So… I don’t like to hike. When I was growing up we used to call it walking in the woods. We’d pack a lunch, build a fort, and then talk about the girls in our class. I used to say, “yeah, I guess she’s hot. but she’s so funny. That’s my favorite thing about her.”
I haven’t hiked anywhere around here in quite some time. My brother, Steven, and his wife, Melissa, are here for the week on vacation and they were asking me where they should go hiking.
I was like, “um, I have no clue. I think Albany High has a decent outdoor track.”
But I guess they want real out doorsy hiking. So I figured I’d ask all you active blog readers out there.
Melissa said she…. sorry… they are looking for a hike that is roughly 3 to 4 hours long, relatively scenic, moderate to challenging (with no gear required) and dog friendly (I am trying to convince them to bring my dog, Niko.) But they probably won’t, so that’s not that important of a requirement.
Any ideas? Please post for her to read.
Thanks so much.
A perfect day hike is Cascade mtn in Keene Valley. It’s roughly a 3 and 1/2 hr hike, dogs are ok, it’s not too strenuous but a great view from the top. I think it’s the most popular of the ADK High Peaks b/c it’s right on Rt 73 in Keene, is a well marked trail and a perfect day hike. Plus, if they’re feeling adventurous upon reaching the summit, Porter mtn is a 10-20 minute hike once they get to the top of Cascade. The black flies are gone too. Happy hiking!
Prospect Mountain or Buck Mtn. in Lake George..I think Prospect might be harder & Buck longer..they’ll have to look into that- Or they could go to the Adirondacks like Noonmark Mtn. :)
The Snow Hole at the Petersburg Pass on the NY., MA. border or Vroman’s Nose in Middleburgh NY. Why doesn’t every town with Burgh at the end just drop the H?
I agree with Buck but I also really liked the Sleeping Beauty loop. Great views and you go past a pond. Plus it’s a loop, so you don’t get bored. That’s near Buck too, and you can get directions and parking info on localhikes.com.
It wasn’t that difficult, but it was a decent workout with great payoffs.
And also, on localhikes.com, one of the reviewers wrote the best review of this hike I’ve ever seen. He felt there were too many “looming” branches, but that the views were “immaculate.” Good stuff.
Sleeping Beauty Mountain in Lake George is nice
The ausable chasm is amazing. There are also many great places off exit 30 of the Northway Keene Valley. Lots of high peaks to choose from in that area
@Larry- couldn’t agree w/you more about the ‘h’ on burgh towns, it’s so confusing!
I would suggest Hadley Mt up in Hadley, NY, it’s a beautiful drive if you go over Sacandaga Lake and through those tiny towns/hamlets, it’s not that far from here & its an easy hike.
Panther Mountain trail, Piseco Lake across from Little Sand campsite and our camp. Gorgeous view at top while standing on cliff looking out over lake.
North and South Lake, Kaaterskill Falls in Greene County.
@Larry and Happy: Petersburgh is correctly spelled with the “h”. The town officially returned to using the h after it was mysteriously dropped years ago. See http://www.petersburgh.org
Crane Mountain in Johnsburg has unbelievable views all the way up, then a pristine lake right near the top where you can go for a swim and have lunch. There are two ways up – one the long and winding ascent, the other steeper, with ladders over rock faces. With a dog, you’ll need to go up and down the longer way. We tried tricking our lab into coming down the ladders slung to our backs. That caused him great emotional trauma, and we eventually went down the long way.
Details: http://www.adk.org/trails/Crane_Mtn.aspx
petersburgh pass is cool because you can hike to the snow hole…this cave that has snow in it year round…
u can hike up to the top and cool off with a snowball fight….
its also pretty neat because you’ll be where mass, ny and vt all come together….
just google: petersburg snow hole
I agree with Allison B… Cascade is a great hike. If they’re looking for something a little closer, Mt Greylock in Pittsfield is only an hour away (as opposed to 2+ hours to the High Peaks Region).
Definitely one of the hikes around Lake George….Buck Mtn or Black Mtn…both dog-friendly, incredible views of the lake, not too far from Albany.
I’ll second Hadley Mtn (and there is a fire tower on top) or Buck Mountain.
oops… Mt Greylock is in Adams, MA farther north than Pittsfield. Still only about an hour though.
I’m with Hopeful: North-South Lake park near Kaaterskill falls. There are miles and miles of gorgeous trails, some including breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley and Catskill mountains, and one in particular featuring the falls themselves: at 260 feet they are (it is?) the tallest two-tiered waterfall in New York.
