SCHROON LAKE AREA
Hoffman Notch Trail
This north-south route through Hoffman Notch is 7 miles long. The
stream crossings are not bridged. The northern end terminates on the
road connecting North Hudson with Newcomb. The southern end is reached
from a side road off Hoffman Road from the Village of Schroon Lake.
Northerly Approach:
Leave interstate I-87 at Exit 29, and drive west on Boreas Road
towards Blue Ridge . In about 4 miles, pass the Elk lake Rd. on the
right. Continue on additional one-half mile to a sign at the crossing
of the Branch river.
Southerly Approach:
Leave the Village of Schroon Lake on Hoffman Rd., thence on Young's
Rd. and Potash Hill Road as shown on the map.
PHARAOH LAKE WILDERNESS AREA
This wilderness area contains a network of trails that connect 22 small
and large ponds. You will find 14 lean-to's in this area. The
spectacular sight of bare snow slopes on some of the mountains has been
caused by past forest fires. There are many cliffs and ledges which add
to the attractiveness of the area.
Interesting ski tours can be found on the trails leading to: Goose
Pond, a secluded pond set deep in a hemlock forest; Crane Pond,
continuing past the lower slopes of Crane Pond to the lower slopes of
Pharaoh Mountain, past the Pharaoh Mountain trail toward Pharaoh Lake,
and from the Village of Adirondack and via Pharaoh Lake Road north of
Brant Lake. These and other trails are shown on the map.
Those entrance points that are grouped around the northern perimeter
of the area are approached via Rt. 74, which begins at Northway, exit 28
just north of Schroon Lake. The eastern end of 74 starts at
Ticonderoga.
The two entrances into the southern perimeter are approached by
leaving I-87 at Exit 24 via Brant Lake, or leaving I-87 at Exit 25,
Pottersville.
For Sucker Brook Horse Trail
Leave Pottersville north on Rt. 9, turn right at a sign for the Word
of Life Camp. Follow a secondary road around the southern end of
Schroon Lake for about 4 miles to the Village of Adirondack.
At the general store in Adirondack, proceed due east for .2 miles to
a "Y" fork, turn left and continue to a "T" intersection. Take the left
fork again. The road shortly dead-ends in a parking lot at the start of
the Sucker Brook horse trail.
For Pharaoh Lake Road Horse Trail
Take the Adirondack Northway, I-87 to Exit 24, turn right on NY Rt. 8
leading to Brant Lake. Follow this around the shore of Brant Lake to
its far end. Turn left on Palisades road which will continue around the
end of the lake. The road will veer to the left again. 2/10's of a
mile beyond this turn, or 1.2 miles from NY Rt.8, turn right on Pharaoh
Lake Rd. and follow it to the parking lot. From the unloading area, the
trail leads northerly to the crossing of Mill Brook and follows the
south side of Pharaoh Lake Brook to the outlet of Pharaoh Lake and the
intersection with the Sucker Brook horse trail to the left. The trail
continues up the southern side of Pharaoh Lake for about a mile to 2
lean-tos and a horse shelter. From here the trail turns easterly and
then southerly terminating at the Springhill Ponds.
MT. VAN HOEVENBERG RECREATION AREA
This area contains about 20 miles of looped trails built to
international cross-country ski trail standards, and designed for both
recreational skiing and formal races. It was the site for the 1980
Olympic cross country and biathlon Nordic skiing events. It is one of
the outstanding Nordic skiing facilities in the east.
Mt. Van Hoevenberg is located off of Rt. 73 between Lake Placid and
Keene, about 7 miles southeast of Lake Placid and 7 miles southwest of
Keene.
The trail system is laid out in interlocking loops so that a route
of any desired distance can be selected. All loops start and end at a
central stadium. Trail maps are posted throughout the area showing the
direction to the stadium.
NEWCOMB AREA
The Santanoni Preserve
Take Rt. 28N to Newcomb. Near the center of town, at the west end of
Harris Lake, the trail into the Santanoni Preserve departs from a
barrier on the north side of Lake Harris inlet. the distance to Camp
Santanoni is 5 miles.
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