easy hike to a beautiful bog Ferd's Bog trail Distance = 0.3-mile Elevation and Vertical Ascent = n/a Walking along the Ferd Bog trail in Inlet, NY is a brief, but well spent hike. The 0.3-mile trail is not only a great way to stretch your legs after a road trip, but it is the perfect place to view rare Adirondack bog plants and boreal birds. The trailhead and register is right off Uncas Rd.  After spending a beautiful day in Inlet, my family is always looking for easy, short hikes to take the jitters and wiggles out of my ADK kids. Fred's Bog has a slight descent before reaching the level boardwalk After signing the register the trail starts out level, but does have a slight descent where the woodlands meet the wetlands. Watch out for roots as you descend. A plastic boardwalk finishes this easy hike into the beautiful bog.

Easy Short Adirondack Hikes: Sawyer Mountain Indian Lake/Blue Mountain Lake

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By Diane Chase Sawyer Mountain  Distance = 1.1 mile Elevation  =  Elevation  = 2,600' Vertical Ascent  = 640' Location: Between Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake (Hamilton County) Sawyer Mountain’s 1.1-mile climb is popular with a wide age set and we are no different. The parking lot has only one car as ours pulls in but we’ve been told it will soon fill up. My son signs us in at the trailhead register and we start the modest ascent to the summit. We soon catch up to the owners of the lone vehicle. The first thing we are asked is if the walk is going to be worth it. We have never been here before but our answer is a resounding yes. The trailhead and for most of the walk we are under a canopy of hardwoods. Mud from a recent rain provides a few obstacles but nothing we can’t handle. My daughter is rather curious about value added onto a climb. “Is it worth what,” she questions in a stage whisper, “money?” She is a typical six-year-old in th...

Easy Adirondack Hikes: Frederica Mountain (Lake Lila) Tupper Lake NY

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An easy hike or walk along the access road to Lake Lila Exploring Lake Lila: The William C. Whitney Wilderness Area Everyone that I know who has spent any time at the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area comes back expounding about the beauty of Lake Lila. With all the autumn colors nearing peak, it is our turn to explore the lake named for William Seward Webb’s wife, Lila Vanderbilt Webb. The drive into the Lake Lila is beautiful and a bit isolated. We are fortunate to arrive at a time of year when it’s not the height of camping season. There are a few cars in the parking area, but I’m told that if the Lake Lila parking area hits its 30-car capacity, people must drive back out the 5.6-mile dirt road to park on Sabattis Rd., or come back another time. Lake Lila Rd. is bordered by private land and parking is only available at the parking area. The trail register is located right at the parking area. There is a Canoe Access Trail (0.3-miles) available for an easy walk right to...

Easy Adirondack Hikes: Snowshoe or Hike to Long Lake's Buttermilk Falls

By Diane Chase Buttermilk Falls in Long Lake is a wonderful place to stop and stretch your legs, have a picnic or just enjoy the view.  From the village of Long Lake, take NYS route 28/30 south for 3 miles to North Point Road. There will be a sign here that says "Buttermilk Falls." Turn right (west) onto North Point Road, and follow it for 2.1 miles. 

Easy Short Adirondack Hikes: Inlet Raquette Lake (NY) hikes: Cathedral Pines

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Cathedral Pines Distance  0.1 mile Dedicated to the memory of  Malcolm L. Blue ,  a young navigator of the 8th  Air Force ,  is a plaque affixed a stone monument. The walk is relatively level with a few uphill treks but no significant gain/loss in elevation. Watch out for roots which are plentiful. The monument is just a few minutes’ walk from the highway.  This hike isn't just for  kids, but is an easy Adirondack family hike is  a quick wooded walk for all level of hiker including grandparents or with your dog. The plaque reads: “This tree, Created by God and  Old When Our Country Was Born , Fine and  Straight-Grained Like  the  Boy Himself , is Dedicated in Memory of 2nd  Lt. Malcolm L. Blue , Navigator of a  Liberation Bomber With Eight Air Force . Killed in  Action Over France June  2nd, 1944.  Few Men Have Earned  so Fine a Memorial.”  The treasure t...

