Trail Description: Planning your first trip to the Adirondacks? Discover beginner-friendly hikes, breathtaking views, and tips for exploring New York's stunning wilderness.

Trail Info:

Where: Schroon Lake, NY Click here for directions. Distance: 2.4 miles Difficulty: Moderate Trail Type: Out and Back Trail Features: Picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness

How to get there:

The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9. However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way. Once parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87.

Hiking Tips:

• Put your name in the Sign In chart once you arrive.

• This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes.

Adirondacks Weekend Travel Guide Recommendation: Mount Severance Hike and Paradox Brewery

The warm weather is finally here to stay in the northeast.  Summer of 2017 looks pretty darn good.  I have been planning as many trips as my wallet can handle. My weekends are booked up through almost October.  There will be many adventures and lots of food.  The first real travel this summer was thanks to friends of mine.  They have a friend who owns a house on Paradox Lake.  It was a good opportunity to check out some hiking in upstate New York. It was my first trip to the Adirondacks. The house was legit right on the lake. We had our own little beach area and dock. The house was pretty remote so there was no internet connection. It is good sometimes to go without the need of checking your phone on social media and enjoy where you are and who you are with. However, the second I had internet it was game on! It was absolutely, awesome views to  see the sun rise and see the sun set.  I tried to get  good pictures, but I always get distracted by food. I couldn’t help it.  My friend’s family always goes all out. It was a weekend of relaxing, filet mignons and tasty ribs.

I have never ventured to this part of New York.  The Adirondacks has been on my list of areas to see for a while.   When I saw the house was nestled in the Adirondacks Park, I quickly said, “I’m in!”. The first night we hung out at the house and settled in. The next day we did some swimming and soaking in the beauty of the lake. The weather was exceptional. Sun was out with a cool breeze. In the afternoon we headed into the town of Schroon Lake, which was about a 10 minute ride. It was a nice little town area full of small businesses such as ice cream shops, restaurants, and stores.  Our mission on this afternoon was beer.  We researched a local brewery prior to our stay and it turned out pretty good. It was called Paradox Brewery. All of the seating and bar taps were located outside. There was a food truck and corn hole boards. More importantly, the beer was good.  They had a selection of 7 different beers consisting of IPAs, Pilsner, Rye Ale, Saisons, Sour and Stout options.  They had one cider from another brewery, Awestruck, which was extremely delish.  My favorite beers were the Double IPA and surprisingly the Sour. Sours aren't usually my thing but this one was so good I got a growler. The tartness I did taste was the mix of melons, limes, and citrus. It is a kettle sour aptly named "Oats and Gose". The brewery was a good find to have beers and hang out. I would give it a shot if you are in the area.

The last day I was there, I had to get a hike in.  There were a handful of hikes within 30 minutes or so of our location.  The one that caught my eye was Mount Severance in Schroon Lake, NY.  It was only about 10 minutes from the house rental.  The parking lot for the hike was easy to find. It is right off State Route 9.  However, my gps got confused and made us go out of the way since the beginning of the hike starts under  I-87.  Once you were parked, the trailhead is right in front of you through the tunnels under the I-87.  One thing that stood out to me, there was a sign-in chart for hikers.  I have never seen that before and I thought that was a great idea if people were to get lost or injured.  For a longer or more strenuous hikes, I would like to see more of these. For this hike, it was very well marked and and a quick trip to the summit.  I can see why this is a popular hike.  It was roughly 2 .4 miles round trip and the summit offers picturesque views of Schroon Lake and Pharaoah Lake Wilderness.  The terrain wasn’t bad although we got caught in a little rain storm.  There were some steep inclines and rocky areas but I would consider this a moderate hike. This hike could easily been done in normal gym shoes.  I really enjoyed it.  Everything you want in a hike – good photo opportunities, optimal summit location, and fun.  I would hike this again given the chance.

HIKING FOR DONUTS

A blog for the outdoors foodie enthusiast

Hi, I’m Mark. I live in Connecticut. I take new trips every chance I get. A good trip has a great hike, great food, and something fun to do. My goal is to search out new trips and share them to inspire others to try something new and exciting.

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