The United States of America is world-renowned for the natural treasures it holds within its boundaries - the Adirondack Mountains is one of them. These wild, primaeval peaks reach more than 4,000 feet (1,219 metres) into the sky. For West Coast dwellers, the mountains may not be much to look at, but in the East, it’s a completely different tale, as the peaks tower over a concrete jungle of glass and skyscrapers. The Adirondack Mountains is also known for the plethora of hiking opportunities on offer for adventure enthusiasts. They don’t discriminate between age and ability, either - the mountains are perfectly accessible to both beginner and advanced hikers. This historic natural landmark packs quite the punch in trail toughness and vertical gain, though. So, when you’re choosing from these top day hike options in Adirondack Mountains, USA, pick your trails carefully.
1. Cascade Mountain Trailhead
Cascade Mountain Trailhead is a member of Adirondack High Peaks and boasts one of the easier trails to hike in the vicinity. The endpoint is the peak of the mountain that provides a stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding natural spectacle. Nearly two-thirds of the peaks and Lake Placid come into full view on a clear day; some days, you can even see Lake Champlain. The actual trail starts at Route 73, between Keene and Lake Placid, and traverses southwards. Cascade Brook is a signal that you’ve completed the first half of the hike and, though the walk is quite a steep workout, it’s peppered by level fields that allow you to catch your breath.
Cascade Mountain Trailhead
Address: Cascade Mountain Foot Trail, Route 73, Lake Placid, NY 12946, United States
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
2. Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
Spread over 46,283 acres (18,730 hectares), Pharaoh Lake Wilderness is filled to the brim with lush forests, bubbling streams and exciting hiking trails both well-traversed and off the beaten path. The Crane Pond trail is an easy hike that leads to a pleasant pond where you can catch your breath. The first mile or so is a steep climb, but it levels out. The gorgeous views of the surrounding park are excuse enough to make the effort. The trek that lends the wilderness its name, though, is Pharaoh Lake and Pharaoh Mountain trail. The latter is one of the more difficult ones, but definitely not the toughest in the mountain range - plus the views from the top are phenomenal.
Pharaoh Lake Wilderness
Address: Schroon Lake, NY 12870, United States
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
3. Hadley Mountain Trail
Hadley Mountain is a winner among hikers because of the stunning view it offers to the east, the south and the west from the top. The restored Fire Tower near the mountain is also quite the drawcard, because it offers gorgeous views of the surrounding wilderness. The trailhead sits next to a historic marker that leads directly to a climb. Keep an eye out for bare patches of rock early into the climb, a result of forest fires the mountain is infamous for.
Hadley Mountain
Address: Tower Road, Hadley, NY 12835, USA
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Cobble Lookout
A moderately trafficked route thanks to its short length, Cobble Lookout trail is a simple, 2-kilometre (1.3-mile) one-way hike that provides spectacular views of Champlain Valley, Whiteface Mountain and the Giant Mountain. This is a stroll that everyone in the family will appreciate. The trail was established in 2014 and is mostly level-marked with DEC markers in blue. Thanks to its position away from the overcrowded area of High Peaks, it’s turning into quite the popular hiking destination, one that’s family and rookie-friendly. The trail varies between flat and slightly uphill, passing an old quarry then beginning to slope upwards. From the broad ledge, the trail is mostly flat and offers great views of Whiteface and Esther mountains on the right and the Giant Mountain straight ahead.
Cobble Lookout
Address: Co Hwy 18A, Wilmington, NY 12997, United States
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
5. Coney Mountain Trail
With Tupper Lake to the north and Horseshoe Lake Wildforest to the west, Coney Mountain Trail has some spectacular views to offer any hiker willing to make their way up. The trail is quite new, having been reconstructed only recently over an old road. The well-marked path will take you along the western slopes of the mountain, contouring towards the north once the trail gets steeper. The perk of this mountain trail is that the final stretch is a smooth slab rock, which means no dusty hands and scrambling for a foothold. When the views start to open up, you’ll first catch sight of Goodman Mountain in the north and Mount Morris in the northeast.
Coney Mountain Trail
Address: NY-30, Tupper Lake, NY 12986
6. Moxham Mountain Trail
While the 8.8-kilometre (5.5-mile) trail does offer some gorgeous views of the natural landscapes, the summit of Moxham Mountain Trail will blow your mind. The elevation gain of this mountain - 2,172 feet or 662 metres - might seem daunting to some, but the way the trail was constructed minimises the actual ‘climb’ as much as possible. It’s been classified as moderately difficult by first-time and experienced hikers. On heavy snow days, snowshoes are a must. The trail is well-marked, even in winters with the leaves down. It’s frequented by many hikers throughout the year, but they’re well-spaced out so that everyone has an enjoyable hike with near completely unobstructed views. The trailhead itself is relatively easy to get to and offers plenty of parking spaces.
Moxham Mountain Trail
Address: 14th Road off NY 28N, Minerva, NY 12851, USA
7. Castle Rock Trailhead
A loop within a loop hike, this trail leads upwards to the base of the region’s famous Castle Rock. The trail starts up a steep ravine that’s forested and transitions towards the left, framed by Ponderosa Pines and a cedar tree as old as time. At one point, the path reaches the saddle and immediately follows downhill. To the east of this spot is Castle Rock, the iconic structure that drives most people’s desire to hike the trail. However, you can decide to leave at this point to go up the northern side, through an indentation and onto the summit for a stunning view of Big Bear Lake.
Castle Rock Trailhead
Address: Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, United States
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
8. Rocky Mountain
A short hike that’s a favourite of families and first-time hikers, Rocky Mountain trail leads to a summit that boasts spectacular sunrise and sunset views. While the trail begins flat, it gradually becomes steep and, in rainy weather, can become quite slippery on the way back. There are rock shelves along the way that become treacherous as well. If possible, try to avoid the direct route to the summit when it rains. The view from the top overlooks the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
Rocky Mountain
Address: Route 28, Inlet, NY 13360, USA
9. Sawyer Mountain
The out-and-back trail to the Sawyer Mountain summit near Blue Mountain Lake is 3.3 kilometres (2.1 miles) long. It’s marked all along the way by plaques with yellow turtles. At one point along the trail, after a sharp turn, a side strip leads off to a more adventurous path meant for hikers looking to stray on the way to the summit. However, novices will do well to stay on the marked trail and continue through to Sawyer Mountain Road and the remains of the Sawyer family’s estate. On the summit you will find a lighthouse that once stood here to guide sailors safely into the harbour - it was replaced by a stone monument that was later struck down by lightning, so you’ll need to put your imagination to work!
Sawyer Mountain
Address: Rte 28/30 between Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake, NY 12842, USA
Glorious natural beauty
Day trips to the Adirondacks promise hours full of exciting nature trails that are either moderately difficult or ridiculously easy depending on which peak you choose to scale. One thing’s for sure - the Adirondacks are a stunning natural sight that shouldn’t be missed when visiting the USA!
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to