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Beginner Friendly
Browse hikes with more forgiving distance, terrain, and route complexity while still keeping Adirondack-specific preparation in view.
Start Here
Explore Beginner Friendly
Browse hikes with more forgiving distance, terrain, and route complexity while still keeping Adirondack-specific preparation in view.
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High Peaks • 0.6 mi • Easy
Roaring Brook Falls
Roaring Brook Falls is an easy-access Route 73 waterfall stop with a short base approach and Giant Mountain trail connections.
Gain 100 ft
Northern • 0.8 mi • Easy
Belfry Mountain Fire Tower
Belfry Mountain is one of the Adirondacks’ easiest fire tower hikes, using a short access road to wide Champlain Valley views.
Gain 120 ft
Western • 0.8 mi • Easy
Lampson Falls
Lampson Falls is a popular, easy, accessible waterfall hike to a broad 60-foot cascade on the Grasse River.
Gain 60 ft
Northern • 3.1 mi • Easy Moderate
Heaven Hill Trails
Heaven Hill Trails is an easy Lake Placid trail system of meadow and forest loops with mountain views and year-round nonmotorized use.
Gain 170 ft
High Peaks • 2.4 mi • Easy Moderate
Cobble Lookout
Cobble Lookout is an easy Wilmington Wild Forest out-and-back to a ledge with broad views toward Whiteface, Jay, Hurricane, and the Ausable drainage.
Gain 469 ft
Western • 1 mi • Easy
Rocky Mountain
Rocky Mountain is a short but steep Inlet area climb to open summit ledges and Fulton Chain views.
Gain 450 ft
Southern • 2.6 mi • Easy Moderate
Panther Mountain/Echo Cliff
Panther Mountain and Echo Cliff form a short, steep Piseco hike to open views across Piseco Lake and the southern Adirondacks.
Gain 500 ft
Western • 2.2 mi • Easy Moderate
Mount Arab Fire Tower
Mount Arab Fire Tower is a short Tupper Lake-area climb with a restored tower, summit cabin, and broad northern Adirondack views.
Gain 700 ft
Northern • 2.2 mi • Easy Moderate
Coney Mountain
Coney Mountain is a short Tupper Lake Triad climb with an exposed rocky summit and excellent 360-degree Adirondack views.
Gain 550 ft
Northern • 2 mi • Easy Moderate
Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill is a short Lake Placid 9er hike above Mirror Lake with quick summit views over Lake Placid and the High Peaks.
Gain 480 ft
Northern • 3.2 mi • Moderate
Goodman Mountain
Goodman Mountain combines a family-friendly Tupper Lake Triad hike, forest walking, summit views, and meaningful civil rights history.
Gain 930 ft
Northern • 1.6 mi • Easy Moderate
Big Crow Mountain
Big Crow Mountain is a short, steep Lake Placid 9er hike from Crow Clearing with rock-slab footing and unusually expansive High Peaks views.
Gain 990 ft
Eastern • 2.1 mi • Easy Moderate
Severance Mountain
Severance Mountain is a short but steep Schroon Lake-area climb with a Northway underpass approach and rewarding eastern Adirondack views.
Gain 725 ft
Eastern • 2.8 mi • Easy Moderate
Baxter Mountain
Baxter Mountain is a popular short hike near Keene with a steady climb, open ledges, and broad views for modest mileage.
Gain 700 ft
Northern • 1.6 mi • Easy Moderate
Baker Mountain
Baker Mountain is a short, steep Saranac Lake 6er hike with fast access, rocky lookouts, and views over town and nearby peaks.
Gain 884 ft
High Peaks • 2.5 mi • Easy Moderate
Mount Jo
Mount Jo is a short Heart Lake hike with a surprisingly open summit view over the High Peaks and two short route options.
Gain 710 ft
Western • 2 mi • Easy Moderate
Rondaxe Fire Tower
Rondaxe Fire Tower, commonly called Bald Mountain, is a short rocky fire tower hike with sustained views over the Fulton Chain.
Gain 502 ft
Central • 1.6 mi • Easy
Castle Rock
Castle Rock is a Blue Mountain Lake hike to cliffs, small caves, and open views over the lake and surrounding mountains.
Gain 440 ft
High Peaks • 3.6 mi • Moderate
Mount Van Hoevenberg
Mount Van Hoevenberg is a moderate Lake Placid hike with Olympic venue access, sustainable trail design, and broad High Peaks views.
Gain 1,000 ft
High Peaks • 4.8 mi • Moderate Hard
Cascade Mountain
Cascade Mountain is a popular introductory High Peak with open summit views and two Hike ADK supported approaches from Route 73 and Mount Van Hoevenberg.
Gain 1,940 ft
High Peaks • 2.8 mi • Easy Moderate
Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails
Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails provide an easy Lake Placid woods-and-water trail network with loop options near the shoreline and Peninsula Way.
Gain 236 ft
Northern • 4.2 mi • Moderate
Boardwalk Nature Trail
The Boardwalk Nature Trail follows Paul Smith’s VIC Boreal Life Trail, a short bog-boardwalk interpretive loop.
Gain 183 ft
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