Northville-Placid Trail.
A venerable long-distance footpath threading roughly 229 kilometers through the Adirondack wilderness, the Northville-Placid Trail connects the southern reaches of the park to the northern highlands near Lake Placid. Managed by the NYSDEC and marked with blue blazons, the route is reported to pass through some of the region's most remote backcountry, where self-sufficiency becomes not merely advisable but essential.
- Full-day hikePlan on a full day out
Seasonal pattern for this trail · tops out ~3,045 ft · live closures appear above
- NYSDECOperator
- rwnNetwork
DEC advisories on this trail.
Read the line before you walk it.
The trail in 10 sections.
At 137.2 miles, few hike it in a single push. It breaks into 10 trailhead-to-trailhead sections — tap Favorite to save a stretch, then hike it in the app instead of the whole line.
Sections auto-derived from trailhead & parking access · refined by editors
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.
- MI 8.3West Stony Creek Lean-To210 ft off
- MI 25.0Silver Lake Lean-Toon the trail
- MI 30.5Long Mountain2,133 ft0.28 mi off
- MI 31.9Mud Lake Mountain2,234 ft0.29 mi off
- MI 36.1Priests Vly Mountain2,001 ft0.56 mi off
- MI 37.5Buckhorn Mountain2,169 ft0.48 mi off
- MI 52.7Spruce Lake #3 Lean-To320 ft off
- MI 56.9West Canada Creek Lean-Toon the trail
- MI 56.9South Lake Lean-Toon the trail
- MI 56.9West Lake #1 Lean-To220 ft off
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.
Indian 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- Klippel's Kozy Korner Cafe0.1 mi
India’s largest Food Delivery, Dining and Restaurant Discovery Service. Better food for more people.
- The Local0.2 mi
Fine-dining restaurant in the Great Sacandaga Lake region.
- Lanzi's on the Lake5.9 mi
An Italian restaurant and wedding venue on Route 30 in Mayfield on the Great Sacandaga shore, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a large deck, and event capacity up to 200.
- Alpine Grille9.7 mi
A long-running roadside steak-and-seafood house on the Sacandaga, between Northville and Wells. Generous portions, a lively bar, and the kind of dining room where the staff knows the regulars by name. Reservations recommended on weekends.
Sip.
3- ADK Blend0.2 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee13.9 mi
Uncle Carl's Coffee serves expertly crafted coffees, artisan teas, pastries, and light savory bites. They also offer daily quiche and bagels, along with homemade soups, frozen meals, local meats, and cheeses.
- The PERKS of Speculator21.1 mi
Speculator coffee shop and bakery at 2855 NY-30. Specialty coffee, espresso, fresh-baked bagels and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Gluten-free options across the bakery case.
Sweet.
4- The Village Scoop0.3 mi
A walk-up ice cream shop on Northville's Main Street at the north tip of Great Sacandaga Lake — hard ice cream and soft serve with a wide flavor selection.
- Cree-Mee Freeze2.4 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
- Zippy's Ice Cream9.6 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Mayfield near the Park's southern gateway and Great Sacandaga Lake, known for dense, cold soft serve with weekly flavors like maple and coffee.
- Speculator Creamery21.2 mi
A family-run village creamery anchoring Speculator's tiny downtown near Lake Pleasant — a genuine community summer hub. Wide-ranging soft-serve flavors, the 16oz Nor'Easter blend, and hand-dipped hard ice cream. Roughly May through September.
Drink.
4- Sport Island Pub0.8 mi
Sport Island Pub offers great food, refreshing drinks, and friendly entertainment on the Great Sacandaga Lake. This family-run restaurant, with three generations of service, invites you to enjoy exquisite dishes for dine-in or take-out.
- South Shore Dive4.6 mi
South Shore Dive: Casual dining on Great Sacandaga Lake. Made-to-order meals, craft cocktails, lake views. Book now in upstate NY!
- Sacandaga Spirits9.4 mi
Located in Mayfield, Sacandaga Spirits offers a selection of handcrafted wines, liquors, and ciders. Visitors are invited to experience their local Adirondack offerings.
- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse16.6 mi
Caroga Lake restaurant at 1810 NY-10 doing hand-cut, in-house steaks, fresh seafood, and a tight made-to-order menu. 19 craft beers on tap, NY Finger Lakes wines. Open Thursday through Sunday; Sunday 11–5.
Stay.
4- Inn At the Bridge0.4 mi
A historic six-room inn on the shore of the Great Sacandaga Lake in Northville, with its own marina, full-property rentals, and a setup built for small weddings.
- The Orendaga0.7 mi
A quaint guesthouse with suites & cabins, with a private lakeside beach & an art gallery on-site.
- The Great Sacandaga Motel0.8 mi
This classic roadside motel offers comfortable, practical rooms for year-round stays in Northville, just steps from the Great Sacandaga Lake.
- Northampton Beach Campground2.5 mi
Northampton Beach Campground is situated on the northwest corner of 29-mile long Great Sacandaga Lake. It offers a variety of large, level camping sites, ranging from secluded spots among white pines to open areas along the sandy shoreline.
See.
4- Historic Copeland Covered Bridge3.6 mi
The Historic Copeland Covered Bridge is a 35-foot Queenpost truss bridge built in 1879 by Arad Copeland in Edinburg, Saratoga County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the only covered bridge remaining in Saratoga C…
- Grandview Mini Golf9.7 mi
An 18-hole lakeside mini golf course on Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield, with an arcade, ice cream novelties, snacks, and party hosting — reachable by boat or car. Open seven days, noon to 8pm; $8 unlimited all-day play.
- Ampersand Christine Falls21.0 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Speculator Historical Museum21.3 mi
A small local-history museum on Route 8 in Speculator inside the original Lake Pleasant Town Hall and Library. Open weekends Memorial Day through August, plus weekday hours in summer.
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Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
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Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
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Frequently asked.
- How long is the Northville-Placid Trail?The Northville-Placid Trail is approximately 137.2 miles (220.9 kilometers) — a backpacking-scale route requiring multiple days or a major day-effort.
- How long does it take to hike the Northville-Placid Trail?Most hikers complete the Northville-Placid Trail in about 72 hours at a steady pace with roughly 6,799 feet of elevation gain. Allow extra time for rest stops, photos, weather, and trail conditions.
- How difficult is the Northville-Placid Trail?Based on its length and elevation gain, the Northville-Placid Trail is a demanding hike (6,799 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 Northville-Placid Trail?The Northville-Placid Trail is operated or maintained by NYSDEC (part of the rwn network).
- What peaks does the Northville-Placid Trail reach?The Northville-Placid Trail reaches 14 named summits — see the trail page for the specific peaks and the order they are climbed.
- Which specific peaks does Northville-Placid Trail reach?Northville-Placid Trail reaches 14 peaks: Cobble Hill, Water Barrel Mountain, Long Mountain, Mud Lake Mountain, Round Top and 9 others.