Ski and Snowshoe Trails in the Adirondacks

The Adirondack Mountain Club has released a new edition of its winter guidebook, Ski and Snowshoe Trails in the Adirondacks, by Tony Goodwin. First published in 2003, the second edition of ADK’s winter guidebook is a comprehensive collection of 50 popular and lesser-known adventures for all ability levels throughout the Adirondack Park. It includes the iconic trips like Mount Marcy and the Whiteface Mountain Toll Road, as well as lesser-known destinations, such as Hoffman Notch, Berrymill Flow, and Moxham Mountain.

The book features GPS coordinates for trailheads and parking areas, page map sketches by illustrator Terry Brosseau, and images by well-known photographer Nancie Battaglia. Tony shares his decades of winter recreation experience throughout, including winter safety, round-trip distances, and difficulty ratings for skiers and snowshoers.

Tony Goodwin, who has authored ADK’s High Peaks Trails guidebook and High Peaks Adirondack Trail Map since 1984, is a well-known figure in the Adirondacks. He retired as head of the Adirondack Trail Improvement Society in 2021 and was a founder of the Adirondack Ski Touring Council, which constructed the 24-mile Jackrabbit Trail.

The 160-page is available now at book and outdoor supply stores, ADK’s High Peaks Information Center and Cascade Welcome Center near Lake Placid, through mail order at 800-395-8080, and at adk.org. Proceeds support ADK’s programs in conservation, education, recreation, stewardship and advocacy. Enjoy these three excerpts from the book.

Pharaoh Lake

Round-trip: 8 mi (12.8 km) to S end of lake; 12.4 mi (20 km) to N end of lake. 
Elevation change: minimal.
Difficulty: Ski, novice-intermediate; snowshoe, beginner.
Map: TI 743: Q28. GPS coordinates: 43.761789, -73.689251 (trailhead). 

This two-mile-long lake with several picturesque lean-tos along its shores is not only beautiful, but also might be the largest Adirondack lake not reached by a maintained road. The approach is a generally easy ski on a long-abandoned road in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, where snowmobiles are prohibited. 

Trailhead: From Exit 25 of the Adirondack Northway (I-87) take NY Route 8 approximately 8 mi E through the hamlet of Brant Lake to the NE end of Brant Lake. Turn left onto Palisades Rd. then right onto Beaver Pond Rd., the third road to the right, 1.5 mi from NY 8. Go 1 mi on Beaver Pond Rd. to the beginning of Pharaoh Rd. on the right. This road is plowed for the first few hundred yards past some private camps to a parking area at the trailhead, which is also plowed.

From the trailhead, the skiing is nearly level through a notch between Park and No. 8 mountains to the wide valley of Mill Brook and the former summer parking area at 1.5 mi. After crossing Mill Brook on a plank bridge, the trail soon begins to climb. At 2 mi, the grade eases, and gentle ups and downs lead to a bridge across Pharaoh Lake Brook at 2.7 mi. After crossing the brook, the trail climbs briefly and then levels out next to an extensive open area of beaver activity on the left. Continuing generally close to the brook, the trail reaches the S end of Pharaoh Lake at 4 mi. Although this is a good destination in itself, if ice conditions permit, most skiers will want to ski up the lake to one of the several lean-tos along the shore. The views of the surrounding mountains widen rapidly on the ski up the lake. It is approximately 2.2 mi more to the lean-to at the N end of the lake. 

Hays Brook Truck Trail to Grass Pond and the Sheep Meadow

Round-trip: 7.8 mi (12.5 km) to Sheep Meadow.
Round-trip: 3.8 mi (6.1 km) to Grass Pond.
Elevation change: minimal.
Difficulty: ski, novice; snowshoe, beginner.
Map: TI 746: GG18. GPS coordinates: 44.481471, -74.280840 (trailhead). 

Both destinations that start at this trailhead offer not only easy terrain and a scenic lean-to, but also usually bountiful snow. The longer trip – to the Sheep Meadow – has a few short pitches that might be a bit challenging for novice skiers, but overall, these wide roads are easy to ski. 

Trailhead: The start is at the end of a 0.2 mi access road off NY Route 30 that leads to the N end of Mountain Pond. This access road, marked by a large DEC sign, is 3.8 mi N of the junction of NY 30 and NY Route 86 in Paul Smiths, or 5.4 mi S of the junction of NY 30 and NY Route 458. (The road and parking area was plowed more consistently in 2021 than in previous years. If required to park on NY 30, be sure to park on the shoulder, behind the white line.) From the parking area, walk another 100 yd to a trail that is a shortcut to the truck trail and register that avoids the barrier gate at the entrance to the truck trail. There are both horse and snowmobile markers on the trail, but snowmobile use has ended.

From the register, the trail crosses the Osgood River at 0.5 mi, just before it meets the junction of the Grass Pond side trail (described below). Just past this side trail, the marked route to the Sheep Meadow diverges to the left to “cut the corner” and save 0.3 mi. Snowshoers might choose to follow the marked route, and while it is skiable, the easiest skiing is on the truck trail, which climbs for another 0.2 mi and is then flat to a junction at 1.2 mi. Turning left here, the trail soon begins a gradual descent. At 1.6 mi, the marked route comes in from the left, and both routes continue to descend to a bridge over Hays Brook at 1.8 mi. After the bridge crossing, the trail climbs a short, steep pitch, soon levels out, and is then mostly level to the Sheep Meadow lean-tos at 3.9 mi.

The trip to Grass Pond begins as a right turn at the junction at 0.5 mi from the start of the trail. It makes a short, moderate climb to the top of a high bank above the Osgood River, after which it is mostly flat to the lean-to at Grass Pond at 1.9 mi. One road leads left from the lean-to, down to the outlet, and on to a former lean-to site on the N shore. Another road going past the lean-to can be skied partway along the E shore, but soon becomes overgrown, and not easily passable. There are no additional views from the frozen pond, but it might offer some sun to make it a warmer lunch spot than the lean-to.

Bald Mountain

Round-trip: 2 mi (3.2 km).
Elevation change: 390 ft (119 m).
Summit elevation: 2,350 ft (716 m).
Difficulty: ski, expert; snowshoe, intermediate.
Map: TI 745: P8. GPS coordinates: 43.746096, -74.904969 (trailhead).

Bald Mt. is high on just about every list of trips offering “greatest reward for least effort.” The trail has a few steeper spots that will challenge beginning snowshoers, and after a major thaw-freeze cycle, crampons will likely be needed on the areas of open rock. Nevertheless, the short distance means snowshoers of nearly every ability level can likely handle this trip. There are good views from the rocky summit, and the fire tower is in good enough shape to climb for a truly superior view. On particularly clear days, Mt. Marcy and other High Peaks are visible from the summit, and with their white domes they are much easier to pick out in winter than in summer.

 Trailhead: The start is on Rondaxe Rd., off NY Route 28, 4.5 mi N of the visitor information center in Old Forge or 4.5 mi S of the hamlet of Eagle Bay. The parking area is 0.2 mi down the road on the left.

From the parking area, the trail begins in a deciduous forest on a moderate grade that soon steepens. These first climbs are the steepest. The Fulton Chain of Lakes come into view at 0.4 mi, followed by a mostly moderate grade along the rocky spine of the ridge. The trail splits in a few places, and it is difficult to find a marker delineating the “real” trail, but in all cases the two branches rejoin quickly. At 0.9 mi, the trail reaches the fire tower and then continues for another 0.1 mi to an additional vantage point.