Easy Hikes in the Adirondacks

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The High Peaks of the Adirondacks offer incredible adventures. However, sometimes you don’t need to climb Mt. Marcy or any of the other 4000 foot mountains to experience a great hike. This guide to some of the easy hikes in the High Peaks area of the Adirondacks gives you some alternatives. These easy hikes in the Adirondacks are great if you just have a few hours to hike or you want to take the kids on a fine adventure.

When to Do Easy Hikes in the Adirondacks

The hikes described are reasonable to do in all seasons. I have hiked most of them in the winter or shoulder season months with great success. Certainly, the hikes are less traveled in the off-season, and trailhead parking more available. If you are hiking these easy trails in snow or icy conditions, you will need microspikes or snowshoes.

During mud season the trails in the Adirondacks can be a sloppy quagmire so it’s best to avoid hiking then. In the summer, bring bug spray and sun protection.

Outdoor Pro Tip: Not only do hiking poles reduce stress on knees and hips, but they also help with balance. For icy conditions, stream crossings, and rock-strewn trails, trekking poles are essential. They also help going uphill as you can develop a rhythm with the poles that allows a micro rest on each step. However, hiking poles are not necessary for every hike. Leave them home for easy hikes. Attach them to your backpack and use your natural balance when scrambling on boulders or cliffs. If you want to invest in trekking poles, look for adjustability, lightweight, and foam grips. I’ve used my Black Diamond trekking poles on climbs ranging from Kilimanjaro to the Italian Alps to winter ascents in North America.

Baxter Mountain

It only takes about an hour of leisurely hiking to get to the views on the top of Baxter Mountain. The 1.5-mile climb up is gradual with a few reasonable steep spots near the top. The first viewpoint looks out over a 180-degree panorama of peaks and valleys. This blueberry bush-filled bald spot is an excellent place for a picnic. Continue just a little further on the trail to the true summit for more beauty.

The Baxter Mountain trailhead is located near Keene on Route 9N heading north 2 miles toward Elizabethtown. The trailhead sign is on the right 20 yards past the junction with Hurricane Road.

Big Crow Mountain

This hike is short but very steep. However, it’s worth the scramble for the views of 28 of the 4000-foot peaks in the Adirondacks. The .7 mile trail to the rocky top gets you a glimpse of over half of the 46 high peaks in the whole Adirondacks. On the hike, you will gain almost 600 feet elevation to end at the top of 2,815 feet Big Crow. It’s definitely steep but sweet.

Find the Big Crow Mountain trailhead by taking Route 73 from Lake Placid to Keene. At 200 yards past the intersection with Route 9N in Keene, turn left on Hurricane Road at the Keene Town Hall. Bear left on O’Toole Lane (dirt) for 1.2 miles to the end at Crow Clearing. The trail to Big Crow begins on the left side of the clearing. The trailhead is difficult to get to in the winter and mud season so add .3 miles to your hike as the O’Toole Lane is closed partway.

Owl’s Head

If you have time during the week, a trip up Owl’s Head is well worth it. A kind private property owner allows access to the trail up Owl’s Head on weekdays. The trail is closed from Friday 4 pm until Monday 7 am during the weekend to prevent overuse.

Owl’s Head is my favorite of the short approach mountains in the High Peaks. The gentle climb winds around huge granite boulders with lookouts the whole way up. When you reach the top, you will be able to see the vast topography of the Adirondacks encircling you. Look for Route 73 far below snaking toward Lake Placid.

The distance is .5 miles of moderate hiking with an ascent of 476 feet. There are some large boulders near the top with an easy scramble to summit the bare top mountain. You may also see rock climbers on the cliffs around the summit.

Don’t confuse this hike with Owl Head Lookout near the Giant Mountain trailhead or any of the other Owl’s Heads in the Adirondacks. This Owl’s Head is located off Route 73. It’s 3.2 miles north of Keene or 8.2 miles south of the Adirondak Loj Road if you are traveling from Lake Placid. Look for Owl’s Head Lane on the south side of Route 73. Follow this dirt road for .2 miles to the trailhead parking on the left.

Mount Jo

Want to gaze out over the highest peaks in the Adirondacks without an ambitious hike? Then a hike to Mount Jo’s summit will give you spectacular views of Mount Marcy, Algonquin Peak, and Mount Colden. The stunning sight of Heart Lake nestled below Mount Jo adds to the beauty of this hike.

There are two trails up Mount Jo, aptly named the Short Trail of 1.1 miles, and the Long Trail of 1.3 miles. The Short Trail is steeper so if you want to make a hiking loop, start on this trail and come down the Long Trail. Beginning hikers and families with kids might want to just stick to the Long Trail. The two trails meet near the top where hikers ascend sets of wooden stairs to the summit. The elevation gain is about 700 feet.

