Fall, CATS style
Fall is right around the corner, and the Adirondacks are the place to be! Soon our beautiful views will be filled with red, orange, and yellow leaves brightening up our region one last time before winter. The valley will be painted with color and it's an experience you don't want to miss out on. Most decide to take a beautiful drive along the lake and farms to see the foliage, but this year why not try a hike? What better way to experience the fall foliage in the area than by taking a hike around some of the best CATS trails the Lake Champlain region has to offer?
Coot Hill (Big Hollow) Trail
A perfect hike for fall that just so happens to have a spooky twist for all our Halloween lovers. The trail leads right by an old historic cemetery. Is it haunted? Who knows! You’ll just have to hike the short .5-mile, old, abandoned road for yourself and see. The views themselves are of course, perfect! You’ll see down in the valley as well as the lake and surrounding area. The amazing Lake Champlain will be lit up with color as you gaze down at all of Mother Nature’s glory. This is a fan-favorite trail that comes highly recommended!
Belfry Mountain
An easy yet rewarding hike that brings you to a great fire tower with picture-perfect views of both the lake and the Adirondack Mountains. In the fall particularly, you can see the colorful backdrop! The hike itself is short, only .8 miles round-trip, and follows a wide trail that leads to a beautiful summit. Don't forget to pack your lunch! This mountain is perfect for a leaf-peeping picnic!
Poke-o-Moonshine
The toughest of all the CATS trails listed here, but the most beautiful! Views can be found from any point at the summit. Plus there’s a fire tower at the top to really get a bird's eye view of Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Green Mountains in Vermont. Poke-O-Moonshine has a newer trail that is a 4.8-mile round-trip Observer's Trail. The trail travels through the forest for much of the way and several beaver ponds may be seen along the way.
High Point Trail
Nestled away in Willsboro on Willsboro Point is an easy trail that takes you through the enchanted woods. Perfect for everyone in the family to enjoy. Enjoy the sounds of nature as you retreat into the forest! A perfect trek for fall if you're looking for a quick getaway to the woods with all the beautiful colorful leaves. Be sure to be extra quiet though, you may be able to hear or even see white-tail deer, birds, and other wildlife.
Mt. Gilligan
A hidden gem located on the outskirts of Elizabethtown. Nestled within the Giant Mountain Wilderness you’ll be able to see views of all the high peaks without having to put in the work of climbing one. In the fall especially, the mountain ranges are filled with color making it the perfect time to hike.
The Lake Champlain region is filled with colorful trails, views, and mountains. This fall, consider taking your leaf peeping to the trails and immerse yourself within the beauty of our region! Be sure to follow along with our foliage tracker as we get closer to peak foliage, we don't want you to miss out!
