10 of the Best Indian Lake Hikes in New York

Indian Lake and its surrounding areas has great places to hike. And these areas do NOT get the crowds that Lake Placid and Keene Valley, NY get. Seriously, you will be pleasantly surprised! They still get crowds on the weekends but NOT like the high peaks in Lake Placid and Keene Valley do. Anyways, here are some of my favorites hikes within Indian Lake and its surrounding areas. Also, these are in order of difficulty, from least to most difficult, enjoy!

Chimney Mountain

Chimney mountain is a GREAT and fun little peak. This hike is a total of 2.5 miles round trip, with a great view of the surrounding mountains. It does have quite the elevation gain for such little mileage, being almost 1,000ft in 1.25 miles. It is located near North River, New York, and you will have to drive upon an unpaved road to reach the parking lot/trailhead (manageable dirt road, very flat). I really liked the view on this mountain, however, to get to the view that I really liked, I had to bushwhack and go off trail. So, you might feel differently about this view, if you just stop at the actual summit. Anyways, here is a link where you can access full directions to this mountain.

Castle Rock

Second on our list, is one of my favorites, Castle Rock. It has an AMAZING view of Blue Mountain Lake, and its surrounding mountains and peaks. While hiking this trail, you will find mini caves, and might lose your way at the top top, it is very easy to do, so pay close attention to the yellow trail markers. Anyways, it is located in Blue Mountain Lake, New York, and has no dirt roads to the parking lot/trailhead. However, there are some narrow roads that you will have to drive through. In addition, you will pass through a summer camp, then a conference center, small bridge, and finally find the parking lot/trailhead. It will feel like you’re driving on private property, but you can park and drive through where the GPS tells you to go. Here is a link, to where you can find full directions.

Watch Hill

Watch Hill, is third on our list. It is also located near North River, New York, and is a total of 3.5 miles roundtrip. Also, you will not have to access any dirt roads, the parking lot is right off a main road, it is very easy to get to. The summit of this trail is one large rock, that has a steep drop-off close to it. Thus, I would not recommend this trail, if rock summits freak you out, because you will feel extremely uncomfortable on it. Anyways, I really love this view, and would recommend to people who love rock summits, and moderate hiking trails. Full directions can be found via this link.

Pillsbury Mountain Fire Tower

Fourth on our list is, Pillsbury Mountain. This trail is located near Speculator, New York, has a fire tower, and does encounter unpaved roads to get to. This is apart of the Fire Tower Challenge, thus, you can knock it off your list, if you wish. I have heard that the road to get to the main trailhead, is very hard to drive along if you do not have four wheel drive and a high under clearance. Also, I have yet to hike this mountain but the pictures look really pretty. Here you can find full directions.

Moxham Mountain (personal favorite)

Next is, Moxham mountain, and this is a great trail for you intermediate hikers. The views are EVERYWHERE on this hike. Seriously, almost all the inclines you walk, have a gorgeous view from them. However, the actual summit is on a pretty big rock ledge, thus again, I wouldn’t recommend this trail if rock ledges freak you out. However, to the side of the actual summit, there is a nice, open area where you can sit, eat, and enjoy the amazing views around you. You can actually see the summit/rock ledges that you climb up from your drive to the trail. It has a great view, of the surrounding endless mountains around you, and you can even see Gore mountain.

During this hike, you will encounter many up and down portions, it is not just all the way up to the summit. It is a total of 5.5 miles, with about a 1,400ft elevation gain. It is located near Minerva, New York, and has no dirt roads (except for the last .2 of a mile on a rough, almost unpaved road), you have to drive on (you can park in a LITTLE parking area before the dirt road, beware of the no parking signs, DON’T park there). Full directions can be found via this, link.

Vanderwhacker Fire Tower

Vanderwhacker trail is next on our list, and is near Minerva, New York, and is rated as a moderate trail. It is a total of 6.1 miles, roundtrip and also has a fire tower (also apart of the Fire Tower Challenge) at the summit. To get to this hike, you will have to cross some dirt and unpaved roads, that I’ve read are pretty sketchy. Again, I have yet to hike this trail, that being said, I have heard mixed reviews of this hike. Some people really like this peak and others have just flat out hated it, so it will be up to you to see if you truly like or dislike it. Here is a link to the exact directions.

