Mount Defiance.
Mount Defiance's mile-long route packs considerable vertical gain into a short distance, making it a steep but quick summit push. The trail climbs through northern hardwoods to open ledges with views over Lake Champlain and the fort ruins below at Ticonderoga. Expect rocky footing and sustained uphill—hiking boots recommended for the grade.
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~833 ft · live closures appear above
- AsphaltSurface
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.
Guides, outfitters & shuttles.
If you’re already out here.
Paradox 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- Burleigh's Luncheonette0.6 mi
Burleigh's Luncheonette is a 1950s and 1960s themed restaurant located in historic downtown Ticonderoga, New York, offering classic diner vibes and freshly made meals.
- House of Pizza0.6 mi
A family- and woman-owned pizzeria on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga since 2002, doing traditional pizza, calzones, pasta, and salads with in-store pickup, curbside pickup, delivery, and no-contact delivery. Pizza-club program.
- Hot Biscuit Diner1.0 mi
Hot Biscuit Diner is a full service family style restaurant in Ticonderoga. Visit us today to try our recipes! We put an emphasis on country style cooking, friendly service and affordable pricing. This Diner has been a family owned and ope…
- Trail Break at Schroon Lake17.1 mi
Trail Break at Schroon Lake offers a restaurant, bar, and lodging in Schroon Lake. Guests can enjoy a menu of food, wine, and beer, live music on select evenings, and overnight stays in their rooms from May through October.
Sip.
2- Cupola Crepes17.3 mi
Family-run creperie at 1095 Main Street in Schroon Lake. Sweet and savory crepes (gluten-free batter available), scones, coffee, and soft serve. Wednesday through Sunday.
- 9 Mile Coffee Co17.3 mi
9 Mile Coffee Co. is a coffee shop in downtown Schroon Lake, NY, serving a variety of coffees, teas, smoothies, sandwiches, and soups. They also sell their custom coffee blends and gift cards online.
— 17.3 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- Stone Bridge Ice Cream21.4 mi
Stone Bridge Ice Cream is a seasonal stand located 2.5 miles from the Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, offering over 40 flavors of soft serve, custom ice cream cakes, and signature sundaes. It features outdoor seating and a kids' swing set.
- Crossroads Ice Cream23.0 mi
The ice cream counter at The Crossroads, a country and outdoors store off I-87 Exit 25 in Chestertown between Schroon and Brant Lake — hard and soft ice cream on the road north.
- Cate's Creamery23.0 mi
The main ice cream spot in the heart of Bolton Landing village on Lake George's quieter west shore — soft serve, hand-dipped hard ice cream, and slushies, a short stroll from the lakefront.
- Main Street Ice Cream Parlor23.3 mi
Create a free link in bio with Bio Sites by Squarespace. Showcase your links, earn money, and grow your brand online, all with one link.
— 21.4 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- The Pub0.6 mi
The Pub is a British-inspired restaurant recognized for serving the best Fish and Chips in the U.S. by the UK’s Greene King Brewery. It offers excellent food, drinks, and genuine hospitality with a wide selection of beers.
- Tavern on Main13.5 mi
Tavern on Main brings a Chicago-style modern upscale gastropub to the historic Crown Point square — the closest sit-down dining to the Crown Point State Historic Site and the Lake Champlain Bridge crossing.
- The Old Mine15.8 mi
The Old Miners Tavern is a historic Adirondack tavern in Moriah, NY, offering classic bar food like juicy burgers and chicken wings, a full bar with rotating craft beers, and a welcoming atmosphere for friends to gather.
- Paradox Brewery17.2 mi
Paradox Brewery offers a diverse tap selection, a full menu with pizza, burgers, and BBQ, and an expansive mountain landscape.
Stay.
4- Stone House Motel & Motor Lodge1.0 mi
A stone-built motor lodge on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga, family-run since 1948, with antique-furnished lodge rooms, A-frame units with Adirondack themes, and motel-strip housekeeping units with kitchen appliances.
- Brookwood RV Resort4.4 mi
An RV resort on Route 9N between Hague and Ticonderoga, with full-hookup RV sites, tent sites, and rustic Adirondack-style cabins. WiFi on all sites, fire rings, and Saturday-night live music in July and August.
- The Inn on Lake Champlain - Adirondack Farmstay B&B8.0 mi
Historic 440-acre Adirondack farmstay B&B above Lake Champlain in Putnam Station. Four en-suite bedrooms, two parlors, formal dining, wrap-around porch. Working farm with horses, cows, and chickens.
- Silver Bay YMCA - Conference and Family Retreat Center11.1 mi
A 700-acre lakeshore conference and family-retreat center in operation since 1904. National Register of Historic Places. 253 rooms across hotel, cottages, dorms, and guest houses; meeting spaces up to 700; 15 miles of hiking trails.
See.
4- Ticonderoga Heritage Museum0.5 mi
A local history museum on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga inside the 1888 building, the sole surviving structure from the Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company. Free walking tours of the La Chute industrial corridor.
- Fort Ticonderoga1.4 mi
A restored French and Indian War / Revolutionary War fort on 2,000-plus acres at the south end of Lake Champlain in Ticonderoga, with living-history demonstrations, the King's Garden, a corn maze, and boat tours on the lake aboard the Carillon.
- Penfield Homestead Museum8.2 mi
Penfield Homestead Museum preserves the history of Crown Point, NY, and the surrounding Ironville area. Explore the historic homestead, barns, church, and learn about local history, military conflicts, and notable families.
- Godwin Preserve18.7 mi
Godwin Preserve in the Town of Bolton offers two hiking trails totaling 112 acres, with moderate difficulty. The Yellow Trail provides views of Amy's Park wetlands and High Nopit, while the Red Trail connects to Pole Hill Pond Preserve.
Add to the record.
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.
Add a shot.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →File a report.
Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Spot something off?
Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
Suggest an edit →
Frequently asked.
- How long is the Mount Defiance?The Mount Defiance is approximately 1.04 miles (1.7 kilometers) — a short out-and-back suitable for most fitness levels.
- How long does it take to hike the Mount Defiance?Most hikers complete the Mount Defiance in about 45 minutes at a steady pace with roughly 485 feet of elevation gain. Allow extra time for rest stops, photos, weather, and trail conditions.
- How difficult is the Mount Defiance?Based on its length and elevation gain, the Mount Defiance is a moderate hike (485 ft of climbing over the route) — steady climbing that rewards a reasonable base of fitness. This is an estimate from route data, not an official trail rating — check current DEC advisories before heading out.