Bonus: though you can forget you’re anywhere near civilization on your hikes, the base of the park features barbecue grills, picnic and camping areas. The lake has a beach for swimming and you can rent boats and/or fish.
MURPHY LAKE!!
In Northville, NY— this has been a favorite of mine forever. It’s difficult enough to be a “hike” but easy enough that kids & dogs can do it.
You pass THREE LAKES along the trail (if you want to do the whole trail) and are rewarded by finding a lean-to & a giant boulder on the lake you can sit on at the end.
It’s slightly up hill on the way in & rocky in parts. (“…difficult enough to…”)
There are neat little streams, some fallen trees to hop, birds… beautiful.
I always bring the dog and they LOVE the heck out of it.
And they don’t bother me with barking and nuttiness for two days!
“This easy trail accesses three sparkling lakes-Bennett, Middle, and Murphy-cradles in the quiet wooded beauty of the Southern Adirondacks.”
Read more at Trails.com: Murphy Lake Trail | Northville New York Hikes | Trails.com http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=HGN094-018#ixzz0yBzNmYqA
Seriously. Do it. Then go back into Northville and have lunch. The people are friendly like they’re from Taborton or Avril Park or something.
Buck Mtn. and when it gets steep they can leash Niko and he can help pull them up, that’s what I do with my dog Koda
http://www.slackpacker.com/map_ny.html is a good resource
Also http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/scandoclinks/ocm47888597.htm click on “view Document” .. It will say that the file is not available and then open a PDF file. There are some pretty good maps and such (pretty big file 102 page document)
Also in the Concourse under the plaze there is a visitor center that has maps and publications of hiking trails.
Hope this is helpful
I have to agree with those that posted Buck Mt or Hadley Mt. I regularly hike both with my labs and they are strenuous enough for a good work but aren’t overly difficult.
Kaaterskill Falls(200 foot waterfall) to trail up to north lake, but be careful
I’m giving a second vote for Noonmark. It’s in the ADK high peaks, and it’s the one my father and I do when we want to hike but are feeling lazy or out of shape… like this fall. We haven’t hiked in years, so we’re hitting Noonmark up in the coming weeks.
It’s quick, it’s easy, and there’s always dogs on the trail. You have to hit up the Noonmark Diner in Keene afterwards. Amazing food, great view and atmosphere!
You should have your brother and his wife check out the blog Towns and Trails. It is run by a couple who moved to ADK from Boston and write about all their hiking adventures. They have plenty of archives and they just adopted a puppy and have been taking her on some easier hikes.
http://www.townsandtrails.com/
We love Overlook Mountain in Woodstock. Its about an hour from ALB. Its a great hike. About 3 hours up and down. On the way up about half way there are remnants of an old hotel that burned down a long time ago. Spooky and surreal. Theres also a fire tower at the top that you can still climb (and usually a very knowledgeable-read:very old-ranger in the tower to point out what you are looking at. Very dog friendly. Easy to find.
When you are done, you have to drive into town and eat lunch at Oriele 9. Amazing breakfast and lunch food. All fresh ingredients!
I know a few people (including scotty bro – what’s up, scotty!?) already suggested kaaterskill falls, but I would just like to make sure that I point out that I have taken you (and a gaggle of bombers boys) on a very enjoyable hike to that very spot… and i am pretty sure you enjoyed yourself and that was even after an already adventurous trip “white-water-tubing.” so, in my opinion, your pretty outdoorsy ;)
Hadley (nice, but a bit confusing to get to- make sure they have a good set of directions)
Sleeping Beauty (not super challenging and easy to get to, be cautious with the loop because we once took a wrong turn and ended up doing an extra 5-6 miles)
Buck (pretty, but a bit more challenging than the others)
Prospect Mtn (nice hike, but the road on it is a negative in the opinion of some hikers)
Mt. Greylock (did this a few years ago-I don’t remember it being super challenging)
Despite being a little farther away from you, Killington VT offers an amazing view -highest mountain in the Eastern US. Plus, who does not like Vermont?
Killington isn’t the highest mountain in the Eastern US, it isn’t even the highest peak in VT.
If they go to Hadley to do the hike up there, there’s a fantastic ice cream/restaurant place called, “Papa’s Ice Cream” that the could stop at after. Plus, you can see into VT from the top of that mountain.