Lake George Wild Forest

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Deer Leap Trail extends 1.7 miles from the parking area to Deer Leap. The trail ascends 300 feet from over the first 0.6 miles. At mile 0.6 the trail intersects the Tongue Mountain Range Trail. It then descends 325 feet to mile 1.2 and climbs 200 feet to mile 1.4 before leveling off for the last 0.3 miles. The trail passes two primitive campsites.

Five Mile Point Trail is a 2.8-mile trail. During the first 2.0 miles, the trail ascends 1,160 feet. Then it descends 1,160 feet and 1.7 miles to Five Mile Point. At mile 2.0 the trail intersects with the Tongue Mountain Range Trail.

Fivemile Mountain

• From the Five Mile Point trailhead, follow the Five Mile Point Trail to mile 2.0, then turn north at the intersection onto the Tongue Mountain Range Trail. Continue 1.7 miles and 685 feet elevation to the top of Fivemile Mountain. At 0.9 miles past the Fivemile Mountain summit is the Fivemile Mountain lean-to.
• From the Deer Leap parking area, follow the trail to the intersection with the Tongue Mountain Range Trail at mile 0.6. Turn south at the intersection. The trail ascends 826 feet and 2.9 miles to the summit of Fivemile Mountain. At 0.9 miles before the Fivemile Mountain summit is the Fivemile Mountain lean-to.

Montcalm Point can be hiked as a loop or an out and back trip.

• Northwest Bay Trail follows the shoreline extending 5.4 miles from the Northwest Bay Trailhead and Parking Area to Montcalm Point.
• To hike as a loop, follow the Northwest Bay Trail to Montcalm Point. Then on the way back follow the Tongue Mountain Range Trail. The trail extends 6 miles following the ridge line and ascending 1,390 feet. At the intersection of Five Mile Point Trail, turn west and it will lead 2 miles back to the parking area.

Tongue Mountain Range Trail is about 10.8 miles and follows the Tongue Mountain ridgeline, connecting the Deer Leap trailhead to the Northwest Bay Trail near Montcalm Point.

Buttermilk Pond is accessed from the Lily Pond Road Parking Area. From the parking area, the trail extends 0.5 miles to the first intersection. Take the trail to the east. In another 0.1 mile, the trail splits again and both directions lead to Buttermilk Pond. The trail to the north extends 3.1 miles to Buttermilk Pond. The trail to the east extends 3.6 miles to Buttermilk Pond passing Duck and Round Ponds at mile 1.3.

Island Pond

• From the south, access Island Pond starting at the Padanarum Road Parking Area. The trail extends 1.6 miles from the parking area to Island Pond. It ascends 120 feet in the first 0.2 miles then levels off. At mile 1.1 the trail passes Long Pond.
• From the north, access Island Pond starting at the Lily Pond Road Parking Area. From the parking area, the trail extends 0.5 miles to the first intersection. Take the trail to the west. In another 0.2 miles, the trail splits again. Take the trail to the south. From there the trail extends 1.2 miles to Island Pond.

Wardsboro Road Trail (aka Fly Brook Trail) extends 5.6 miles from the Padanarum Road intersection to State Route 8. This trail crosses the Ti-Hague Easement. Please respect private property.

Black Mountain Summit

• From the east, the Black Mountain Trail ascends 1,239 feet and 2.5 miles from the Pike Brook Road Parking Area to the summit.
• For a 5.6-mile loop, follow the directions from the east. From the summit, continue on the trail as it descends for 1 mile and 880 feet elevation. Turn east onto the Black Mountain Pond Trail. Turn north at the intersection with the Millman Pond Trail. The trail passes Lapland Pond and a spur trail leading to a lean-to. Continue 1.1 miles to return to the Black Mountain Trail. The parking lot is 1.0 miles to the east of the intersection.

