This is one of the longer trails in Split Rock Wild Forest, and since it is often used to access other trails it is essentially a corridor trail. This is the only trail in the wild forest open to snowmobiles, making it wide and well graded.
From the intersection of Route 9N and Route 22 in Westport, follow Route 22. Continue for 0.5 mile to Lake Shore Road on the right. Follow Lake Shore Road for 4.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.
Bald Peak has a trail which starts flat, crosses a stream, climbs steadily through forest, and then follows the stream. After a mile it turns left, crosses stream again and climbs steeply to summit with stunning views.
Leave Lake Placid on Route 73, follow Route 73 toward Keene. Drive through Keene, Keene Valley and Saint Huberts. Take a left onto Route 9 toward Elizabethtown. Continue for 5 miles to the trailhead on the left.
Trailhead 1.3 mi south of New Russia on west side of Rte 9.
Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain has a commanding summit view which gets even better when the fire tower is open. There's 360 degree views of the High Peaks and Green Mountains in Vermont, Lake Champlain, and the Champlain Valley. It may be accessed by either of two trails which vary in steepness.
200 miles of trails
This lovely trail follows an old logging road along a river with beaver activity and goes by a waterfall.
Take Exit 29 off I-87 and follow Blue Ridge Road east toward North Hudson, then drive north on Route 9. Continue for 2.5 miles, turn right on county Route 4C, then turn right on Ensign Road. Follow Ensign Road for just over 2.5 miles to the trailhead on the right.
The trail is 2.7 miles round trip to Bass Lake trail junction and 6.4 miles round trip to Moose Mt Pond.
Hike them both or just one. Either way, these two ponds are attractive destinations. They are definitely not all day adventures, but make for a good place to stretch your legs.
The trailhead is shared with the Challis Pond Trail. From Moriah, head west on Ensign Pond Road. The trailhead will be on the left after about 10.0 miles.
It's an easy 2 miles round trip to Hammond Pond, and 3.8 miles round trip to Bloody Pond.
Towering trees and peaceful forest are the norm on this lovely hike to a beautiful pond.
From Exit 30 off I-87, follow Route 9 south toward North Hudson. Continue for 0.2 mile and turn left on Tracy Road. Continue for 1.75 miles to the trailhead on the right. The trailhead parking is down a steep dirt entrance, so take your time pulling off the road.
The Round Pond Trail is an easy, 7.8 loop. From the east trailhead, the trail climbs slowly to Round Pond, then crosses over and follows East Mill Brook. It goes over a small mountain and follows the Schroon River to the west trailhead.
The east trailhead is on Ensign Pond Road, 3.5 miles west of Windy Hill Road. The west trailhead is on Route 9, 2.5 miles south of I-87.
The Mountain Spring Road Trail is an easy, 8-mile-loop that follows a seasonal road through the Adirondack foothills, known as the West Champlain Hills, to Mineville.
The Westport trailhead is at the junction with Stevenson Road, 2 miles west of where the seasonal road begins. The Moriah trailhead is the first left off of Bartlett Pond Road.
This is an easy loop with lovely views. Perfect for a mellow afternoon to stretch your legs.
This seasonal road is suitable for mountain biking.
The largest undeveloped tract of land on the Lake Champlain shoreline, Split Rock Wild Forest covers 3,700 acres in the towns of Essex and Westport. The landscape is dominated by Split Rock Mountain; the “split rock” can be seen where the lake meets the land at Whallons Bay. The parcel is also home to the timber rattlesnake, a threatened species in New York.
The trailhead on Lakeshore Road, 5.8 miles south of Essex and 4.7 miles north of Westport.