ADIRONDACKREGION.COM
AdirondackRegion.com

Lake Colden Trail

A blue-disk-marked route maintained by the state, the Lake Colden Trail spans just under two kilometers through what is often considered one of the more scenic corridors of the High Peaks Wilderness. The path serves as a connector in the network of trails radiating from the lake itself, which sits in a glacially carved basin beneath the slopes of Algonquin and the MacIntyre Range. Though short, the trail is reported to traverse terrain that shifts from mixed hardwood to the boreal character typical of the higher elevations, and its relative brevity belies its importance as a link in longer through-hikes deeper into the backcountry.

Length
1.2 mi
Operator
NYSDEC
Network
lwn
Difficulty
Not rated
Loading map…
Elevation profile
Max 2,894 ftMin 2,812 ftNet gain 150 ft
2,894 ft2,812 ft0 mi0.3 mi0.6 mi0.9 mi1.2 mi
§ On this trail

What you’ll find along the route

Lake
Lake Colden
<0.1 mi off
§ Closest essentials

Nearest, each within 25 miles

Coffee
Old Mountain Coffee Company
10.5 mi away
Restaurant
Salt of the Earth Bistro
10.3 mi away
General store
The Adirondack Popcorn Company
11.3 mi away
Shelter
Beaver Point #2
0.3 mi away
§ Nearby Points of Interest
Peaks (12)
Lakes & ponds (39)
Trails (24)
Shelters (1)
  • Johns Brook Lodge6.2 mi
Lean-tos (130)
  • High Peaks Lean-To10.2 mi
  • Lake Placid Site 2 Lean-To14.5 mi
  • Howard Lean-to6.6 mi
  • Beaver Point #20.3 mi
  • Calamity Lean-to1.1 mi
  • Flowed Lands Lean-to1.1 mi
  • Herbert Brook Lean-to0.6 mi
  • Cedar Point Lean-to0.3 mi
Primitive campsites (221)
  • Lake Colden East Shore Campsite<0.1 mi
  • NYSDEC0.2 mi
  • Cold Brook Campsite0.2 mi
  • Beaver Point 20.3 mi
  • Beaver Point 10.3 mi
  • Cedar Point0.3 mi
  • Beaver Point Campsite #10.3 mi
  • Beaver Point Campsite #20.3 mi
§ Nearby parking

230 parking areas

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.

+222 more on the map above

§ The Field Notes

Add to the record.

§ Reader account
Start your Logbook.

Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.

Every page on this site gets better when readers contribute. Mark a peak you’ve climbed, drop a photo, file a field note, or flag a correction — every addition makes the next visitor’s page better.

Field notes and corrections are reviewed before they appear publicly. Photos and Logbook entries post immediately.§ Maintain or steward this trail? Get in touch →
§ Nearby vacation rentals

Closest cabins, camps & lakefront rentals

§ More field guides

Continue exploring.

All guides
§ Frequently asked