Treadway Mountain - A Short Ascent to an Interesting Summit

Elevation: 2240 ft

Ascent: 900 ft

Distance: 3.9 miles

Location: Trailhead Parking Lot at Puntam Pond Campground of off NY 74 west of Ticonderoga.

In the summer, this is a popular destination because of the interesting open summit and the views of the High Peaks far to the north.

The trail starts at a trailhead parking lot in the Putnam Pond State Campground (entrance fee). This is a great, and popular, car camping campground located about 5 miles west of Ticonderoga, 3.8 miles from the turn-off (south) from NY 74.

The first part of the trail around the south west end of Putnam Pond leads over rolling terrain 1.8 miles to the turn-off for Treadway. In the summer if you have a small boat, you can paddle across Putnam Pond to a short spur trail which leads up to the same trail junction. This will take about 1.2 miles off of the 7.8 mile round trip as well as save some additional up and down.

The lower part of the trail is a relatively gentle walk through the woods. The whole ascent from the parking lot is about 900 feet. After awhile, the ascent begins in ernest and breaks out of the woods onto open rock. Finally, there is a short steep section over rock which arrives at the southeast end of the U-shaped summit ridge. The trail follows around the U and dips down scrambling over yet another small cliff to reach the col at the end of the valley coming up from the south. After that all that remains is to climb up over more mostly open rock to the summit.  The best place to rest and enjoy the view is maybe 30 or so yards past the summit where there is a view of Pharoah Lake.

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NOTE: For a more complete description of the trails, please see ADK's GUIDE to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Eastern Region, pp 89-91.

Have a great hike!
Bob Goodwin