Trails for All – ORDA Ramps Up Hiking Centers

By Alex Kochon

Anyone who hikes can tell you what the pandemic did to local trail systems. On one hand, the sudden surge of people wanting to walk in the woods was a good thing; outdoor exercise and time spent in nature have a positive effect on the body and mind.

At the same time, that attracted more unprepared visitors to the wilderness last year, especially to challenging climbs in the Adirondack High Peaks. Last year, NYS DEC forest rangers conducted 492 search-and-rescue missions statewide, up 46% from 337 in 2019. Heavy trail use led to an increase in recreational impacts, including erosion, pollution and parking issues.

Though planned a few years in advance, the timing was ideal last summer for the Olympic Regional Development Authority to begin promoting its own hiking trails. It compiled all of its hiking offerings, including trail descriptions, distances and difficulty levels at orda.org/visit-us/hiking-centers. These trails can be found at ORDA’s four state-run ski areas – Belleayre in the Catskills, Gore Mountain in North Creek, Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, and Whiteface in Wilmington – which double as hiking and summer activity venues in the off-season. To add to the day, hikers can also check out other attractions and activities before or after their outing, including disc golf and mountain biking, depending on the venue.

In addition to building awareness of these trails, which range from “easier” to “most difficult,” ORDA created consistent signage for clarity, interpretive signage for education, family hiking activities, and better maps. Also, of use to hikers, ORDA’s venues offer ample parking, restrooms, food/drink options, and outdoor shops. “The venues are ideal for someone just starting out, as there are easier routes, supplies and restrooms, which link backcountry experiences with well-established facilities,” Emily Stanton, ORDA’s assistant to the president/CEO, explained. “And, they all feature challenging hikes for more experienced hikers.”

Mt. Van Hoevenberg – One of the most notable developments, which began in the spring of 2018, is the nearly complete Mt. Van Hoevenberg East Trail. According to Kris Cheney Seymour, the Nordic program and events manager, this 4.7-mile roundtrip hiking trail is a “world-class” model of sustainable trail design. With the oversight of the DEC, it’s being built by hand in some places and machines in others – and impressively, hand pulleys and levers near the top – and includes extensive stone staircases and monolithic-stone bridges. All of this combines to create an interesting and sustainable hike on a trail that should be able to withstand generations of use.

This trail improves upon an existing hiking and snowshoe path to lead hikers from the Mountain Pass Lodge to the top of Mt. Van Hoevenberg – 2,940 feet above sea level. It meanders along a series of switchbacks and doesn’t exceed a 12% incline, according to Kris. While it’s not a 4,000-foot High Peak, this mountain’s panoramic summit view is one of the best in the Adirondacks. “A lot of people get to the top and realize that they didn’t have to work terribly hard,” Kris said. “It’s a beautiful walk in the forest, and you come upon a magnificent view of the High Peaks.”

While it’s rated as “more difficult” on the website, the East Trail is a family-friendly hike that’s designed for all levels. The fastest time to the top is around 26 minutes (set by a local trail runner), but the website says to allow 2.5 hours to complete the out-and-back.

Newcomers to MVH should check-in with a staff member at the lodge for directions on where to begin and what to expect. There are 24-hour restrooms available, lockers for storing valuables, and on-site food/beverage options, and retail shops. Additional on-site activities include the new Cliffside Coaster, wheeled bobsled rides, luge, and mountain biking. MVH is exploring offering more formalized, staffed hiking programs in the future.

“Our hope is that we can take a family, a couple, or an individual that wants to hike but has never really had that opportunity to be safe, happy, and successful in doing it, and in that experience, take them through all of that,” Kris said. Visit: mtvanhoevenberg.com.

Note: While the East Trail is under construction with an aimed completion by the end of 2021, it remains open to the public. Don’t be deterred by the initial steep climb from behind the lodge up to the trail kiosk; the grade gets easier after that. Also, the current reroute is on the new world cup cross-country ski trails, which are also challenging but not part of the finished trail. After reaching the summit, follow the same trail back down. The West Trail on the other side of the summit clearing does not return to the same start of the East Trail.

Whiteface – Located about 14 miles from Van Ho, Whiteface has a variety of hiking trails for all levels. Hikers can start at the base of the ski area, or ride up the gondola to the summit of Little Whiteface (elevation 3,676 feet), and hike from there. 

Bear Den Mountain, a 3.2-mile roundtrip hike with incredible views of Whiteface, is considered moderate in difficulty and can be accessed from the Bear Den Lodge parking lot. A beginner trail called Stag Brook Falls, accessed behind the Base Lodge, follows a half-mile path to a 25-foot waterfall.

Visitors can also drive up the Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway and hike from the two-story castle up the 0.2-mile Summit Nature Trail to the top of Whiteface Mountain (elevation 4,865 ft). At the summit, the Whiteface Observation Tower has indoor seating and mountain information, as well as an elevator that goes back down to the castle, which has a cafe and gift shop. Go to: whiteface.com.

Gore Mountain – Halfway between Lake Placid and Albany, Gore is a convenient option for hiking closer to Lake George and the Capital-Saratoga Region. Depending on the day, hikers can either ride up the gondola or Adirondack Express chairlift from the base to quickly access challenging routes to the summit or moderate trails to outlooks. Near the top of the gondola, you can find a stone labyrinth and observation platform.

The scenic skyrides can also bring hikers back down to the base area, where there’s an easier 0.5-mile trail called Bobcat Loop. Gore offers a “6er Challenge” for those who complete all six of its hiking trails (eight total miles).

Closer to the hamlet, the North Creek Ski Bowl is a Johnsburg town park with more hiking and mountain bike trails – as well as a swimming beach, day-use area, and recreation fields. The Schaefer Trail (9.4 miles roundtrip) connects the ski bowl to the summit of Gore by following Roaring Brook up to the ski area. Visit: goremountain.com.

Belleayre Mountain – Located in the heart of the Catskills, Belleayre also has hiking trails for all abilities. Advanced hikers can follow the two-mile Deer Run trail from the base to the summit (gondola rides also offered one or both ways), while novices can explore easier trails around the cross-country ski and base areas. New interpretive signage provides information about local flora, fauna, and history of the Catskill Mountains throughout four miles of interconnecting trails. At the summit, you can access several DEC trails to venture further into the forest preserve. Go to: belleayre.com.

Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) of Gansevoort is a freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom of two who enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks.