All outings will meet and end at the Old Forge Recreation Center except some Sunday outings which are on the way home.
There is an opportunity to complete: ** Fulton Chain Trifecta** and earn a patch: A7, B11, possibly C7
Add some of the fire towers for the *ADK Fire Tower Challenge*: A1, A2, B1, B4
Participants can hike two sections of the North Country National Scenic Trail: B2, C2 and explore the Pigeon Lake Wilderness.
This weekend, 4th in September is also Annual North Country Trail Day and Public Lands Day.
Registration will open in the spring. Start planning now and encourage friends to participate.
Friday Sept. 24, 2021
A-1 Blue Mountain Fire Tower Hike / ADK Fire Tower Challenge*
Meeting Time: 12:00 noon /( registration on return) / group size limited to 8
Rating: A strenuous / 4 miles RT/ elevation gain–1523′
R/T Drive: 78 miles, about 55 minutes one way
Leader: Dick Frio 315 679-0622
This popular 4 mile out and back hike with moderate to steep grades ends at the 3759′ summit. The open summit offers excellent views which are more spectacular from the Fire Tower. Pace will be medium to fast so we can return in time for registration and dinner.
A-2 Stillwater Fire Tower Hike / ADK Fire Tower Challenge*
Meeting Time: 12:00 noon (registration on return)
Rating: B moderate / 2 miles RT/ elevation gain–530′
Leader: Jerry Smith 315 967-4725
R/T Drive: 50 miles, about 47 minutes one way on dirt road beyond Big Moose Road.
This fire tower in the Independence River Wild Forest was reopened to the public in 2016. The 2264′ summit offers good views but only from the tower. We will continue to the historic “Stillwater” to view the reservoir and hotel. We may stop at Big Moose Lake on the return. This will not be another “American Tragedy”.
A-3 Cascade Lake Loop / Waterfalls
Meeting time: 12:30 pm
Rating: B moderate / 5.5 miles RT
Leader: Sandy Manca 315 807-9442
R/T drive: 21 miles /about 17 minutes one way
Cascade Lake is located in our chapter’s adopted Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area near Eagle Bay. We will hike to a beautiful 40 foot narrow waterfalls and then continue the loop around the lake. The trail never climbs or descends too much, but when it does, it’s at a gentle pace.
A-4 Brandy Lake
Meeting time: 1:00 pm
Rating: C+ easy to moderate /3.5 miles RT
Leader: Charlene Zebley 315 735-8962
R/T Drive: 29 miles, about 26 minutes one way
The trail to Brandy Lake follows a grassy road with rolling terrain. We will take a 1/2 mile spur trail to the lake and enjoy the fall colors. We will be hiking in the Black River Wild Forest
A-5 Brewer Lake
Meeting Time: 1:10 pm
R/T drive: 22 miles, about 15 minutes one way
Rating: C+ easy to moderate / 4 miles RT/ elevation gain 300′
Leader: Kathy Disque 315 656-3383
A pleasant 4 mile r/t hike on a gentle grade through a lovely forest to a campsite on the shore of Brewer Lake. This hike is in the Black River Wild Forest.
A-6 Moss, Sis and Bubb Lakes Loop
Meeting time: 1:20 pm
R/T drive: 24 miles about 18 minutes one way
Rating: C+ easy to moderate/4 miles, fairly flat
Leader: Mary Niemi 315-446-6725
Join Sigi for a pleasant walk 3/4 around Moss Lake, then continue past Bubb and Sis Lakes and finish at the Rt. 28 trailhead. (Fulton Chain Wild Forest).
A-7 Rocky Mountain / Fulton Chain Trifecta**
Meeting Time: 1:30 pm
R/T drive: 20 miles, about 15 minutes one way
Rating: B moderate / hike 1.2 miles RT/ elevation gain–445′
Leader: Mary Coffin 315 657-0229
Rocky Mountain open summit (2225′) offers great views of Fourth Lake and surrounding forest. The short 0.6 mile climb (445′ elevation gain) is steep in a couple of places but well worth the effort. It’s one of the most popular little climbs in the area. We can take our time ascending and enjoying the summit view.
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021
B-1 Snowy Mountain / ADK Fire Tower Challenge*
Meeting Time: 8:00 am / Group Size Limit 8
Rating: A+ very strenuous / 7.8 miles / elevation gain–2000′
R/T drive: 102 miles, about 1 hour 10 minutes one way drive time
Leaders: Sandy Manca /Dick Frio 315 679-0622
The first 2.4 miles is a pleasant walk in the woods with several stream crossings. The final 1400′ is ascended in the next 1.4 miles with steep rugged sections. At 3899 feet, Snowy Mountain is the highest peak in the Adirondacks south of the high peaks region. Pace will be medium to fast. Excellent views of Indian Lake from a wide ledge just before the summit where we will enjoy lunch. Views of the high peaks to the north from the 42′ tall steel fire tower
B-2 West Canada Lake Trail to Brook Trout Lake, NCT 100
Meeting Time: 8:00 am / Group size limit 8
Rating: A strenuous / 11.6 miles R/T / elevation gain–500′
R/T drive: 1.5 hr. to Moose River Plains and Otter Brook dirt roads.
