Blue Mountain Trailhead

Route 28N in Blue Mountain Lake, the standard DEC trailhead pullout with a parking lot that fills early on summer weekends. From here the trail is 4 miles round trip with 1,560 feet of ascent to the Blue Mountain summit and its restored fire tower. The climb is moderate in the first half, then a steep and rocky pitch over the last mile. The tower is the reason to do it: clear-day views to the High Peaks northeast, Tirrell Pond directly below, and the Eckford Chain (Blue, Eagle, Utowana Lakes) to the south. Park early on July and August weekends; the lot is the rate-limit on the whole trail. The Adirondack Experience museum is at the base of the mountain on Route 30, which is the obvious afternoon pair after a morning summit. Year-round access. Expect ice on the upper rocks through April, snowshoes from December into March.