Black Mountain Point

• From the Pike Brook Road Parking Area, the trail descends 1,240 feet and 4.9 miles to Black Mountain Point on Lake George. From the parking area, take Millman Pond Trail to the Black Mountain Pond Trail, which leads to Black Mountain Point on the shore of Lake George.
• From the Shelving Rock Parking Area, take the Shelving Rock Mountain Trail to the Shelving Rock Shoreline Connector Trail to the Lake Shore Trail. Follow the Lake Shore Trail for 3.5 miles along the east shore of Lake George to Black Mountain Point. There are multiple picnic sites along the way.

Shelving Rock Mountain Trail - The trail ascends 610 feet and 1.7 miles to the top of Shelving Rock Mountain from the Shelving Rock Day Use Parking Area #4.

Sleeping Beauty Mountain - The trail ascends 1,038 feet and 2.1 miles from the Dacy Clearing Parking Area to the summit at 2,347 feet. From the parking area, follow the trail about half a mile to the first intersection, then turn right and continue the rest of the way to the summit.

Bumps Pond Trail - The trail ascends 850 feet and 1.6 miles from the Dacy Clearing Parking Area to Bumps Pond. From the parking area, follow the trail about half a mile to the first intersection, then turn left and continue the rest of the way to Bumps Pond.

Fishbrook Pond Trail - Follow the trail to Bumps Pond. From Bumps Pond, continue on the trail for 0.9 miles to Fishbrook Pond. You can also continue to Millman and Lapland Ponds by following the trail around Fishbrook Pond and continuing north.

Greenland Pond Trail - Follow the directions to Fishbrook Pond, then continue east 1.0 miles to Greenland Pond.

Prospect Mountain Trail - The trail starts from Smith Street in Lake George Village and ascends 1,570 feet and 1.7 miles to the top of Prospect Mountain in the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway Day Use Area.

Buck Mountain

• From the east, the Shelving Rock Road to Buck Mountain Trail ascends 1,100 feet from the Buck Mountain/Shelving Rock Road Parking Area to the summit at 2,334 feet.
• From the west, the Buck Mountain Trail from the Buck Mountain/Pilot Knob Parking Area ascends 1,980 feet and 3.3 miles from the parking area to the summit at 2,334 feet. Keep north at the intersections.
• Buck Mountain is also featured in DEC's Great Winter Hikes.

Inman Pond Trail ascends 1,200 feet and 4.0 miles from the Buck Mountain/Pilot Knob Parking Area to the Inman Pond Parking Area. The trail intersects with the trails to Buck Mountain and Inman Pond.

Inman Pond Spur Trail - Follow the Inman Pond Trail from the Inman Pond Parking Area to the intersection at mile 0.5. At the intersection turn north onto the Inman Pond Spur Trail. The trail ascends 380 feet and 0.8 miles from the intersection to Inman Pond.

Bear Slide Trail is an accessible trail, extending from the Bear Slide Foot Trail Parking Area off Buttermilk Road to Gay Pond Road.

Pole Hill Pond - From the parking lot on 9N there are a series of three stacked loop trails, with the longest leading to Pole Hill Pond.

Cat Mountain and Thomas Mountain - These two mountains can be hiked as a loop or individually.

From the Edgecomb Pond Road parking area (Town of Bolton), follow the old road to the gate. Just past the gate, turn north at the intersection to connect to the Cat Mountain Trail. At the second intersection, turn west to reach Cat Mountain or continue north to reach Thomas Mountain.

From the Valley Woods Road parking area, the trail extends south to an intersection. Turn west to reach Thomas Mountain and continue along the loop to reach Cat Mountain. Continuing straight (south) will lead to another intersection to reach Cat Mountain.

Berry Pond - Access to this trail system is from the Village of Lake George's Recreation Center. Follow the blue trail markers through the Recreation Center's trail system. Once on Forest Preserve, the trail intersects with a snowmobile trail. Turn north at this intersection to reach the Berry Pond Loop Tail. Or, taking a sharp north turn just before this intersection will lead to a trail that follows a ridgeline before connecting to the Berry Pond Loop Trail.

