Best Hikes for First-Time Visitors
We love hiking the Adirondacks, but it can be hard to know where to begin for new visitors. Here are three amazing hikes at varying difficulties for your first trip.
Mount Van Hoevenberg East Trail. I love this trail. It’s fairly new and very well maintained. Convenient to Lake Placid - within a 15 minute drive. Plenty of free (and easy) parking in an actual parking lot. And best of all, it provides spectacular views on the High Peaks. Check out the short YouTube video above that captures our hike on the East Trail up VanHo. I also appreciate the fact that there are other things to do at the Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex in case not everyone in your group wants a big hike (like the Cliffside Coaster, indoor climbing wall, biking and other more modest walking trails). To be honest, I used to recommend Mount Jo as a great first hike, but parking at the ADK Loj can get overly crowded and they charge for parking. VanHo has better views for similar vertical gain, and a much better parking situation.
4.5 miles roundtrip
885 feet of vertical elevation gain
family-friendly and dog-friendly
easy parking at the Van Hoevenberg Sports Complex, Lot 3
Hurricane Mountain Northern Approach Trail. If you’re ready to tackle more vertical gain, Hurricane Mountain is a classic Adirondack Fire Tower hike with sweeping 360 degree views. It’s a little further (30 minutes) and nearly twice as much elevation gain, but might be the perfect entry hike for you. There are three hiking routes up the mountain, but the Northern Approach Trail (from Crow’s Clearing Trailhead parking lot) provides a more moderate grade ascent and slightly less overall vertical gain. During high summer season, there is usually a summit steward at the top who’s available to answer questions and point out key landmarks. Before you go, learn more about the history of this ADK fire tower here.
5.8 miles roundtrip
1,600 feet of vertical elevation gain
family-friendly and dog-friendly
small parking lot for Crow's Clearing Trailhead at the end of O'Toole Road
Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails. If you want to skip the elevation gain and just take a peaceful walk in the woods to see Lake Placid, I regularly walk the Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails and always enjoy it. It’s a mostly flat walk with just a small hill or two along the way, depending on your route. The Boundary Loop trail is 2.1 miles, but you can easily shorten it by walking to the lake dam and back. More info about the trail system here.
2.1 miles (but easily made longer or shorter depending on your route)
less than 100 feet of vertical elevation gain
very family-friendly and dog-friendly
small parking lot at the trailhead, or an easy walk from our Airbnb