McKenzie Mountain Trail.
Climbing through mixed hardwood and conifer forest in the northern Adirondacks, this state-managed trail ascends McKenzie Mountain along a route marked by red disk blazes. The path, maintained by the NYSDEC as part of the region's trail network, extends roughly four kilometers from trailhead to summit and is reported to offer views across the Saranac Lakes region.
- Half-day hikeA few hours round trip
- Ice and snow linger above 3,000 ft — carry microspikes even when the trailhead is bare.
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~3,802 ft · live closures appear above
- NYSDECOperator
- lwnNetwork
Read the line before you walk it.
What the trailhead is doing today.
Where the hike begins.
What the route itself carries.
Summits reached, waters touched, and the lean-tos along the way — read it like a cue sheet, mile posts ascending.
Curated trailheads & parking near this route.
Editorial trailhead listings within roughly 3 miles — permit info, parking capacity, and access-road conditions.
Guides, outfitters & shuttles.
If you’re already out here.
Saranac Lake.
The corner of the Park this trail calls home — its hamlets, waters, lodging, and the rest of its field record.
Read the Region→
Make a weekend of it.
Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
4- ADK Street Eats1.2 mi
Food trailer at 1179 NY-86 in Ray Brook, between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. Chef-driven menu of tacos (Carne Asada, Al Pastor), lobster rolls, ADK Spiedies, and Rochester Hot Meats. Tuesday–Sunday.
- Tail O' the Pup1.3 mi
A roadside stop offering barbecue, seafood, and casual fare, with a history stretching back over a century.
- Caffe Rustica2.6 mi
Caffe Rustica in Lake Placid, NY, offers fresh Mediterranean dishes and wood-fired pizzas, prepared by Culinary Institute of America trained chefs.
- West Shore BBQ2.6 mi
West Shore BBQ offers 100% wood-fired barbecue in the Adirondacks, distinguishing itself by using no pellets, soaked chips, or liquid smoke. They exclusively use wood sustainably harvested from within the Blue Line.
Sip.
4- Simply Gourmet3.1 mi
Simply Gourmet in Lake Placid offers daily breakfast and lunch with a focus on clean food, using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients free of additives or preservatives. They also provide comprehensive catering services for various ev…
- Nori's Village Market3.8 mi
Nori's Village Market and Riverside Cafe offers a market with organic and local produce, bulk foods, coffee, and teas, alongside a cafe serving natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and local meat options.
- Origin Coffee3.8 mi
Origin Coffee Co is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake serving a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu.
- Blue Moon3.8 mi
Blue Moon Café in Saranac Lake offers dine-in, pick-up, and curbside delivery services. Guests can enjoy weekly specials, restaurant menus, baked goods, coffee, grocery items, and adult beverages.
Sweet.
4- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream1.8 mi
A fourth-generation Saranac Lake institution on a former dairy farm, serving exactly one rotating soft-serve flavor each day — twisted with vanilla on the same 1953 machine. Cash only; check the daily flavor. Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Mountain Mist Custard3.6 mi
A summer fixture on the shore of Lake Flower in Saranac Lake, with picnic tables and a dock you can tie a boat to. Frozen custard and soft serve with weekly-rotating flavors, shakes, and sundaes.
- Emma's Lake Placid Creamery4.3 mi
A 1950s-themed creamery in the heart of walkable Lake Placid, famous for its Maple Creme soft serve alongside 16 hard flavors, gelato, sorbet, and old-fashioned malts. The reliable apres-hike treat.
- Ben & Jerry's4.3 mi
The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop on Lake Placid's Main Street above Mirror Lake — the Vermont brand's pints and cones in the heart of the village.
Drink.
4- Ray Brook Brewhouse1.2 mi
Ray Brook Brewhouse is a unique brewery in Ray Brook, NY, offering wild and traditional brews paired with adventurous dishes made from local and exotic ingredients.