Hudson River Nature Trails - From the parking area on Golf Course Road hikers can access several interconnected looping trails through the woods and along the Hudson River.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

There are 63 designated primitive tent sites. Designated tent sites are located near:

• Palmer Pond (4) - 2 accessible
• Lily Pond (3)
• Round Pond (2)
• Buttermilk Pond (2)
• Long Pond (2)
• Island Pond (2)
• Jabe Pond (5)
• Deer Leap (2)
• Inman Pond (3)
• Black Mountain Ponds (1)
• Lake Shore Trail (1)
• Fishbrook Pond (1)
• Bumps Pond (1)
• Shelving Rock Special Management Area (13)
• Hudson River Special Management Area (19)

In the Shelving Rock Special Management Area, camping is only allowed at the designated tent sites or more than 500 feet from the Shelving Rock and Dacy Clearing Roads. The "Pines" is a day-use only area in the Shelving Rock Special Management Area and is closed to camping.

There are also 8 lean-tos in the Lake George Wild Forest. The lean-tos are located at:

• Along the Tongue Mountain Range Trail (2)
• Black Mountain Ponds (1)
• Millman Pond (1)
• Lapland Pond (1)
• Greenland Pond (1)
• Fishbrook Pond (2)

In the Hudson River Special Management Area, overnight camping is allowed at designated campsites only. There are 19 campsites designated at various locations in the area. A "*" denotes sites that are being developed as universally-accessible sites. Some sites can be accessed by motor vehicle only by those with a permit through the Motorized Access Program for People With Disabilities (MAPPWD).

• Site #1 and #2 - Scofield Flats - MAPPWD motor vehicle access
• Site #3 and #4 - Pike's Beach - MAPPWD motor vehicle access
• Site #5 - River Road, just south of Town Line parking area - direct motor vehicle access
• Site #6 - Buttermilk Road, just south of Buttermilk Brook
• Site #7 - Buttermilk Road, near the Pines Day Use Area
• Site #8 - Buttermilk Road, west of Morton Mountain
• Site #9 - Buttermilk Road, north of Morton Mountain
• Site #10 - Intersection of Buttermilk Road and Gay Pond Road
• Site #11 - Gay Pond Road
• Site #12 - Gay Pond Road
• Site #13 - Gay Pond Road
• Site #14* - Gay Pond Road - MAPPWD motor vehicle access
• Site #15 - Gay Pond South
• Site #16 - Gay Pond Northeast
• Site #17* - Bear Slide Road - MAPPWD motor vehicle access
• Site #18* - Bear Slide Road - MAPPWD motor vehicle access
• Site #19 - Chamberlain Farm Road (road closed for repairs, foot access only)

Accessible privies are located at accessible campsites.

In the Hudson River Special Management Area, camping is only allowed at the designated tent sites or more than 500 feet from the River Road, Buttermilk Road, and Gay Pond Road. The "Pines" is a day-use only area in the Hudson River Special Management Area and is closed to camping.

Campers who prefer more amenities may camp at several nearby DEC campgrounds.

General information on paddling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Paddling is allowed on all bodies of waters in the Lake George Wild Forest. The Hudson River Special Management Area has several hand launches for access to the river. Water bodies with official hand launches include the Hudson River, Jabe Pond, Long Pond, Lily Pond, and Lake George - Northwest Bay.

General information on boating includes safety tips with links to rules and regulations and lists of DEC boat launches by county.

Lake George is a popular lake for boating. Lake George Wild Forest features docks along the east side of the lake at the Red Rock Bay Picnic Area and the East Point Picnic Area. Public boat launches are located at the southern end of Lake George at Lake George Beach (with parking for 200 cars and trailers) and at the northern end of Lake George at Mossy Point (with parking for 100 cars and trailers).

General information on biking includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.