Owl’s Head Fire Tower

The next hike on our list is, Owl’s Head Fire Tower. This hike is located near Long Lake, New York and is a total of 6.3 miles roundtrip. This trail also, encounters a fire tower at the top, and doesn’t include any dirt roads to access the trail. I really liked this hike, especially because, you don’t have to climb up the fire tower to see a view, there’s already a view up top. But, you can always climb the fire tower for an even better 360 degree view. As always, here is a link to the full directions.

Blue Mountain Fire Tower

Eighth on our list is, Blue Mountain. Blue Mountain, what a hike! It may be shorter than the last three trails listed, but boy, does it not fail in steepness! This hike is a total of 5.5 miles roundtrip, but the first half, is ALL uphill, there are no breaks from the steepness of this trail. But the view is completely worth it.

However, to see the view, you must go up the fire tower, otherwise, the trees block most of the view. There is plenty of room up top to have a picnic, but again, no real view, unless you travel up the fire tower. Also, it is fairly easy to access this trail, as there are no dirt or unpaved roads to drive on to get here, and the parking area is right off the main road. Here is the link to full directions.

Mount Adams Fire Tower

This is a STEEP hike. It has nearly 2,000ft of elevation gain in 2.45 miles to the top (round trip about 4.9 miles). The last mile is an UPHILL battle. I hiked this fire tower in the winter and it definitely lived up to it’s stats. However, the view on the fire tower is really beautiful (in my opinion). You can see many different high peaks and their whole ranges and many different lakes surrounding you. You do have to climb up the fire tower to see a view, thus if you don’t like fire towers, I wouldn’t suggest this hike, because you will have to walk up the tower to see something. But I really think it’s worth it. Mount Adams is also located in the same parking area as Allen Mountain (yes, the fateful Allen Mountain of the adk 46ers). And you will walk the same hike as Allen for about a mile then come to an intersection, where you will turn left for Mount Adams (there should be a sign).

Snowy Mountain Fire Tower

Second to last on our list is, Snowy mountain. Snowy mountain is a great trail, with two main views. This is rated as a hard trail, however, the first 1.5 miles, it is fairly flat, it is only the last 1.5 miles up, that are very steep. Also, there are two to three fairly big rock scrambles, that are pretty long and steep.

But once you reach the top, there is a gorgeous overpass you can look at to see the amazing view, as well as a fire tower, where you can see the surrounding views. It is a total of 7.1 miles, and again is easy to find, the parking area is right off the main road. However, the trail is on the opposite said of the road that you park at, thus look for the trail on the other side of the road, or you will be very lost. Also, beware, the bugs are UNREAL on this trail. Seriously, I’m warning you, the bugs are RELENTLESS on this trail. But if bugs don’t scare you, then you can find directions to Snowy, here.

Santanoni Peak

Finally, our last peak, is Santanoni. It is a total of 9.8 miles, and is located in Newcomb, New York, and is easy to drive to (no dirt or unpaved roads to encounter). This is also apart of the 46er challenge, but not the fire tower challenge. You can add Panther and Couch (Couchsachraga), which makes up the entire Santanoni Range, for an added challenge or if you’re trying to complete your 46ers. If you are not trying to get your 46ers I would NOT attempt Couch, it is NOT worth it. It’s just a bunch of up, down aggravation with a HUGE bog, with no view. Here are the exact directions for these peaks.

And that wraps up our list of incredible hikes in the Indian Lake region, of upstate New York. For these longer trails, it is really important to have good, hiking shoes. I recommend having ones with good traction, ankle support, and to be WATERPROOF or water resistance. All these elements have really saved and improved my hiking experience. The hiking shoes I wear are from Jack Wolfskin, here, is their website. Also, here and here are some others to pick from as well, if you are interested. Thanks for reading, and enjoy!