Hiking Trails




(VIC) Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths
(4.2 miles of marked nature trails, easy) Follow NYS Rte. 30 south from Malone for approximately 30 miles. Take a right turn at the sign for the VIC Center. There are five hiking trails that traverse a variety of environments — marsh, lake, river and forest — and include elevated viewing platforms, boardwalks, benches, a lean-to, wayside exhibits, and a 250-foot floating bridge. There is a trail designed especially for people with disabilities that has an extended streamside boardwalk and a viewing platform overlooking the marsh. Interpretive exhibits, slide presentations, visitor information, restrooms, special events and workshops are found in the main building. (For a longer trail and views, see Jenkins Mtn., described above, which starts from this location.) 518-327-3000.
Azure Mountain
(2 miles RT, moderate) Located off the Blue Mountain Rd., take NYS Rte. 458 to the Blue Mountain Rd. and travel approximately 7 miles to the trailhead on the right. Off the beaten track, this mountain offers amazingly good views in almost every direction from a huge ledge on the summit where a restored firetower is located. On most summer weekends you will find a volunteer interpreter on the summit. This is a great spot to view ravens as well as the distant High Peaks.
Beanville Trail
(1 mile RT, easy) Follow Route 11B from Malone to the Walkerville Rd. The trail is located west of the Walkerville Rd. This undulating trail parallels a remote section of the Deer River and passes deep pools, rapids and waterfalls.
Bloomingdale Bog
(4 miles one-way) Located off Route 86 approximately 3 miles north of Saranac Lake. This extensive bog area is traversed by walking on the abandoned D&H railroad right-of-way which at one time connected Saranac Lake with Plattsburgh. The trail is an elevated, sandy walkway that bisects the plant-rich bog community and has many open views.
Cooling Pool Trail
(1 mile RT, easy) Located off the Barnesville Rd., take County Rte. 27 1.3 miles south of Owls Head and turn right. A scenic streamside ramble.
Debar Mountain
(7.4 miles RT, moderate, entrance fee to state campground) Located 19 miles south of Malone off NYS Rte. 30 at the Meacham Lake Campground. This is a relatively easy hike with a steep final ascent to a partially open summit with several overlooks.
Debar Pond
(.6 miles RT, easy) Located on County Route 26 approximately 18 miles southeast of Malone. Follow NYS Route 30 to County Route 26. This is a short boardwalk trail that crosses a wetland and leads to the shore of this pretty glacial pond which can be further explored by canoe.
Deer Pond Loop
(7.3 mile loop, easy) Located on the Old State Road approximately 2 miles east of Tupper Lake on NYS Rte. 3. The trail to this remote pond traverses a Norway spruce plantation and a sugar maple, birch and beech forest. Deer Pond offers good fishing and a number of nice picnic spots along its shore, accessible via a short side trail. At least half of this hike is on level terrain.
Elephant Head
(1 mile RT, easy) Located 10 miles south of Malone on NYS Rte. 30. Look for the DEC trail sign. This woodland trail leads to an isolated hilltop with views to the north of Lake Titus and Titusville Mountain.
Everton Falls
(Nature Conservancy preserve) Located approximately 21 miles southwest of Malone. Follow NYS Route 30 to County Route 14 (The Red Tavern Road). The trail is located approximately 7 miles down on Route 14. The waterfall is located just off the road. A canoe access site above the falls enables paddlers to travel upstream through an interesting 10-mile stillwater. A trail through the preserve explores the hardwood forest — trail guides are available at the trailhead.
Fernow Forest-Wawbeek Plantations
(1.1 mile loop, easy) Located on NYS Route 30 approximately 7 miles south of Saranc Inn. Learn about forest ecology and history as you walk through this mature, 100-year-old white pine and Norway spruce plantation started by Bernard Fernow — an early pioneer in American forestry. There are 15 interpretive stops described in the trail guide which is available at the trailhead.
Floodwood Mountain
(3.4 miles RT, moderate) From Paul Smiths follow NYS Rte. 30 south to Lake Clear. Continue on NYS Rte. 30 to Saranac Inn. Turn right onto Floodwood Rd. and follow for approximately 7 miles to trail. Starting from a remote Boy Scout Reservation, this hike traverses gently rolling terrain through a hardwood forest to a final half-mile of steep terrain. You are rewarded with surprisingly good views overlooking the vast array of ponds and lakes below as well as the distant High Peaks.
Hayes Brook Truck Trail
(7.2 miles RT to old sheep meadow, easy) Located east of NYS Rte. 30 on the Slush Pond Road approximately 4 miles north of Paul Smiths. Walk or ride your bike on these wide dirt roads that traverse a pine plantation and forest. The main trail leads to an old sheep meadow and an alternate spur trail dead-ends near Hayes Brook. The Grassy Pond spur trail is 1.4 miles long and leads to a well-appointed lean-to on the shore of the pond.
Jenkins Mountain
(8.4 miles RT, easy) Walk on the remains of an old road over mostly gentle terrain to this partially open summit with great views of the St. Regis Canoe Area. Contact the Visitor Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths (518-327-3000) for directions and a map.