Leader: Stephen Hayes
This is a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail in West Canada Lakes Wilderness. We will hike to the Brook Trout Lake lean-to for lunch. The lake, like its name, is home to natively reproducing Adirondack Heritage Brook Trout, NY State fish. Elevation change = 500′ spread over the trail.
B-3 Sargents Pond
Meeting Time: 8:00 am
Rating: B moderate / 5.3 miles
R/T drive: 100 miles, about 1 hour 20 minutes drive time + time to spot cars one way, limit 10 cars
Leader Gretchen Barfoot
After spotting cars to avoid the 1.5 mile road walk we will hike 1.4 miles on a pretty path through the woods to upper Sargents Pond to enjoy the view of the lake and have a snack. We will continue along the trail of rolling hills for 2.9 miles to the lean-to on lower pond for lunch. The final leg is 1.9 miles to the road and cars.
B-4 Woodhull Fire Tower Bike / Hike ADK Fire Tower Challenge*
Meeting time: 8:15 am
Rating: A strenuous 13 miles R/T (bike 10miles R/T, hike 5 miles R/T) / elevation change–1000′
R/T drive: 22 miles, about 20 minutes drive time one way
Leader: Paul Sirtoli
The trail to the bottom is an old rail grade, thus we will use mountain bikes for the first leg, about 5 miles. Parts of the trail may be overgrown with grass. Then we will hike a moderately steep 2.5 miles to the fire tower. The tower may be climbed for the view.
B-6 Queer Lake Hike
Meeting time: 8:30 am / Group size limit 10
Rating: A strenuous / 8 miles, rolling terrain
R/T Driving: 25 miles, about 20 minutes drive time one way
Leader: Lisa Druke
Queer lake is located in the 51,000 acre Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area adopted by the Onondaga Chapter ADK. The trail is gently rolling and meandering through hardwoods and evergreens. We will hike trail 24 (ADK West-Central Region Guide page 93) to the Queer Lake lean-to, which is surrounded by breathtaking majestic Spruce, Hemlock and White Pine, for lunch. We will return on a loop passing Chain Pond on trail 25 returning to Windfall Ponds parking lot.
B-7 Paddle Seventh Lake and Hike to Bug Lake
Meeting Time: 8:30 am
Rating: B Moderate / 6 mile paddle, 4 mile hike / elevation change–300′
R/T drive: 28 miles, about 20 minutes one way
Leaders: Mary Coffin, 315 657-0229/ Brenda Veilleux 315 463-9103,
We will paddle Seventh Lake to the Eighth Lake campground then hike to Eagle’s Nest overlooking Bug Lake to have lunch and return via Seventh Lake. Wear sturdy, closed toed water shoes suitable for hiking as well as paddling. PFD required. Provide your own canoe/kayak.
B-8 Cycle Thendara to Inlet
Meeting time: 8:40 am
Rating: C-B easy to moderate / 22 miles
R/T Drive: 5 miles, about 5 minutes one way
Leader: Jerry Smith
Cyclists will follow FLAT, paved road from Thendara to Old Forge with the option to start from the public beach in Old Forge depending on the group’s ability. From Old Forge the trip continues to Inlet via South Shore Road. There is very little traffic on South Shore Rd. The bike ride can be shortened if the group decides. Helmets are required. Provide your own bike. Of course we will stop in Inlet for lunch or ice cream at the famous ice cream stand in Arrowhead Park.
B-9 Vista Hiking Trail
Meeting time: 8:40 am car spotting
Rating: B+ moderate to strenuous / 4.7 miles
R/T drive: 10 miles to trailhead and additional 30 minutes to spot cars
Leader: Peg Whaley
The trail starts on Rondaxe Road. We will hike through some beautiful Hemlock stands, climb a 300 foot ascent to Cork Mountain, descend to Mountain Pond and another ascent to the crest along Onondaga Mountain with views of Fourth Lake. There is a side trail with views of Bubb and Moss Lakes and limited view of Blue Mountain. The hike will end at Bubb Lake trailhead on Rt.28.
B-10 Road Bike Old Forge to Inlet
Meeting Time: 8:50
Rating: C+ Easy to moderate /distance 24 miles, mostly flat with rolling hills
Drive: 4 mi RT
Leader: Rich Adams
Park in Old Forge and begin on the South Shore Road(which is lightly traveled) and pedal along the east side of First, Second Third and Forth Lakes to Inlet. We will have lunch in Inlet and pedal back to our cars in Old Forge. This trip is most suited for road bikes and helmets are required. Provide your own bike.
