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AdirondackRegion.com

Cranberry Lake 50 Loop Trail

A nearly 128-kilometer circuit through the western Adirondacks, this loop unfolds across a fascinatingly glaciated landscape of old-growth forest, backcountry ponds, and remote campsites that reward the effort required to reach them. The route is reported to be among the more demanding multi-day treks in the park, its length and isolation testing stamina as much as navigation. Those who complete the circuit often speak of both the achievement and the quieter gift: a spirit renewed by days spent moving through country that feels, for long stretches, genuinely apart.

Length
79.2 mi
Operator
Network
rwn
Difficulty
Not rated
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Elevation profile
Max 2,044 ftMin 1,467 ftNet gain 9,887 ft
2,044 ft1,467 ft0 mi19.8 mi39.6 mi59.4 mi79.2 mi
§ On this trail

What you’ll find along the route

Pond
Cat Mountain Pond
418 ft off
Pond
Glasby Pond
448 ft off
Pond
Curtis Pond
0.10 mi off
Stream
Skate Creek
0.11 mi off
Stream
South Flow
0.13 mi off
Pond
Spectacle Pond
0.14 mi off
Pond
Olmstead Pond
0.14 mi off
Pond
Cowhorn Pond
0.15 mi off
§ Closest essentials

Nearest, each within 25 miles

Coffee
Waypoint Cafe
23.8 mi away
Restaurant
The Clubhouse at Tupper Lake Country Club
17.9 mi away
General store
Otto's Abode
4.3 mi away
Shelter
Olmstead Pond Lean-To
2.0 mi away
§ Nearby Points of Interest
Peaks (9)
Lakes & ponds (32)
Trails (15)
Lean-tos (32)
  • Bear Mountain Lean-to3.7 mi
  • CL 412.3 mi
  • Olmstead Pond Lean-To2.0 mi
  • Burntbridge Pond Lean-to7.3 mi
  • Unnamed lean-to12.4 mi
  • Big Shallow Shelter8.5 mi
  • Cage Lake Springhole Lean-to8.0 mi
  • High Falls No. 2 Lean-To6.6 mi
Primitive campsites (436)
  • Cranberry Lake Campsite 180.8 mi
  • CL 180.8 mi
  • CL 260.9 mi
  • Shanty Rock Flow Primitive Campsite 260.9 mi
  • CL 311.0 mi
  • Campsite 311.0 mi
  • CL 271.1 mi
  • ND CS1.1 mi
§ Nearby parking

88 parking areas· 1 accessible

Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data; surface and capacity from OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.

+80 more on the map above

§ The Field Notes

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§ Nearby vacation rentals

Closest cabins, camps & lakefront rentals

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