Lake Clear Beach
Follow NYS Rte. 30 to just north of Lake Clear. An unmarked road off Route 30 provides access to the parking lot and a short trail to the beautiful 2000-foot beach.
Ledges Trail
(1 mile RT, moderate) Located off the Duane Rd., take NYS Rte. 30 to County Rte. 41 (Fayetteville Rd.) to the Duane Rd. approximately 2 miles. Modest grades and switchbacks up a steep hillside lead to views and a final spectacular overlook.
Long Pond Mountain
(3 mile RT canoe and 3.2 mile RT hike, difficult) From Paul Smiths follow NYS Rte. 30 south to Lake Clear. Continue on NYS Rte. 30 to Saranac Inn. Turn right onto Floodwood Road and follow for approximately 6 miles. This hike starts out with a short portage from the parking lot to the lake. The pleasant paddle on Long Pond ends at the marked trail that leads to Mountain Pond. From Mountain Pond an unmarked path follows the shoreline to the east and then heads due north climbing steeply to a flat grassy summit with great views of the lake-studded scenery below and the distant High Peaks. Parts of this route are unmarked, map and compass skills are a must.
Middle Saranac Lake Beach
(1.2 miles RT, easy) Located approximately 6 miles south of Saranac Lake on Rte. 3 with a parking area directly on Rte. 3. This is a pleasant walk to an an island-studded lake and a long beach that has shallow water with a sandy bottom. The limited parking area along busy Route 3 is often filled to capacity on weekends; consider Lake Clear Beach as an alternative if parking is not available.
Panther Mountain
(1.2 miles RT, moderate) Located approximately 13 miles southwest of Saranac Lake on NYS Rte. 3, this short hike starts out with a steep climb beneath a large grove of hemlocks and arrives at a large open ledge that has views of Panther Pond and the distant High Peaks.
Raquette Falls
(9 miles RT, easy) Follow NYS Rte. 3 southwest from Saranac Lake for approximately 11 miles. Several spur trails access lean-tos on the river as you walk down this old woods road. The road terminates at a large grassy clearing near the rapids and final cascade. This was once the site of an inn and homestead, today there is a DEC outpost located here. A canoe carry trail leads to the upper end of the rapids and side trails lead to points on the river.
Red Dot Trail
(2.5 mile loop plus several spur trails, easy) Follow NYS Route 30 to Paul Smiths. Turn onto Route 86 and take a left onto the White Pine Road, where the trailhead is located. This is an interesting walk with glacial ponds and eskers, a grove of towering Cathedral Pines, and a unique old canal that connects the ponds to larger Osgood Pond. There are four lean-tos, two wooden bridges, nicely situated benches and great views overlooking Osgood Pond.
River Loop Trail
(1.5 mile loop, easy) Follow NYS Rte. 30 to County Rte. 458 into St. Regis Falls. The trail is located just north of St. Regis Falls on the Port Kent Rd. An abandoned railroad grade provides easy access to a scenic section of riverside trail.
Rock and Pickerel Ponds
(.8 miles RT and .6 miles RT respectively, easy) Follow NYS Rte. 3 southwest from Saranac Lake for approximately 11 miles. A scenic, dirt backroad leads through pines to the trailheads for these two remote ponds. A canoe would allow for more exploration of their shores.
Saranac Lake
Most of the homes in this community were built prior to 1940 when Saranac Lake was a major tuberculosis treatment center. Settled in 1827, the village has 170 buildings listed on the National Historic Register and is best known for its “Cure Cottages.” The village walking tour features 24 buildings and The Guide to Short Walks describes three loops, from a half-mile to three miles in length, that tour parts of the village. 518-891-1990.
St. Regis Mountain
(5 miles RT, moderately difficult) Follow Rte. 30 to Paul Smiths. Just north of the intersection of Rtes. 30 & 86 in Paul Smiths, turn onto the Keese Mills Road. The trailhead is located approximately 2.5 miles down the Keese Mills Road. This is a popular hike through a mixed hardwood forest to a south-facing rocky summit and an abandoned fire tower. The summit views encompass myriad lakes and the distant High Peaks.
St. Regis River Hydro Site
(.5 miles, RT, easy) Located on the Hewitt Rd. in St. Regis Falls, this is a level walk on a road to views of the waterfalls and rapids on the St. Regis River. Follow NYS Rte. 30 to County Rte. 458 into St. Regis Falls. The Hewitt Road is located off County Rte. 458.
The Pinnacle
(2.5 mile loop, easy) Walk to a high bluff with a 180 degree view overlooking Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. Most of the trail is on International Paper Company land, but day use is permitted.
White Pine Camp
(2.5 miles of trails and paths, admission fee) Located in Paul Smiths, follow Rte. 30 to Rte. 86. Travel down Rte. 86 for approximately .5 mile. The White Pine Road is located on your left. Built in 1907, this Adirondack Great Camp on Osgood Pond served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge from July to September in 1926. It includes 20 on-site buildings situated among white pines on a hillside above the lake. There is a guided walking tour of the buildings and grounds, exhibits on White Pine Camp's history and architecture, and special activities. 518-327-3030.