B-11 Black Bear Mountain / Fulton Lake Trifecta**
Meeting Time: 8:50 am / Group limit 7
Rating: B+ Moderate / 4.7 mile loop / elevation change–761′
R/T drive 26 miles, about 20 minutes one way
Leader: Barb Kerker
We will be climbing Black Bear Mountain via the blue trail which is steep in spots with a few rock scrambles and returning via the slightly longer, easier yellow trail. The views of Seventh Lake and beyond are quite beautiful. We will have lunch on the summit.
B-13 Cultural Icons of Old Forge
Meeting Time: 9:00 am
Rating: C easy walking, fee involved
R/T drive: 35 miles
Leader: John Lang
We will spend the best part of the day visiting four cultural icons of Old Forge and Raquette Lake. In the morning we will have a docent led our tour of the View. The View is one of the most important artistic enterprises of the Adirondacks. We will then head to the Old Forge Hardware store, a multi-storied, not-to-be-missed store known for its mixture of goods ranging from the ordinary to the unusual. We will have lunch at Tony Harpers, a well-known casual restaurant in downtown Old Forge. Following lunch, we will head to Raquette Lake for a docent led tour of Camp Sagamore, the historic Adirondack Great Camp once owned by the Vanderbilts. Fees involved for the View approximately $10, Camp Sagamore $16–18, and for Tony Harper, the sky’s the limit. The hardware store is free unless, of course, you find something you cannot live without! Please join me in a day which should be both educational and fun.
B-14 Hike Cathedral Pines and Buttermilk Falls
Meeting Time: 9:00 am
Rating: C easy / less than 1 mile
Driving Distance 90 miles, about 50 minutes drive time one way
Leader: Dick Lightcap
Join one of the most knowledgeable members of the ADK on a slow easy hike . Your journey begins exploring Cathedral Pines in the Moose River Plains Wild Forest, a short 0.2 mile loop through a stand of magnificent old growth virgin pines. You will then head towards Long Lake for lunch at Buttermilk Falls on a trail that is part of Northern Forest Canoe Trail
Sunday, Sept 26, 2021
C-1 Middle Settlement Lake
Meeting Time: 8:30 am
Rating: B+ moderate / 7.6 miles
Driving Distance: 10 minutes, on your way home South
Leaders: Peg Whaley , Sandy Manca ,
Middle Settlement Lake is located in the 26,000 acre Ha-Da-Ron-Dah wilderness. We will access the trailhead off of route 28 where there is a fairly steep climb to start the hike. We will pass many giant boulders and hike through a wetland. The lake is a very popular destination with a lean-to on a rocky shoreline. There is an option to loop to Grass Pond which would add 2 miles to the trip.
C-4 Bear Lake Hike
Meeting time: 9:00 am
Rating: B moderate / 5 miles
Driving Distance: 8 miles on way on your way home South
Leader: Lisa Druke
Bear Lake (near McKeever ADK west central guide p.246) is remotely located in the Black River Wild Forest. We will take the Woodhull Mountain Trail, then the spur trail to the lean-to at Bear Lake , have lunch and return.
C-5 Moose River Paddle
Meeting Time: 9:00 am rental fee
Rating: C+ easy / 7 miles downstream
Drive distance: 1 mile one way to Tickners
Leader: Jerry Smith
We can rent from Tickners Kayak for $30. We will be transported to the North Street Bridge put-in, by their van and kayak trailer. The return trip on the North Branch of the Moose River is 7 miles, but it’s easy. The current pulls us along on a winding, narrow, not too deep river. There are sandbanks for picnicking, sunbathing and swimming. A fast paddler could arrive back at Tickners dock in 3 hours. A strong paddler might say, “Let’s continue as far as the dam, downstream from the dock” and of course that means paddling upstream to return to Tickners. There is one portage on the Moose so we will have to help each other carry for 1/4 mile but don’t worry about this.
C-6 Lock and Dam
Meeting Time : 9:00 am
Rating: C easy / distance 2 miles
Drive distance: 5 minutes one way on your way home South
Leader: Gretchen Barfoot
Before you head back home take this nice mostly flat walk along the Moose River to a restored wooden dam. If the timing is right we may be able to wave at folks on the tourist train going by while we rest at the dam.
C-7 Rondaxe(Bald Mt.) Fire Tower, Fulton Lake Trifecta, ADK Fire Tower Challenge*/**
Meeting Time: 9:10 am
Rating: B moderate/ distance 2miles R/T, elevation gain 500’
Driving Distance: one way 4 miles heading north
Leader: Dick Frio
The Rondaxe Fire Tower located on the summit of Bald Mountain (2350’) is a very popular hike. There are fantastic views from the Fire Tower, but also from many viewpoints along the trail.
C-9 Paddle Little Long Lake
Meeting Time: 9:30 am
Rating: C-B easy to moderate/ paddle 2 hours
Drive time: 10 miles on your way home south
Leader: Brenda Veilleux 315 463-9103
Paddle this small, picturesque lake just inside the blue line. It’s one more chance to paddle this fall.
You need your own canoe/kayak and must wear PFD
* ADK Fire Tower Challenge/earn a patch
** Fulton Chain Trifecta/earn a patch