How to Plan a Hiking Trip to the Adirondacks
The High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Mountains is famous for its hiking, but with so many options, 46 peaks to be exact, planning a trip to the area can be overwhelming. The key is preparation and these steps will make organizing your trip seem not so hard.
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Things You'll Need
- Hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Thick socks
- Backpack
- Sunglasses
- Food and water
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
Instructions
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Do your research. Find out all you need to know about the Adirondack Mountains on the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council's website before you start planning. Events, lodging options, campgrounds, and tour information is available along with directions, maps, and recreational suggestions. Having a solid overview of the area will help you narrow down your choices.
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Decide when you want to go. Hiking options change with the seasons, and it's important to know what type of hiking trip is best for you. Not surprisingly, winter hikes are the most challenging and are recommended for those with more experience, and certain summer months fall in peak bug season. Fall is often the most popular season because the weather is mild, the bugs are scarce and the foliage is breathtaking.
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Decide where you want to go. The Adirondack Mountains are contained within the 6.1 million acres, so you have plenty of options for where to stay during your vacation. Lake George, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Schroon Lake and the St. Regis Lakes are the most popular and developed tourist areas.
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Book your method of travel and accommodations. If you choose to fly, there is the Adirondack Regional Airport, located a few miles from Saranac Lake in the hamlet of Lake Clear, and Plattsburgh International Airport. You will most likely need a car to get around regardless of where you stay in the Adirondacks, so make sure to factor in the cost of a rental car if flying. Amtrak's route from New York City to Montreal makes several stops in the Adirondack region, such as Glens Falls, Whitehall, Ticonderoga, Port Henry, Westport, Port Kent, Plattsburgh, and Rouses Point. Again, you will need a rental car to get around, so plan accordingly. There are an abundance of resorts, hotels, lodges, and bed and breakfasts to choose from, but one recommendation for Lake Placid visitors would be the Adirondack Loj at Heart Lake. It's perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and hikers of all levels.
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Purchase appropriate hiking gear. Choices will vary depending on season and level of hike difficulty, but finding the best gear is critical for a comfortable hiking excursion. Appropriate shoes, rain jackets, socks, and backpacks are essential, and bug spray, sunglasses, and snacks are important as well. North Face, REI, Patagonia, and Eastern Mountain Sports all provide a variety of products suited for hikers of all levels, and there are plenty of local stores in the Adirondacks that can tailor your purchases to your exact hike.
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Choose your hike. Once you reach your destination, you will have a variety of hikes to choose from. Easy to challenging, flat to uphill, meadows to waterfalls--the sky is the limit in terms of your hiking options. Make sure to stop by the nearest visitor center before embarking on your hike. Trained and able forest rangers know the area inside and out and can provide a wealth of information about the trails. Maps are also available in visitor centers as well as gear and food.
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Tips & Warnings
Go early. The earlier you hike, the cooler the temperature will be and high altitude hikes can be prone to afternoon thunderstorms.
Pack light. The less you have to carry, the less energy you will use up lugging excess weight around.
Layer your clothing. Temperatures can vary by altitude and time of day, so layering your clothes makes it easier to warm up or cool down as needed.
Remember to plan for the hike back. If you're not doing a loop, it's important to factor in how long it will take to walk back to the beginning of the trail. You don't want to get stuck in the woods after dark.
Never wear cotton or wool during a hike. You will get overheated and sweat. Opt for clothing made of coolmax, utralight mircrofeece, microfiber, capilene, polartec, ultrawick, tactel, spandex, supplex, gortex and lycra.
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