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Crane Mountain – A Steep Trail to a Picturesque Area

Elevation: 3254 ft

Ascent: 1154 ft

Distance: 1.4 miles (direct to summit) 2.7 miles (past pond first)

Location: Ski Hi Road off of Garnet Lake Road off of South Johnsburg Road off of NY Route 8

Crane mountain in the southern Adirondacks looks like a mountain that should have a castle on its summit.   All the sides you can conveniently see or get to are very steep. It is located off of a side road from the Garnet Lake road (county road 72), which in turn is a side road from the South Johnsburg road (county route 57) which you take south out of Johnsburg.   Johnsburg is located on NY route 8 near Wevertown.

 
Not only is there a fine view of the area from the summit, but there is also a very lovely pond on its shoulder.   The shortest route to the summit is about 1.4 miles with an ascent of about 1150 feet.   This more direct route has a ladder near the top which avoids a short scramble on a rocky pitch.

The less direct trail to the summit is the more direct trail to the pond.  There is also a second loop possible from the pond to the summit and back to the pond. Occasionally there are nice views as you ascend either trail.

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NOTE: For a more complete description of the trails, please see ADK's ADK's GUIDE to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Southern Region, pp 38-46.

Bob Goodwin