Walked in from the Green to make it count for my 6er. Not a bad day in the woods! Very very icy. my husky enjoyed the view. Continue through Ray Brook and locate the trailhead for Haystack and McKenzie on the left. I tried to get her to sit still and pose, but such efforts are generally frustrating to both of us. Mountain Wilderness is easily accessed from the village of Saranac Lake I know it is short, but there are scrambles and steep parts, it's a tough little hike! Tied hammock at the summit and took a short nap before heading back. People spoke about it like it was so easy, but it's a climb and you 100% need spikes and poles. It is a pretty popular hike so you will probably see cars parked on the side of the road. Looking for ice skating a bit more off the beaten path? Heavy mosquito presence this morning. Is this your business? As I held my camera in the sun to allow the moisture to evaporate from the lens, she ignored me and continued her investigations. Weve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! Dont forget to start at the bell to have it count as a Saranac 6er! We were headed to Baker Mountain in Saranac Lake. Baker Mountain, Saranac Lake: See 11 reviews, articles, and 12 photos of Baker Mountain, ranked No.8 on Tripadvisor among 20 attractions in Saranac Lake. Saranac Inn, golf with a taste of Scotland, Summer music is everywhere in Saranac Lake, Early May Wildflowers: A Kaleidoscope of Color. Turn onto McKenzie Pond Road, and you'll reach a railroad crossing after 3 miles. But now. Baker Mountain. All in all sweet and short. Mount McKenzie gleamed in the sunlight and the distant High Peaks were ensconced in white as a layer of low clouds hung in the valley beneath them. Family Friendly for older kids, a bit tricky with younger ones. Having trouble using this site? The Mt Baker tiny house is a great basecamp for hiking the Saranac Lake 6-ers, paddling/boating along the Saranac Chain of lakes or Saranac River, Mountain Biking at Dewey, Pisgah or other nearby BETA trails. Yeah, we're cool - no matter what we're wearing! It is one of three small mountains surrounding Saranac Lake: the others are Mount Pisgah and Dewey Mountain. The Great Adirondack Birding Celebration! McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area . Adirondack.net All Rights Reserved 2023. After taking in the views from the summit, you will follow the samered foot trail back down. Wren trotted on ahead, her snowshoe-like feet seemingly adapted for the conditions. short 0.9 mile trail with a steep climb to one of the best views in the Reviews (972) Photos (1,292) Activities . A series ofu0003lookouts provide spectacular views of Saranac Lake, Lake Flower, andu0003the High Peaks to the east. Moody Pond lies at its foot. The only difficulty for us was the dense ground cover with dry pine needles closer to the summit that made the descent a bit slippery. Baker Club was a speakeasy at the foot of the mountain. Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements. months[2]="February"; Pisgah: The Adirondacks Finest Uphill Bike Park, It's All Good at the Saranac Lake Skateboard Park, A Weeks Worth of Nightlife in Saranac Lake, Finding Winter Finches and other Cold-Weather Species, 5 Paths to Winter Adventure in Saranac Lake. Parking is on Forest Hill Avenue (Rte. From Route 3 I took Mckenzie Pond Road to Forest Hill Avenue on the left. Try Mirror Lake! May 1, 2021 Aaron Cerbone Staff Writer acerbone@adirondackdailyenterprise.com With Baker Mountain looming in the background, this sign shows where the village of Saranac Lake ends and where. Our 3 year old hiked it while we bribed her with snacks to get to the top and the 6 year old had no issues, but we do a lot of walking and both are in good shape. document.write(lmonth + " "); From downtown Saranac Lake, go up to Main Street to its Haystack Mountain stands at 2,874 feet. From the intersection of Routes 73 and 86 in Lake Placid, take Route 86 toward Saranac Lake. I didnt really want to leave the spectacle behind, but we finally began to follow the rumbles in my stomach down the trail. Lots of well worn paths, lots of pine needles and leaves, and a good amount of bare rock. Adirondacks from its 2,452 foot summit. We descended the rest of the trail, enjoying the colors as many other hikers ascended to find the same view we had just left behind. From this day forward, to earn a 6er title, one must start and end their Baker Mountain summit (on foot) from the 6er bell, located in Berekely