Many of the trails in the Lake George Wild Forest are open to biking. The Shelving Rock area is a popular mountain biking destination. Some trails in the area have been labeled as intermediate to advanced by private outdoor organizations due to difficult terrain. These trails use a network of travel corridors ranging from roads to foot trails and provide a few loop options as well as spur trails for mountain bikers.

All trails and roads in the Hudson River Special Management Area are open to biking.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Fishing is a popular activity on the Lake George Wild Forest. The Upper Hudson River, Schroon River, and Lake George are all popular bodies of water in the area for fishing. Additionally, many of the ponds in the area are stocked with trout.

The Hudson River Special Management Area features water access to the Upper Hudson River. Fish species found in this area of the Hudson include smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, sunfish, yellow perch, northern pike, chain pickerel, walleye, carp and channel catfish.

Please pay attention to Public Fishing Rights signs and property boundary signs. Do not trespass on other private lands or onto the conservation easement lands that do not provide public access rights.

Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing provides information on fishing in the Adirondacks and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.

Help Protect Native Adirondack Fish; populations of brook trout, round whitefish and other native Adirondack fish species have severely declined due to introduced fish.

Wildlife Management Unit: 5G, 5H and 5J

General information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Important big game species within the area include the white-tailed deer and black bear. Additional game mammals include coyote, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, short-tailed weasel, bobcat, and snowshoe hare. These species (with the exception of white-tailed deer, black bear, and snowshoe hare) along with fisher, mink, muskrat, beaver, and river otter can also be trapped.

Game birds in the area include upland species such as turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock, as well as a variety of waterfowl.

Wildlife Management Unit: 5G, 5H and 5J

General information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Important big game species within the area include the white-tailed deer and black bear. Additional game mammals include coyote, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, long-tailed weasel, short-tailed weasel, bobcat, and snowshoe hare. These species (with the exception of white-tailed deer, black bear, and snowshoe hare) along with fisher, mink, muskrat, beaver, and river otter can also be trapped.

Game birds in the area include upland species such as turkey, ruffed grouse and woodcock, as well as a variety of waterfowl.

General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowmobiling is a popular activity within the wild forest. Miles of snowmobile trails exist in the Shelving Rock area, Prospect Mountain area, Hudson River Special Management Area, and the northwest portion of the wild forest in the vicinity of Padanarum Road and Lily Pond. The S42, S45, S46, S49, S49A, S49E, S49F, S49G, S49H, S83, S84, S88, S89 snowmobile trails cross the unit.

The Northern Warren Trailblazers (leaves DEC website), South Warren Snowmobile Club (leaves DEC website), Hague Sno-Goers (leaves DEC website), Northern Washington County Trail Blazers (leaves DEC website), and the Schroon Lake - North Hudson Snowmobile Club (leaves DEC website) are the local snowmobile clubs that groom many of the trails. Snowmobile trail maps are available from these clubs.

In the winter, Buttermilk Road (2.1 miles) and Gay Pond Road (3.8 miles) on the Hudson River Special Management Area are unplowed and used as snowmobile trails.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Cross-country skiing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails.

General information on horseback riding includes safety tips and rules and regulations.

Many of the trails in the Lake George Wild Forest are open to horseback riding. The Dacy Clearing and Upper Hogtown Road parking areas have equestrian mounting platforms. Portions of the Erebus, Fishbrook, Lake Shore, Longway, Red Rock Bay, Ridge, Shelving Rock, and Shortway trails are maintained for horseback riding.

Bear Slide Road and Gay Pond Road in the Hudson River Special Management Area are both open for horseback riding.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

The Adirondacks contain large tracts of wildlife habitat with some boreal, bog, alpine and other unique habitats. Many birds (Common Loon, Peregrine Falcon) and mammals (Moose, Black Bear) are unique to the Adirondacks or are mainly found here. Over 50 species of mammals and hundreds of species of birds inhabit or pass through the Adirondacks at one time of the year or another.