Hiking

Most of the information on this page came from www.adirondacks.org this is a great place to find Adirondack info.

Trails Featuring Lakes

• Wolf Lake (5 mile loop, easy)
  This interesting trail winds around rock outcrops and leads to a series of picturesque rock-encircled lakes, each with its own lean-to, and to a 40-foot bluff overlooking Huckleberry Lake.
• Clear Pond (6.6 miles round trip, easy)
  The route from Clear Pond to Lilypad Pond traverses an extensive beech forest and passes several picturesque glacial ponds. Long Pond, lined with hemlocks and white pine, is a nice destination and a shorter 5.2 mile round trip hike.
• Streeter Lake (8 miles round trip, moderate, or 1 mile RT, easy)
  Two trailheads provide access to this lake and its lean-to. Either way you approach the lake, you will be surprised by its park-like quality due primarily to its previous owners who still maintain a family burial plot. The Schuler family, whose fortune was made in potato chips, grew experimental potatoes in the area now referred to as the "Potato Patch.& Nearby is beautiful Crystal Lake with its clear water and an imported sand beach.
• Burntbridge Pond (13.2 miles round trip, easy)
  This historic route follows a former spur line of the Grasse River Railroad for over half its distance as it traverses a hardwood forest to a lean-to on the shore of this beautiful pond.
• Dog Pond Loop (19.9 mile loop + side trips, moderately difficult)
  Two-day backpacking trip that passes vistas overlooking Brandy Brook Flow on Cranberry Lake, several remote glacial ponds, a waterfall and historic natural rock shelter. The side trip to Dog Pond and the waterfall on its inlet is .5 mile RT and an unmarked .6 mile RT trail accesses views from the top of Dog Mountain.

Trails Featuring Waterfalls (driving directions here)

• Lampson Falls (.8 miles RT to falls, easy) (4.5 miles RT along the river, easy to moderate)
  The Grass River is known for its waterfalls; this imposing 60-foot waterfall is one of its largest and most accessible. The riverside trail leads downstream to a bridge crossing. Across the bridge, trails lead both up and down the river to more views of scenic cascades, the most spectacular of which are located downstream.
• Jamestown Falls and Moody Falls (easy)
  Short, unmarked routes lead to views of these exciting falls on the Raquette River. About 1.5 miles north of the intersection of Routes 3 and 56, an unmarked trail leads to the base of Moody Falls where the river twists through a chasm and drops 22 feet. Another mile up the road, a .3 mile woods road leads to views of Jamestown Falls, a long cascading waterfall. Private property is adjacent to both areas, please stay within the boundaries of state land.
• Olmstead Pond Loop (4.6 miles RT, easy to moderate, water access only)
  This is a remote route that passes three wilderness ponds and a waterfall. One of the ponds has a unique greenish-blue coloring due to minerals in the water and there is an overlook above Spectacle Pond.
• High Falls Loop (15.1 miles, moderately difficult)
  This hike traverses some interesting terrain, including a few beaver dams and extensive blowdown, to a scenic waterfall and popular camping area on the Oswegatchie River. It can be walked in either direction starting from the trailheads in Wanakena. Cat Mtn. is an interesting side-trip.
• Greenwood Creek (1.8 mile loop, easy)
  A beautiful stream and cascades are located beside the picnic area where a short nature trail begins. The loop trail has signposts highlighting points of interest and a short .50 mile RT trail leads to an observation platform overlooking the adjacent wetland. Several miles of spur trails on old roadbeds wind through the state forest. Some blowdown can be observed.
• Plumb Brook (1.8 miles RT; easy)
  A bridge at the southern end of this route provides access to the far shore and the trail that leads to fishing hot spots along this popular stream.
• Harper Falls (2 miles RT, easy)
  Walk the short access trail amid a forest of hemlocks to the foot of this 60-foot waterfall which drops in two narrow cascades.
• Stone Valley Recreation Area (7.5 mile loop or 3.2 miles one-way, easy to moderate)
  The turbulent Raquette River provides the backdrop for this walk which has several steep sections and leads along both sides of the river. You'll enjoy viewing the dramatic rapids, waterfalls, gorges, rock outcroppings and a section referred to as "The Tubs." The first mile below the Colton dam is especially exciting. Informational plaques are located along the trail and there are some tannery ruins on the west side.

Nature Trails

• Red Sandstone Trail (7 miles, RT. Moderate to Moderately Difficult)
  This trail follows the west bank of the Raquette River from Hannawa Falls to Sugar Island, just south of the village of Potsdam. The trail can be accessed from Mill Street in Hannawa Falls, across from the fire station, or just the road across from Sweeney Road on the Back Hannawa Road (County Route 59). This portion of the trail is moderately difficult terrain. The Trail includes view of the Hannawa Gorge and class 4 rapids, the quite Sugar Island Flow, and an abundance of wildlife. The Sugar Island portion of the hike is intended to be a four-season trail and includes more than two miles of cross country ski trails. The canoe put in is below the Sugar Island dam is is best accessed from the North Entrance. The trail was named for the numerous quarries that existed along this stretch of the Raquette River where the famous red sandstone was found.
• Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area (not shown on map, located northwest of the area covered by the map) (1 mile RT, easy)
  This is an extensive wetland habitat located on the St. Lawrence River west of Massena. From NYS Rt. 37 go north on NYS Rt. 131 to Willard Road, turn left to parking area. The short nature trail leads to an observation tower that overlooks the refuge and offers excellent waterfowl viewing.
• Indian Creek Nature Center (4.5 mile trail network)
  This is an excellent bird watching site located in the Upper and Lower Lakes State Wildlife Management Area. The nature trail system includes an observation tower and a bird blind overlooking the refuge, as well as a boardwalk trail that is accessible to people with disabilities. There is a picnic pavilion, learning center and restroom facilities
• Browns Bridge-Postwood Park (5.7 miles, easy)
  This trail system, used primarily for cross-country skiing, is intersected by numerous back roads that provide many different options for walks of various durations. There is a swimming area and a canoe access site at the sand beach on the Raquette River.
• Peavine Swamp (8.5 miles RT, easy)
  Marked as cross-country ski trails, this area provides an interesting walk through stands of old-growth timber, some with over 42 inch diameters, to a scenic lean-to on the shore of Cranberry Lake. A trailhead sign shows the network of trails which includes Balancing Rock, Christmas Tree Pond and Esker loops.

Trails Featuring Views

• Bear Mtn. (3.4 miles RT, difficult, entrance fee to state campground)
  This is a steep trail with vistas along the way and views from the top overlooking Cranberry Lake.
• Cat Mtn. (9 miles RT, moderately difficult)
  As you walk on this trail, you will be surrounded by the incredible blowdown from the microburst of July 1995. The open summit has great views of the whole area. A shorter 5.4 mile RT route starts from Janack's Landing which is accessible by boat from Cranberry Lake.