Green Park. Micro spikes a must but could even use crampons if you want better traction! So off we went to Lake Colby for a brisk swim Wren wanting to stay longer than my cold body would allow. Honestly I think haystack and st Regis are easier than this one. Though there is ample parking it can full up on a good day as it is a popular hike. Need to start and finish in town if you want a legit 6er, and that's fair as there's bugger-all parking out there. The Art Walk is a path to art, music, and fun! Moody Pond lies at its foot. This mountain is also part of the Saranac Lake 6er's Challenge (see link below). Very dry other than a couple minor muddy spots. Want to try some early winter snowshoeing or hiking? Both trails finish at the wooded summit at 0.9 miles, where you will find two separate survey markers. The trail to the top is about 0.9-miles long; the hike is part of the "Saranac Sixer". Get to know this 1.6-mile out-and-back trail near Saranac Lake, New York. Tried hike on advise of the reviews but found it to be more difficult than expected. Surrounded by mountains, there are multiple coves you can explore around the lake. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Need to find the right gear? https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baker_Mountain_(New_York)&oldid=1056411498, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 21 November 2021, at 17:01. Good trail conditions, but a LOT of bugs, bring spray and head net. Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here. View Baker Mountain Image Gallery - 5 Images. 4/15/2022. At the top, a large open clearing offers an expansive panorama of the area. Pisgah, Jackrabbit Trail: Paul Smiths to McKenzie Pond Road, Memorable Firsts: Carnival & Cross-Country Skis, A Winter Hike into the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness Area, Enjoying White Snow to Take Away the Winter Blues, An Evening Sleigh Ride in the Adirondacks, Hiking & Tracking Wildlife on Scarface Mountain, Skiing - and Falling - in a Winter Wonderland, Early Season Cross-Country Ski Destinations, St. Regis Canoe Area - An Interesting Ski Tour, A picture's worth a thousand words - epic winter events, Adirondack Firetower Challenge: Climbing the Fire Tower Peaks near and around Saranac Lake, An Apt Pair: Ampersand Mountain & Follensby Clear Pond, Mount Pisgah getting ready for winter ski season, 3 Short Paddles found in the St. Regis Canoe Area, Frequently overlooked hikes near Saranac Lake, 5 Hidden Gems for Hiking, Paddling & Trail Running. BluSeed blurs the line, Five things you can do in Saranac Lake on Halloween week, Fun family events for fall foliage season, Fifth Annual Hobofest: Music, Food and Fun on the Tracks, Stomping out the Saranac 6 Week 2 St. Regis Mountain, Lows Lower Dam to Lows Ridge, A surf and Turf Adventure, Black Pond to Bridge Brook Pond A new trail, Local Massage Therapist Takes It Up A Notch, Entertaining events will keep you hopping this weekend, Top 5 Family Friendly Activities in the Saranac Lake Area, Camping in the rain - better known as "damping". Continue 6.5 miles until you reach McKenzie Pond Roadon the right. A series oflookouts provide spectacular views of Saranac Lake, Lake Flower, andthe High Peaks to the east. Have you done this adventure? Select seven: Family hikes under four hours, Paddling and Hiking Around Little Green Pond, Camping in the Cold (Disclaimer: This is NOT a How-To Guide), Martha Reben: Staring down the Great White Plague, Seeing if the boot fits: Exploring the Bays, Stevenson Cottage - small outside, a world inside. She didnt seem to mind at all though. Great Birding and Loads of Warblers in Madawaska! McKenzie Mountain stands at 3,861 feet and is one of the highest 100 in the Adirondacks. on a Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip. trailhead is marked by a sign on the left. Baker is a great short hike if you dont have much time, but it still offers nice views of the Village of Saranac Lake and the surrounding lakes of the region. SARANAC LAKE As the Saranac Lake Village Board mulls a request from the town of St. Armand to remove Baker Mountain from the Saranac Lake 6er hiking challenge and replace it with. The trail extends 0.9 mile and ascends nearly 900 feet from the trailhead to the summit. You will see the wooden sign marking the trail and anotherfor McKenzie Mounta Paddleboarding on Lake Placid is definitely and activity to add to your list when up in the Adirondacks during spring or