Adirondack Walks: Stony Pond in the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area

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After a few weekends filled with theatre we needed a little family outdoor time to bring back some balance. We have never entered the William C. Whitney Wilderness area. We have driven past with a longing look wondering what lies beyond that road. As we drive down the winding road private posted signs flank the road. At first we are unsure if we are going the right way. Finally those familiar DEC signs start appearing. The William C. Whitney area is surrounded by private land in and around the Wilderness area. We cross the bridge over Little Tupper Lake when someone spots a pair of mallards paddling on the marsh. It is one of our first signs of spring. The horse trail is just beyond so we eagerly question what other spring gifts may be on the trail. We have no plans to walk the complete four miles to the shore of Little Tupper Lake. Stony Pond is a little closer at 2.75-miles. The snow is granular and the ground is bare in most places. The snowshoes are obsolete here. We kick t...

Easy Short Old Forge Hikes: Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain (Eagle Bay NY)

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Bald Mountain Fire Tower was restored and reopened in 2005 Bald Mountain (Rondaxe)  Location  = Between Eagle Bay and Old Forge (NY) Distance  = 1.0 mile Elevation  = 2,350' Vertical Ascent = 390' By Diane Chase My son plans on giving me the Adirondack Kids ® version of a climb up Bald Mountain. There are nine books to date in the middle reader series by father/son authors Gary and Justin VanRiper. I am getting the synopsis and walking tour all in one climb to the summit. Looking down from the top of the Bald Mountain fire tower! My daughter isn’t interested in the book tour; she is on a quest of her own. Sometimes I believe she is channeling my grandmother with her apron over a charmingly old-fashioned dress that is only suitable for the very old or very young. Her floppy hat and purse complete her walking outfit. The beaded handbag causes a bit of stir but she has managed to fit in a granola bar and bottle of water. She flings it over her shou...

Easy Short Adirondack Hike: Inlet (NY) Rocky Mountain (just north of Old Forge)

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Enjoy a wide open summit at Rocky Mountain, Inlet NY Rocky Mountain Distance - 0.6-mile Elevation = 2,225' Vertical Ascent  = 448' Rocky Mountain is about the easiest climb I have had the pleasure to complete in a while. With a vertical rise of 450’ and just a half-mile to the top, not only do we get a chance to stretch our legs but an astounding view as well. I love those types of climbs. Not every opportunity to get outside can be a full day event. Sometimes our schedule only permits a quick jaunt. Knowing where to find a family-friendly hike that satisfies all levels of hiker is worth putting on the list. Rocky Mountain is just such a hike. The parking area is just south of Inlet's village. We have an expert guide. We are visiting a friend from the area that knows exactly what my children need, a run up a mountain. The kids rush out of the car hardly waiting for it to be put into park. The register is signed and we are on our way.  It is an easy ...

Long Lake NY for Kids: 13 Easy Short Hikes in Long Lake

Here are some ideas for parents, Adirondack (ADK) kids, retired or seniors and anyone wishing to go for a hike around the Long Lake area. Sargent Ponds Start from Lower Sargent Pond for a walk of 1.5 miles on the Northpoint Road to make the loop. Upper Sargent Pond —1.3 Miles, well marked, about 1/2 hour each way. Well marked trail markers. Lower Sargent Pond via Grass Pond —2.1 miles, well marked. Lower Sargent Pond is less than 20 minutes beyond Grass Pond. There is a lean-to overlooking Lower Sargent Pond. Lower Sargent-Upper Sargent by way of Middle Pond —1.7 miles between Upper & Lower. Sargent Pond Loop —9 miles includes distance between the trail heads. It is possible to make the Upper and Lower Ponds into a loop by way of the trail by way of Middle Pond. Owl's Head Mountain —3.2 miles to summit, well marked trail, relatively difficult after about 2 1/4 miles, scenic views of the Fishing Brook Range with the High Peaks in the distance. The trail head is ...