Drive 68 miles, 1.3 hours to Owl's Head Mountain trailhead
The Five Star Trail hiking book rates Owl's Head Mountain 5 stars for scenery, and 3 stars for difficulty. 6.3 miles roundtrip with 3 - 4 hiking time.
Head out on this 6.30 mile, out and back trail near Long Lake, New York. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 34 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking and other nature trips, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round, but the best times to visit are March through November. Dogs are welcome and may be off-leash in some areas.
First 2 miles are fairly easy with just a few downed trees to hop over. The last mile is a bit steep with rocks to scramble up. If you have a dog, you'll prob be lifting it up in a few places. The view from the fire tower is beautiful.
The Hike Owls Up Owls Head
Owls Head Mountain is a 3.1-mile hike outside of Long Lake. The trail is on public Forest Preserve in the Sargent Pond Wild Forest. The trailhead parking lot is on Endion Road, off of Route 30, just north of Long Lake. Featuring beautiful full canopy forests, numerous stream crossings, and a spectacular 360-degree firetower view from the summit, the Owls Head Mountain trail is a dynamic one that offers a quality adventure for all those who hike it.
The Owls Head Hiking Trail
The hike starts at a trailhead and parking lot on Endion Road. The trail register stands at the back of the parking lot. Make sure to sign in. The trail starts with a footbridge crossing followed by a moderate incline through a mid-successional hardwood forest. The trail is easy to follow and well-marked. Soon the trail veers right after a short distance, crosses over a series of boardwalks and muddy stretches, before arriving at a trail junction at the 1-mile mark.
After the trail junction, the trail cuts left towards the ascent to the summit. The path intersects with frequently crosses small streams with stepping stone pathways. The trail is mostly flat and smooth in this section and gradually gains elevation. The surrounding northern hardwood forest on the trail contains many ash, maples, white pines, beech, and yellow birch.
Two miles in, the trail starts its ascent to the summit. The trail in this section is steep, rocky, with lots of exposed tree roots. At about 0.3 miles from the mountaintop the trail drops into a small valley between two lower peaks. Soon, the trail winds by the old site of the firetower observer’s cabin, where just the foundation’s cement blocks remain
The Mountaintop of Firetower on Owls Head
The final push to the summit is steep and rocky and requires agile hiking. The trail has lots of roots and crags as it reaches the summit. The summit is open and grassy, stretching out over fifty yards. The view from the open rock slabs of the summit provides great views of Long Lake and Blue Mountain for those who do not enjoy climbing up firetowers. There are lots of places to sit and rest.
The views from the upper levels of the firetower are spectacular. The firetower yields views of the High Peaks, Whitney Park, and the seemingly endless rolling hills, lakes, and mountains of the central Adirondacks.
As an out-and-back trail, the descent follows the same path used to hike to the top. Drive 0.3 hours, 14 miles to Castlerock Trailhead It looks like we could do Castle Rock as and out-and-back hike, or there is an option to do a loop, for the return. Experience this 2.80 mile, out and back trail near Blue Mountain Lake, New York. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 34 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, walking, and other nature trips, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round, but the best times to visit are May through September. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Hike Castle Rock
Castle Rock is a small mountain located on the north shore of Blue Mountain Lake in the Town of Indian Lake in Hamilton County. The trail is located in the Sargent Pond Wild Forest. Castle Rock is named for the rocky outcrop that forms its summit that towers out of the forest upon which hikers are visible to those on the water and vice versa.
The trail to Castle Rock may be accessed from the north side of the lake or from the end of the Maple Lodge Road, off of Route 30 just below the Adirondack Museum. This hike is 1.4 miles from the parking area to the summit (or 0.8 miles from Blue Mountain Lake to the summit). From the parking area it may also be hiked as a loop totaling at 2.5 miles by taking the trail down the northern slope of the mountain and connecting with the trail to Upper Sargent Pond which runs down the valley to the north of Castle Rock.
The trailhead starts at the end of the Maple Lodge Road, near the entrance to Minnowbrook Conference Center. Parking is roadside. The trailhead register stands at the beginning of a gravel road. Take the road about 0.4 miles until a fork and proceed right. Cross a footbridge on the left and in about 100 yards a foot trail exits the dirt road on the right.
The majority of the hike takes place in mixed Adirondack forests of beech, maple, birch, and conifers. At about 0.7 miles the trail intersects with the trail to Blue Mountain Lake at a stream crossing on stepping stones. The trail grows steep and about 0.3 miles before it passes through a maze of large stone formation boulders. Here there are minor caves beloved by the children of many generations who have climbed this mountain for their novelty and cool air.
The Summit of Blue Mountain Lake
Shortly after the boulders the trail is steep in a couple locations and somewhat of a scramble near the summit where the trail is pinched between rocky outcrops. The summit has a wide open area that is spacious and provides terrific view of Blue Mountain Lake, Blue Mountain, Blue Ridge, Snowy and Wakely Mountains. This trail is suitable for competent hikers of any age. Drive 0.3 hours, 10 miles to Buttermilk Falls Distance: 0.5 miles (out and back)
Elevation change: 25 feet
Hiking time: Approx. 15 minutes Would you like to try some buttermilk? Take the half-mile round trip hike to Buttermilk Falls in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The short, wide waterfall is a beautiful and easy-to-reach destination on the Raquette River near Long Lake. Buttermilk Falls is one of the area’s most popular trails, and rightfully so.
The short hike to Buttermilk Falls begins from a trailhead on North Point Road west of Long Lake and north of Blue Mountain Lake. You will be able to hear the tumbling waters of the Raquette River as soon as you step out of your vehicle, reassuring you that the waterfall is near. Follow the trail northwest over uneven but fairly level dirt ground. Cross hearty roots clinging to mossy boulders to arrive at the riverbank alongside Buttermilk Falls.
Buttermilk Falls is made up of a staircase of cascades totaling some twenty feet in height. Make your way down the river to gain a boarder view of the waterfall, whose foaming waters course over grey granite boulders.
A few picnic tables sit beneath the maples and firs along the river, so take the opportunity to relax and linger alongside Buttermilk Falls. With extra time, you may explore paths up and down the riverbank for views of the calmer water above and below Buttermilk Falls.
Buttermilk Falls is a year-round attraction, and autumn is a great season to visit the waterfall when the coursing water is flanked by colorful trees. No fee or permit is required to hike to Buttermilk Falls and dogs are welcome, so get out and enjoy! Drive 1.3 hours, 70 miles back to AirBnb in Elizabethtown Depending on timing, we might drive directly from Buttermilk Falls to dinner at Luna's at 5:30 PM in Lake Placid
Owl's Head Mountain (Protect Adirondacks description)
All Trails description of Castle Rock
Castle Rock (Protect Adirondacks description)
Hikes Peak description of Buttermilk Falls
