Attention hikers: are you ready for higher, harder, further? In Washington County that means hitting the trails on the east side of Lake George. These are the Adirondacks with bigger mountains, more remote ponds, deeper forests and craggier cliffs. All that plus views of the lake that will take what breath you have left away.
The Towns of Putnam and Dresden and much of Fort Ann lie within the Adirondack Park. State lands here are designated 'forever wild' Forest Preserve and it is on these public lands where many of the trails are located. Many, but not all. The Lake George Land Conservancy has a number of preserves in the lake's watershed and many of these holdings have their own trails. Go to their website where you can access brochures with maps and descriptions. The Sucker Brook Preserve in Putnam is over 1000 acres with 6 miles of trail. Anthony's Nose includes a climb up Record Hill and the Leeming Jelliffe property in Huletts features a short walk to a scenic view. Finally, the Schumann Preserve near Pilot Knob hosts a gazebo with a view of the south basin and a seasonal waterfall.
One way to get a handle on the spaghetti tangle of Lake George trails is to list them by trailhead and destination. Let's start with the Pilot Knob parking area near the end of Co 32. This is the beginning of the trail up Buck Mountain, one of the most popular of Adirondack peaks. To the east is Sly Pond Road where there is a pull off for Inman Pond. This trail also gives access to Pilot Knob Mountain and a rock climbing ledge on the south shoulder of Buck. Drive a few more miles to a T intersection and a left will put you on Shelving Rock Road where there is a major parking hub leading to Dacy Clearing, Sleeping Beauty Mountain and a number of upland ponds. Descending Shelving Rock Road towards the lake will bring you to trails for Shelving Rock Falls and Shelving Rock Mountain as well as walks along the lake shore.
Another popular starting point is a parking area on Pike Brook Road uphill from Huletts Landing in the Town of Dresden. This leads to Black Mountain and alternate access to a number of ponds. That is a vastly oversimplified introduction to the forest preserve trails that connect and branch off in a sometimes confusing maze. Maps and guidebooks will get you where you want to go.
* Spruce Mountain is an adventurous hike not connected to the DEC trails just described. From Rt. 22 in Dresden look for a left turn onto North Road. At the end of the road there's a trail that starts on private property. Follow the blazes to Spruce, Hogback and possibly down to the shore of Lake George, keeping in mind it's a long steep climb back up.
* Two private camps deserve mention. CampWakpominee is owned by the Boy Scouts and covers over a 1000 acres including Sly Pond. I have heard of occasions when members of the public have been allowed to hike here with special permission. A little further up the road is Camp Little Notch where there was a tradition of access to the historic iron furnace when the Girl Scouts owned it. The new group managing the property may have different policies. Best bet is to contact them before hiking in to this popular landmark.
* Two State Forests in the Town of Whitehall are interesting destinations. Access to both is off Rt. 4 between the Villages of Fort Ann and Whitehall. Dolph Pond consists of 726 acres of former Finch land with skid roads and snowmobile paths rather than marked trails. The Saddles State Forest is bigger at 2471 acres and wilder with rugged terrain stretching up and over a ridge and down to South Bay. Access may require a hi-clearance 4x4. Tim Ward has done some amazing stone work on the trails in the area. Snakes may be seen but not touched (duh).
* Death Rock and Skene Mountain have been popular Whitehall destinations in the past but I'm not aware of any access currently. Indeed, the entire range from Battle Hill in Fort Ann extending up thru the state forests and on down to Rt. 22 near South Bay could be an outstanding trip if granted private landowner permission. Back in the day Art Stiles let us go up thru his gravel pit and Christmas tree plantation to enter Big Notch and gain the high ridge. I'ld love to see the view from The Pinnacle one more time. Opening up trails on private land is something the CATS organization has done so well just to the north in Essex County.
* East Bay Wildlife Management Area and the Lower Poultney River Natural Area may appeal to the intrepid. These DEC and Nature Conservancy preserves are located northeast of Whitehall Village along Co. 10. They are perhaps best explored by boat. Hikers might want to cross the Poultney River into Vermont to check out TNC's 3800 acre Buckner Preserve.
* Carvers Falls and the William Miller homestead are two Town of Hampton locations good for short walks. Carvers Falls is a hydroelectric facility on the Poultney River with scenic grounds and a stone power plant. You can also launch a canoe here to explore the lower river. The Miller property includes Ascension Rock which is interesting from both a geological and a historical perspective.
That wraps up my three post overview of hiking opportunities in Washington County. Enjoy what I've included and let me know what I've missed.