Blue Mountain - A Very Popular Climb

Elevation: 3759 ft

Ascent: 1550 ft

Distance: 2.0 miles

Location: Routes 28N/30 north of Blue Mountain Lake (just past the Adirondack Museum)

The traiIhead is located just up Route 30/28N from the excellent Adirondack Museum.  The trailhead parking lot and the overflow lots are on both sides of Route 30/28N.   The summit of Blue Mountain is definitely not a wilderness area.  Not only does it have a fire tower, but it also has many assorted communication antennae. 

The first part of the trail traverses on a gentle grade up and across the mountain side.  Sections of this part of trail are stabilized both with rocks/boulders and rock steps.  After about a mile of traverse and a rise of around 500 feet, the trail turns distinctly more up hill after which much of rest of the trail has been worn down to bed rock.  This is fine during a dry spell, but the footing could be much more difficult during wet weather.  Near the top the trail becomes much gentler for the last sever hundred yards and the last couple of hundred feet of ascent.  The top has a large open area of rock to accommodate almost any sized crowd. The views from the tower can be stunning.

MORE

NOTE: For a more complete description of the trail, please see ADK's guide to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Central Region, pp 138-139.

Have a great hike!
Bob Goodwin