Fall Foliage Adventures

By Rich Macha

In most years, you can find peak fall foliage colors in the higher elevations of the Adirondack Park around the end of September and in early October. By Columbus Day weekend, the bright red and orange leaves of the red and sugar maple trees will likely have dropped to the ground, but the yellows of the birches and the golds of the beeches may still be evident. In the High Peaks, you should not be surprised to see snow-capped mountains in mid-October – the combination of fall colors topped with white is a sight to be seen.

After the first week in October, you may still find dazzling colors at lower elevations and in southern areas of the Adirondacks and across upstate New York. Here are some destinations that you may want to visit this fall that should be of interest to both hikers and paddlers.    

Jenkins Mountain 

The Visitor Interpretive Center of Paul Smith’s College has 25 miles of nature trails that can be explored on foot, the most demanding of which is the trail from the VIC to a lookout on Jenkins Mountain – a round-trip of 8.4 miles with an elevation gain of 900 feet. The delightful view from the summit looks toward St. Regis Mountain and the surrounding lakes and ponds with the High Peaks in the distance.

Better yet is a hike up Jenkins Mountain starting on Keese Mills Road and passing by Black and Long ponds. The views of the ponds are lovely and the mountain can be seen from the trail that goes along the east side of Black Pond. The hike to the mountain is a little shorter this way and has more visual interest than the route from the VIC. There are three lean-tos at the ponds that can be rented for camping. Paddlers can access the ponds but short carries will be necessary. Look and listen for loons on these ponds as you pass through. For more information and a map visit: paulsmiths.edu/vic.

Lake George Area 

Peak foliage can be found in the Lake George area in mid-October. Elevations range from 315 feet at lake level to 2,641 feet on Black Mountain on the lake’s east shore above The Narrows. The shortest route to the summit of Black Mountain is from Pike Brook Road and is a five-mile round-trip with an elevation gain of 1,046 feet, but a longer loop with greater scenic variety can be done if desired.

The Tongue Mountain Range stretches out along the west side of The Narrows. A fairly easy hike goes to Fifth Peak from the Clay Meadows trailhead on NY Route 9N north of Bolton Landing – the hike is a round-trip of 5.4 miles. French Point Mountain and First Peak are to the south of Fifth Peak and have at least as good views as those on Fifth Mountain, maybe better, but there are a lot of steep ups and downs along the route so may be best for more experienced hikers.

There is an abundance of hiking opportunities on either side of the lake, from the preserves of the Lake George Land Conservancy to the backcountry routes on state land within the Lake George Wild Forest. For those who would like to explore the area, I highly recommend the Adirondack Mountain Club Eastern Trails guidebook and map set.

Paddlers can access The Narrows and its multitude of islands from the Washington County Beach in Huletts Landing or from Veterans Memorial Park in Bolton Landing. The latter does travel over more open water so is best for skilled paddlers – either way, it is wise to pick a day with minimal wind. 

For a paddle-hike-paddle, the 1.7-mile Fivemile Point Trail can be accessed from the lake, then add another 0.7 miles for a total of 2.4 miles to get to the top of Fifth Peak – after an ascent of 1,500 feet from the lake. Black Mountain can also be accessed from the lake.

Helen Buckner Memorial Natural Area at Bald Mountain 

The Buckner Natural Area is a Nature Conservancy preserve and is found on a part of Vermont that, curiously, pokes itself into New York State a little north of Whitehall – in fact, New York is both east and west of Vermont at this location. The preserve sits above the Poultney River and the southern part of Lake Champlain.

There are over six miles of trails here and elevations range from 100 to 500 feet above sea level. Woods are of oak and hickory – much different than those found at higher elevations. The view from above the cliffs on Tim’s Trail includes part of the Poultney River and the South Bay of Lake Champlain. For more information, a map and directions, do an online search for “Buckner Natural Area” or visit The Nature Conservancy: nature.org.

Paddlers can also enjoy this diverse South Bay of Lake Champlain and Poultney River area from the South Bay State Boat Launch on NY Route 22, a little northwest of the village of Whitehall. Paddle north to access the long narrows of Lake Champlain and the Poultney River, or paddle south into the five-mile-long South Bay.

Moreau Lake State Park 

The state park is just outside the Adirondack Park and should have some good color in mid to late October. The Western Ridge Trail offers several lookouts over the Hudson River. On the western edge, the trail around Lake Bonita also makes for a relatively easy and scenic loop.

Paddlers can enjoy Moreau Lake or put in at one of two launches on the Hudson River on either side of Spier Falls Dam to enjoy foliage views along the shoreline.

If you do venture out to the higher summits of the Adirondacks, there is a likelihood that some form of traction devices may be needed on your boots due to icy trails. Wherever you may venture, always bring along a headlamp or flashlight and some extra warm clothing because it gets dark sooner at this time of year.  And, always be prepared to carry out all your trash.

A lot of good information can be found on the NYSDEC website and their Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage, updated weekly, can be located at dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7865.html.

A lover of wild places, Rich Macha has led many trips for the Adirondack Mountain Club, and has spent 20 years in the paddlesport/snowsport business. More of Rich’s adventures can be found at northeastwild.blogspot.com.