Peaks and Ponds –
Adirondack Day Hikes

The Adirondack Mountain Club published a hiking guidebook, Peaks and Ponds: Adirondack Day Hikes, by Bobby Clark and Cat Hadlow, in March 2022. This collection of 37 classic and lesser-known day hikes celebrates ADK’s 100-year anniversary. It features beautiful remote spots throughout the Adirondack Park, offers side trips, and includes snippets of ADK history. 

For 100 years, ADK has been working to conserve resources, advocate for preservation of wild places, and educate the public on how to have safe, low-impact outdoor experiences. It focuses on sharing information by publishing guidebooks and maps, conducting research, and affiliating with other outdoor organizations for the common goal of protecting the Adirondack Park.

The 160-page full-color volume includes GPS coordinates and QR codes for trailheads and parking areas, round-trip distances, and difficulty ratings. It also has page maps and photos by regional photographers. Sections about wilderness safety and ethics will help hikers have a safe, low-impact outing. Peaks and Ponds follows the smaller size, easy-to read format of ADK’s other popular samplers, with key trip information listed at the beginning of each description. Price is inexpensive, and it’s available at local retailers or at adk.org. Here are two excerpts of the book:

Catamount Mountain

Round-trip: 3.6 mi (5.8 km). Elevation change: 1,542 ft (470 m). Summit elevation: 3,168 ft (966 m). Difficulty: Difficult (due to very steep rocky terrain, exposed bedrock, and rock scrambling near summit). Maps: ADK High Peaks: E2 / TI 746: FF24. GPS coordinates: 44.443340, -73.879250 (parking area). This trail is in the Taylor Pond Wild Forest.

Trailhead: From NY Route 86 in the center of Wilmington, turn onto NY Route 431 (Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway). Follow it for 2.8 mi, then bear right onto Gillespie Dr. (County Route 72). In 3.3 mi, turn right onto Roseman Rd., then in 0.8 mi, turn right onto Plank Rd., which becomes Forestdale Rd. The parking area is 2.2 mi on the left. Catamount becomes visible across an open field on the left side of the road, just before the road reaches the parking area.  

Enter the woods past a yellow gate at the SW corner of the large parking area. Sign in at the trail register about 50 yds beyond the gate, then continue N following the yellow-marked trail along a wide, flat dirt road. At 0.4 mi, the trail passes a gated private snowmobile trail on the left and a curious rock pile a little further up the trail on the right. 

The slightly undulating trail continues through a predominantly hardwood forest, with a somewhat open understory of striped maples, ferns, and wildflowers in season. At 0.6 mi, the path turns to the right, begins to ascend, drops slightly, then crosses a small brook on a bridge. After the crossing, the trail meanders up a few moderate switchbacks before climbing steeply to the base of the S summit at 1.3 mi. The trail becomes a steep, narrow rock scramble through thick trees across bare rock, and soon arrives at the base of a nearly vertical chimney and a long rock slab. Navigating this formation takes care and attention; it might be necessary to remove one’s pack and pass it through the tight passage. This scramble leads to the S summit at 1.5 mi. 

From the S summit, the trail descends briefly, before continuing its consistent climb to the main summit at 1.8 mi. Look for yellow paint blazes as a guide over the open rock. Catamount is a monadnock, an isolated small mountain that rises above the surrounding plain, and is composed of erosion-resistant rock such as quartzite. From the summit, hikers are rewarded with spectacular views of Whiteface and Esther Mts., as well as Union Falls and Taylor Ponds. Keep an eye out for wild blueberries in season, but be sure to leave some for the birds.

ADK History: Just after the footbridge at 0.8 mi on the trail to Catamount is a reroute built by ADK’s volunteer and professional trail crews in 2018. On this 0.4 mi section of trail, hikers avoid a steep eroded area by traversing it on switchbacks anchored by turnpikes. A turnpike is built by setting large stones on the down slope of the trail tread, and using crushed rock as fill material to raise the tread three to four inches above the mud. The turnpike is then capped with inorganic mineral soil that allows water to shed off of the trail, helping prevent wet and muddy areas. Turnpikes are considered to be a longer-lasting trail feature for high-use areas and are an important part of the future of sustainable trail building in the Northeast.

Tenant Creek Falls

Round-trip options: first waterfall, 1.8 mi (2.9 km); second waterfall, 4 mi (6.4 km); third waterfall, 4.2 mi (6.8 km). Elevation change: Minimal. Difficulty: Easy+ (short distance with minimal elevation change). Map: TI 743: G20. GPS coordinates: 43.351010, -74.183950 (parking area). This trail to three waterfalls is located in the 125,000-acre Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, near the town of Hope and the village of Northville, in Hamilton County. 

Trailhead: From NY Route 30, go E onto Old Northville Rd. (County Route 15), 0.5 mi N of a bridge over the Sacandaga River, or 11 mi S of the town hall in Wells. In 1.4 mi, turn left onto Hope Falls Rd. (County Route 7), marked by a large carved and painted sign. This road winds along East Stony Creek for 7 mi; the last 1.4 mi is unpaved/seasonal use. At 7 mi, there is a parking area for eight to twelve cars on the right, and an accessible privy.

The yellow-marked trail departs from the center of the parking area and gradually climbs through a forest of beech, maple, and hemlock. The trail bears right, then plateaus before descending to its namesake, Tenant Creek. On the left at 0.9 mi, the first of three waterfalls is reached. The impressive rock slabs and sound of rushing water invite a moment of awe and introspection. Below the falls, a clear pool reflects the surrounding hemlocks. Many choose to end their hike here with a quick swim or snack.  

For a longer hike, continue on the yellow-marked trail. A wider section of trail climbs a short, steep hill blanketed in pine needles. At the top, the trail narrows and continues above the falls, with the creek on the left. It then passes over an enormous fallen tree with a step built into it, neatly hand-carved by trail crew workers. At 1.3 mi, the trail briefly veers away from the creek, then rejoins it, climbing moderately up a ridge along its bank. The trail descends slightly, crosses a streamlet, and reaches the second waterfall at 2 mi. There is evidence of illegal campfires. Please adhere to local campfire regulations. Practice Leave No Trace principles, and only build fires in officially established fire rings that are at least 150 ft from water sources.  

The third waterfall is just another 0.1 mi upstream, at the trail’s end. Water tumbles over rock shelves sandwiched between towering rock walls, forming a deep, refreshing pool below. This swimming hole is a true Adirondack oasis. Each of the three waterfalls is unique, ranging from 30 to 50 ft high. Use caution on the slippery rocks near the falls, especially during spring snowmelt and heavy rain when water levels are high. Note: The boundary with private property is just beyond the top of the third set of falls. Please respect the private land, and turn around here.  

ADK History: The beginning of this trail was built in a week by an ADK teen volunteer trail crew in 2016. This project was no small feat and took much planning. Before this improvement was made, hikers would walk in the creek itself, which can be very damaging to fragile riparian zones. Now, when walking along the trail, the soft ground springs back after each step. The hard work of these volunteers and their ADK leaders has helped protect resources and provide the public with easy access to this Adirondack oasis. Looking to give back and protect the trails you love? Consider signing up for a volunteer trails project with ADK. Learn more at adk.org.