summer. Hiking and Birding on the Jackrabbit Trail, Little Clear Pond and Grass Pond, a Canoeing experience, Hiking from the North End of the Bloomingdale Bog Trail. It is rated easy on All Trails, but as most of the reviews on that site, I must agree and say that it really is a moderate hike. The walk/ride is attractive and best of all, you'll be close to downtown's excellent restaurants for a post-hike repast! From downtown Saranac Lake, head north on Broadway (Route 86) and turn right on Bloomingdale Ave. (Route 3), then turn right on Pine Street after about a half mile. Overall, this trail is a great introduction to High Peaks region hiking without going the full distance of a High Peak, and offers some of the best Adirondack views available for the amount of effort. Sadly the resulting shots of such a scene are always a big disappointment. Please explore responsibly! And only a 15 to 20 minute drive from downtown and most Saranac Lake accommodations. Mount Baker is a nice hike to do anytime of day, or season. It was time to head into town in search of some good eats and a warm drink. Looking for a great family hike up in the Adirondacks? The trail starts just across the street from the parking area. Enjoy this 2.6-km out-and-back trail near Saranac Lake, New York. Look for McKenzie Pond Road on the right. Mount Baker is a 2457-foot mountain east of Saranac Lake. A Decidedly Different Fall Day in Saranac Lake, Three Fantastic Fall Hikes in Saranac Lake. Suggest edits to improve what we show. And Some Great March Skiing! Definitely a tough little guy! Baker Mountain, located near Saranac Lake, NY, is one of the best family hikes in the Adirondacks. Parking is on Forest Hill Avenue (Rte. One of the major attractions of this cliff is that it has something for everybody (unless you climb harder than 5.12). That said, the sun was warm and here and there the softening snow lost its hold on a branch which would drop a shimmering cascade of powder. Every bend in the trail yielded a new composition, and we completed our loop to the trailhead snapping photos the entire way. While my plan for the hike was to take photos of the fall colors, Wren was mostly in it for running around and smelling everything. Great hike, beautiful views with perfect snacking rocks at the summit! I took my time climbing the mountain, stopping here and there to take photos of snow-plastered trees in the morning shadows or against the blue sky. The risk, of course, is that I could slip and drop it - but thankfully that didnt happen. Follow McKenzie Pond Road for 3 miles to a junction at the railroad crossing. Hikers park by the dozens on Forest Hill Avenue around Moody. Safe Winter Recreation on the Adirondack Rail Trail, Best Off The Beaten Path Fall Foliage Finds, Three Fantastic Fall Hikes in Saranac Lake, A Decidedly Different Fall Day in Saranac Lake, Mt. There is also no trash receptacle or portable toilet at the trailhead, so be sure to pack it out and leave no trace. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. But even as I hurriedly dried off to get warm, the low rays of the sun fell upon the vibrant warmth of sugar maples on the far shore giving me pause yet again at the colors on the landscape. This is a moderate out and back 1.8 mile hike with an elevation gain of around 900 feet. Baker Mountain, located in the The view from the top was nice and there are several rock ledges that offer great photo locations. The best times to visit this trail are April through November. Safe Guiding Services with High Adventure! In downtown Saranac Lake, take Route 86 west toward Paul Smiths. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. The trail splits into two loops - left is less difficult, right is steep with ledges. $(function() { var $tabButtonItem = $('#tab-button li'), $tabSelect = $('#tab-select'), $tabContents = $('.tab-contents'), activeClass = 'is-active'; $tabButtonItem.first().addClass(activeClass); $tabContents.not(':first').hide(); $tabButtonItem.find('a').on('click', function(e) { var target = $(this).attr('href'); $tabButtonItem.removeClass(activeClass); $(this).parent().addClass(activeClass); $tabSelect.val(target); $tabContents.hide(); $(target).show(); e.preventDefault(); }); $tabSelect.on('change', function() { var target = $(this).val(), targetSelectNum = $(this).prop('selectedIndex'); $tabButtonItem.removeClass(activeClass); $tabButtonItem.eq(targetSelectNum).addClass(activeClass); $tabContents.hide(); $(target).show(); }); });