HIKING
Start your walk right here! We have 40 acres of gorgeous property to explore … head all the way down our driveway and the land opens up into beautiful views … our land goes all the way down to the Shields Road.
OTHER SUGGESTIONS:
Rising right out of Thirteenth Lake are “The Garnet Hills” – Ruby, Peaked, Slide, Little Thirteenth, and Hour Pond mountains.
The Hooper Garnet Mine is an historic mine which closed in 1928 after 25 years of operation. There are still many remnants of the mining operation to be seen along the way and at the quarry itself. Hikers can retrieve garnets from the rock to this day.
William Blake Pond, The Nature Trail, and the Old Hooper Mine: All these trails begin across from the nearby Garnet Hill our ski shop. Begin on the uphill driveway across from the ski shop adjacent to the tennis courts. Straight up the driveway a turnoff will lead to the Old Hooper Mine. The Hooper Mine is a part of Garnet Hill history when the area was mined for Garnets. Old cellar holes, foundations, mine equipment and the Hooper mine itself remain to remind us of the mining era. Look for Garnets while you are there, some still remain! Just before the turnoff for the Hooper Mine is the beginning of the Nature trail, on the right side of the driveway. Nature Trail guidebooks are available at the Lodge. Follow the Nature Trail to its end and you will be at William Blake Pond. An informal path (marked with a ribbon) leads from the pond back to the old Hooper Mine, making a nice loop.
Trail to the Lake: It’s about a mile from the lodge to the lake, downhill going and uphill coming back. To walk to the lake begin on the left side of the front lawn and walk down Matt and Jeff trail (see the cross country ski trails map). Follow the red markers off the Matt and Jeff trail eventually crossing 13th Lake Road and the Old Farm Road down the Garnet Hill Beach Road. This is a nice little hike for guests wanting an after dinner stroll or new guests familiarizing themselves with the lodge and its lands.
Balm of Gilead Cliffs: This is an exciting hike with one of the best views for the least amount of effort in the area. Begin across from the ski shop the same as the beginning of the Nature Trail. Follow the Nature Trail. Where this trail leads away up to William Blake Pond, continue straight an additional 75 yards past a house on your right. The trail up Balm of Gilead begins left just past a stream crossing. This hike is about 2 miles round trip.
Peaked Mountain and Peaked Mountain Pond: The trail up Peaked can begin at the state beach, hiking along the lake shore to where the trail ascends up Peaked brook. Hikers can also take a canoe from the Garnet Hill Beach across the lake and begin hiking on the far shore near where the brook enters the lake. Taking a canoe across the lake cuts out about a mile of hiking along the lake from the state beach. The trail will first come to Peaked Pond, a popular fishing destination. To continue up to the summit, walk to your right along the lakeshore. There are beautiful views which extend 360 degrees, with views of the High Peaks, Ruby Mt. and Gore Mt. as well. This trail is about 3 miles one way.
The Wilderness: Hour Pond, Puffer Pond, Sacandaga River, and Siamese Ponds:
The main trailhead which leads into this wilderness area is the starting point for many trails. It begins at the end of The Old Farm Road just past the Garnet Hill Beach road. These are all popular fishing or hiking destinations. Topographic maps of the entire area are available at the lodge.
Crane Mountain:
This is one of the most interesting hikes in the Southern Adirondacks. There is a pond near the summit, a succession of ladders up cliff faces and and the opportunity to make a loop, climbing up one trail to the peak and down another from the pond. The trailhead is off the South Johnsburg Road near Thurman. To reach the trailhead go south on Rt.28 to Wevertown and turn right on Rt.8. Go about a mile into the South Johnsburg Road. Look for a right hand turn after about 4 miles directing you to the trailhead parking. This is a great day hike which covers a wide variety of terrain.
OK Slip Falls
The trail to OK Slip Falls is 3 miles long. Adding the two-tenths of a mile walk from the parking area makes the round trip distance 6.4 miles. The trail continues eight-tenths of a mile past the falls and ends at the Hudson River.
One of the highest waterfalls in the Adirondacks was unavailable to explore, accept distant views from trail less Kettle Mountain, until now. New York State purchased the 2800 acres of what was called the OK Slip Falls Tract on April 23, 2013. It is located in the newly created Hudson Gorge Wilderness Area. With a trailhead located off NY 28, OK Slip Falls is now one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Adirondacks.
The official 2.5 mile trail to OK Slip Falls was opened in late July of 2014 from a parking area along NY 28. The overall hike to the falls is 3.2 miles one way (6.4 mile round trip hike). The parking area for the trailhead is located on the south side of Route 28, approximately 7.5 miles east of the village of Indian Lake. The trailhead, which also provides access to Ross, Whortleberry and Big Bad Luck Ponds, is across Route 28 about 1000 feet to the west, so there is some walking along NY 28. The GPS coordinates for the parking area is N43 46.296 W74 07.849.
Approximately 0.5 mile from the trailhead hikers should turn right onto the blue marked trail to OK Slip Gorge about 2.5 miles away at the end of the trail. A map of the area is available is located below. The beginning of the Ross Pond trail is very wet and muddy, however the rest of the trail to OK Slip is generally dry. Arrive early to avoid the crowds this exciting new hike is attracting.
The waterfall drops over 200 feet into a gorge. Look below for a video featuring the hike to the falls. There are a few pictures below as well. There is a trail that leads over OK Slip Brook and then eventually into the Hudson River Gorge. The main trail to the falls is long, however we would rate as easy to moderate. The trail to the Hudson River Gorge is short but strenuous. As in all waterfall/gorge area's, it is important to watch your step and wear proper shoes.