- RiverTrail Beerworks3.8 mi
RiverTrail Beerworks is Saranac Lake’s only riverfront brewpub, located on the Saranac Lake River Walk and Rail Trail. It features a heated patio, firepits, two golf simulators, and serves lunch and dinner daily with house-brewed beers and…
- Top of the Park3.8 mi
A Lake Placid bar on Main Street offering a curated selection of wine, scotch, bourbon, craft beer, and top-shelf liquors, complemented by small plates and signature cocktails. Enjoy 'Spirits with a View' from its large deck overlooking Mi…
- Bitters & Bones3.9 mi
Saranac Lake's only downtown brewery, restaurant, and bar, Bitters & Bones offers craft beer brewed upstairs, fresh local cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and craft cocktails. It features rooftop decks and unique private event spa…
Stay.
4- Meadowbrook Campground1.2 mi
Meadowbrook is the best bargain in town for those visiting the Lake Placid Olympic Training venues and the Village of Lake Placid. Located only 4 miles from the center of town, campers have no shortage of activities available to them.
- Morenos Cottages1.5 mi
Moreno's Adirondack Cabins offers camp-style cabins, cottages, and a vacation home rental in Ray Brook, NY, near Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. They provide one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and pet-friendly options, with some available year-round.
- Moose Mountain Lodge2.5 mi
Moose Mountain Lodge is a five-bedroom, five-bathroom Adirondack-style home in Lake Placid. Overlooking the Whiteface Club and Resort golf course, it features a rec-room with a pool table, sauna, and hot tub, and includes access to the res…
- Whiteface Club2.6 mi
A historic resort on Whiteface Inn Lane in Lake Placid since 1882, with 18-hole Van Kleek championship golf, tennis and pickleball, a private marina on Lake Placid, and a Nordic Center.
See.
4- Boots & Birdies2.7 mi
Boots & Birdies is a family-owned, Western-themed fun center in Lake Placid, NY. It offers an 18-hole miniature golf course, a baseball batting cage, and a custom mining sluice for gemstone and fossil mining, providing hours of outdoor act…
- Ice Palace at the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival3.4 mi
The Ice Palace is a prominent feature of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a historic annual celebration in New York State established in 1897.
- Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage3.6 mi
The Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum in Saranac Lake, New York, was the residence of the famous author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island. It preserves his personal belongings and is the world's first site dedicated to Ste…
- Captain Marney's Boat Rental3.7 mi
Captain Marney's Boat Rental offers boat and water sports rentals in the Lake Placid, NY area. They provide reasonably priced options for various water enthusiasts, including discounts for multi-day, multi-boat, and group rentals.
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Frequently asked.
- How long is the McKenzie Mountain Trail?The McKenzie Mountain Trail is approximately 2.52 miles (4.1 kilometers) — a short out-and-back suitable for most fitness levels.
- How long does it take to hike the McKenzie Mountain Trail?Most hikers complete the McKenzie Mountain Trail in about 2 hours 15 minutes at a steady pace with roughly 1,978 feet of elevation gain. Allow extra time for rest stops, photos, weather, and trail conditions.
- How difficult is the McKenzie Mountain Trail?Based on its length and elevation gain, the McKenzie Mountain Trail is a demanding hike (1,978 ft of climbing over the route) — sustained climbing best suited to fit, experienced hikers. This is an estimate from route data, not an official trail rating — check current DEC advisories before heading out.
- Who maintains the McKenzie Mountain Trail?The McKenzie Mountain Trail is operated or maintained by NYSDEC (part of the lwn network).
- What peaks does the McKenzie Mountain Trail reach?The McKenzie Mountain Trail reaches 2 named summits — see the trail page for the specific peaks and the order they are climbed.
- Which specific peaks does McKenzie Mountain Trail reach?McKenzie Mountain Trail reaches 2 peaks: McKenzie Mountain, Haystack Mountain.