Hiking has quickly become one of the most popular pastimes in the U.S. this year. As the weather is starting to cool down and the east coast foliage is beginning to emerge, now is the perfect time to hop on the bandwagon. The Adirondacks are home to some of the most beautiful mountains in New York, and the area near Lake George is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. If you’re new to hiking, don’t let the high peaks intimidate you. There are plenty of beginner hikes in the area with great trails and beautiful summit views.
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1. Severance Mountain
Difficulty ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Elevation Gain – 725 ft
Total Length – 2.4 mi out and back
Severance Mountain is a great trail for a first time hiker. The trailhead and parking lot is right off of route 9, and the hike begins with a short tunnel that crosses underneath interstate 87. The trail itself is very well maintained, and there’s a clear path all the way up to the summit. Once you get to the top, there are two look out points that offer beautiful views of both Schroon and Paradox Lake.
2. Sleeping Beauty Mountain
Difficulty ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Elevation Gain – 1,305 ft
Total Length – 4.8 mi loop or 3 mi out and back from Darcy Clearing
Sleeping Beauty is located on the southeastern side of Lake George and is a great trail for a family hike. You can either do 3 miles out and back directly to the summit, or you can take the 4.8 loop that takes you to the summit and then around Bumps Pond. The summit of Sleeping Beauty is the best I’ve seen for a beginner hike in the Adirondacks. It’s wide open and has breathtaking views of the mountain ranges afar. Additionally, the summit looks out over the west, which makes this an excellent sunset hike.
If you want to hit another great spot on the hike, head on a slight detour to Fishbrook Pond. This will add an extra 2 miles of flat ground to your trip and is a great spot for lunch or to set up a campsite.
3. Pole Hill Pond Mountain
Difficulty ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Elevation Gain – 1,535
Total Length – 5.5 mi loop
Pole Hill Pond is a 5.5 mile loop trail near the town of Bolton Landing. At the summit there’s a beautiful view of Lake George, and on your decent, you’ll pass by the pond. Although this trail is a little harder than Sleeping Beauty and Severance, but it’s’ definitely doable for a beginner. Just make sure to plan in some extra time for breaks as needed.
4. Pharaoh Mountain
Difficulty ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Elevation Gain – 1,870 ft.
Total Length – 9.1 mi out and back
Pharaoh Mountain is a less populated trail near Schroon. Don’t let the 9.1 miles scare you, the great part about this hike is that the first and last 3 miles are flat. This is a very scenic trail that is perfect for you if you’re looking to take along walk through the woods.The middle of the hike gets pretty steep, and as you make your way up to the summit, the dirt trail transitions to large flat rock faces. Although doable in sneakers, I would recommend wearing hiking boots for this one to help grip the rocks, especially if it’s rained recently.
How to Find Trails Near You
Looking for more trails to hike? Check out the all trails app here to find the best route for you. I use this almost every time I go hiking and cannot recommend it highly enough.
Get those shoes out and hit the trails!
Happy Hiking,
Kira