Find the Mount Jo trailhead nearby the High Peaks Information Center at the end of Adirondack Loj Road off Route 73 south of Lake Placid. There is a fee to park that supports the Adirondack Mountain Club projects.

Heart Lake is just one of the spectacular lakes in the Adirondacks. Click for more beautiful lakes in New York for hiking adventures.

Mt. Van Hoevenberg-East Trail

This is another mountain with incredible views of the High Peaks. The 2.5-mile trail to the summit starts out gradually by traversing some of the cross country ski trails at Mt. Van Hoevenberg Nordic Center. Stonework is being done to make the trail sustainable (so it’s not a mess in mud season). Once in the woods, the trail ascends past several viewpoints that are worth a stop or a lunch break.

The trailhead is at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Recreation Area on Bobsled Run Lane off Route 73. Park near the biathlon center and follow the yellow markers over the welcome bridge to start the trail.

Owen and Copperas Ponds

This hike has a bit of everything that kids love. There are two ponds to play in, a couple of easy steep ascents, and a lean-to to explore. Everyone will admire the views of Whiteface Mountain from Copperas Pond. The blue-blazed trail starts with a hike through the woods to Owen Pond before heading over to Copperas Pond. The distance to the lean-to at Copperas Pond is 1.6 miles. This area is an excellent place for beginning backpackers to learn the ropes on an easy and short trail.

The trailhead for the southern trail to Owen Pond is on the east side of Route 86. It’s 5.1 miles north of the junction with Route 73 in Lake Placid.

John Brown Farm

If you like an easy hike in the Adirondacks with a side of history then the John Brown Farm State Historic Site is where you want to venture out. There are 4 miles of mostly flat trails at the historic site. The trails such as the Potato Field Loop meander through spruce and fir woods on the farm. Make sure to visit the farm buildings and gravesite of abolitionist John Brown. Brown’s leadership of the raid at Harper’s Ferry was a pivotal event in the anti-slavery movement. Upon his death, his body was buried at his farm in North Elba.

There is a nominal charge to enter the site when it’s open from May to October. The trails are open all year and in the winter are a wonderful place to snowshoe or cross country ski.

Find the John Brown Farm State Historic Site right behind the Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid on John Brown Road.

Heaven Hills

This 5-mile network of flat, easy trails gives wonderful views of the High Peaks without having to walk uphill. Take the Big Field Loop to a high meadow with awesome mountain scenery. Many of the side trails off the Big Field Loop have wildflowers such as Pink Lady Slippers and Purple Trillium blooming in the spring.

The Heaven Hill trails are 2.2 miles down Bear Cub Road near Lake Placid. The entrance to the Heaven Hill Trails will be on your right.

Related Post->Day Hikes in Northern Vermont

Accommodations for Easy Hikes in the Adirondacks

The hike listed are all surrounding Lake Placid in the High Peaks area. Therefore, a base in Lake Placid makes sense.

I like to stay in the Lake Placid Inn collection of properties in the Adirondacks. The three Lake Placid Inn properties have something for every visitor. The Lake Placid Inn: Main Street is an ultra-modern holiday apartment perfect for families or traveling groups. The location is in the thick of the action in Lake Placid, so it’s a short walk to village attractions.

If you don’t need something quite as big or deluxe, the Lake Placid Inn Residences has very affordable luxury apartments. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Lake Placid Inn Residences. I made good use of the well-stocked kitchen for meals. The apartment suite is done in marvelous Adirondack wooden charm. Furthermore, it is spacious and super clean. It’s a couple of minutes outside Lake Placid, but on a beautiful riverside and close to hiking trails.

The third Lake Placid Inn property is the Boutique Hotel is an upscale hotel with many desired amenities. It’s sandwiched between Mirror Lake and the Olympic Skating Oval so you are close to premier outdoor adventures.

Wrap Up of Easy Hikes in the Adirondacks

This post has concentrated on the quick and easy hikes in the High Peaks area of the Adirondacks. However with 6.1 million acres in the Adirondack Park, hikers will be able to find a trail for their hiking goal of the day across the whole wild preserve.

For more information on other easy trails in the Adirondacks, use the AMC Discover the Adirondacks guidebook. You can find all sorts of hikes plus paddling and biking trips.

If you are visiting the Adirondacks in the winter, my post on cross country skiing areas and winter fun is here.

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Disclaimer: I was a guest at the inn mentioned. I was not compensated or asked to write a positive review. All opinions are from my honest experience.