The Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce has printed a Trail Map of the Hiking trails in our region. You can get a copy of it at the Welcome Center in downtown Indian Lake. There is a $1 charge to cover printing costs. The map locates all the following trails.

1. Snowy Mountain - 3.9 miles. Difficult - Extremely steep at the end. There are great views and a fire tower on the top. The trailhead is on Route 30, 6.5 miles south of the village of Indian lake. Read more about Snowy Mountain Fire Tower.

2. Watch Hill - 1.2 miles. Fairly easy but steep at the end. Great views. Not a State marked trail. The trail begins at an old dirt road 7.6 miles South of Indian Lake Town Center. Follow the old road .7 mile to an orange painted metal stake that marks the trail to the right. Keep right at both forks up the trail, which finally passes one beautiful overlook before reaching the summit .2 mile later.

3. Watch Hill from the Lake - .5 mile, boat access, steep. The unmarked trail is located next to a large boulder at the North end of a small cove near Watch Point.

4. Baldface Mountain - 1.1 mile, moderate. Great views, boat access through a channel to the far side of Norman’s Cove (North of Indian Lake Islands) to trailhead.

5. John Mack Pond - 1.6 mile, moderate. Boat access. Trailhead in small cove South of campsite #26 on East Shore of Indian Lake. Trail continues to Long Pond and Rock Pond.

6. Dug Mountain Brook Falls - .4 mile, easy. Boat access. The trail is at the South end of Jessup fork of Indian Lake. The first small falls is visible from the Lake.

7. John’s Pond - 2.5 miles, easy, flat Take Big Brook Road to Chimney Mountain Craftsmen factory. Turn left onto Starbuck Road to the end of the blacktop, then bear left on dirt road to T and turn right to the trailhead. lean-to on the shore.

8. Chimney Mountain - 1.1 miles, moderate - steep at the end.

9. Puffer Pond - 2 miles. moderate. Both trailheads are at the end of Big Brook Road in Indian Lake. The mountain trail is marked in blue. The pond trail is marked in red crosses. There is a beaver dam en-route. At the pond the trail continues east to 13th Lake.

10. Peaked Mountain and Pond - 3 miles. moderate, steep in parts. Park at the north end of 13th Lake and hike south along lake shore .75 miles to where the trail follows a mountain brook on the right. 2.3 miles to the pond. The trails to...

11. Siamese Ponds and Puffer Pond are at the end of 13th Lake Road.

12. Blue Ledges - Easy, flat. Take Rt. 28N from North Creek, 9.4 miles to Northwoods Club Road. Turn left here and drive another 6 miles on a dirt road to Huntley Pond parking area and Blue Ledges trailhead. Be careful of river currents at trails end.

13. Ross Pond - 2.5 Miles, easy. The parking area is on the South side of Route 28 - 6 miles east of Abanakee Bridge. The trail is on the North side of Route 28.

14. Bullhead Pond - .5 mile, easy. Trailhead at rafter parking lot on Chain Lakes Road, Indian Lake.

15. Sawyer Mountain - 1 mile, moderate. Nice views. the trailhead is on Rt. 28/30 between Indian lake and Blue Mountain Lake. The summit is wooded but there are 2 lookouts on the way up and another 100 yards beyond the summit.

16. Rock Lake - .75 mile, easy, flat. The trailhead is on Rt. 28/30 between Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake.

17. Rock River - 3 miles, easy flat. The trailhead is on Rt. 28/30 between Indian Lake and Blue Mountain Lake.

18. Rock Pond - .75 mile/Cascade Pond 2.8 miles/Stephen's Pond 4.3 miles, easy flat. The trailhead is on Durant Road in Blue Mountain Lake near the cemetery. The trail intersects Northville-Lake Placid Trail .6 mile before Stephen's Pond. Bear right at junction. Lean-to at Stephen's Pond and Cascade Pond.

19. Grassy Pond - .5 mile/Wilson Pond 2.7 miles, easy. fairly flat. The trailhead is on Rt. 28 opposite Eagle Lake, approximately 3.5 miles West of Blue Mountain Lake junction.

20 Tirrell Pond - 2.9 miles, easy.

21. Blue Mountain - 2 miles, moderately difficult, steep. Awesome views. Firetower on top. The trailhead parking for both trails is on Rt. 30 North of the Museum. The mountain trail is marked in red. The pond trail is marked in yellow. The pond trail intersects the Northville-Lake Placid Trail. Bear right at the junction.

22. Castle Rock - 1.5 miles, steep at end. Great views. Read article on Castle Rock.

23. Upper Sargent Pond - 4.7 miles, flat. Take Maple Lodge Road in Blue Mountain Lake to the parking area at the end on left side just before the register

box. After the first mile, red-marked pond trail continues right and Castle Rock Trail follows yellow markers to the left.

24. Buttermilk Falls - Short walk to the Falls. The trailhead is about 2.5 milesdown North Point Road off Route 30 just before Long Lake. Easy trails to...

25. Grass Pond and Upper and Lower Sargent Ponds from North Point Road.

26. Sprague Pond - .3 mile, easy, flat. Go west on Cedar River Road, 4.3 miles to trailhead. (Look for yellow Gate.)

27. Wakely Mountain - 3 miles, moderately difficult, steep at end. Go 11.7 miles down Cedar River Road to trailhead. Firetower on top.

28. Sucker Brook Trail - 7.9 miles, steep in places. The trailhead begins off short blacktop road at state camp just North of Lewey Lake outlet on Rt. 30. Lean-to on Cedar River at 6.9 mi. The Trail connects to Northville-Lake Placid Trail near Cedar lakes.

29. Pillsbury Mountain - Moderately difficult, steep. The trailhead begins 1.9 miles South on Route 30 below Galusha’s Cabins on Lewey lake. Take the Perkins Clearing dirt road on right. Go 3.3 miles to fork and bear right to Sled Harbor parking area. Hike the road from there .75 mile to trail on left to Mountain and Firetower on top. (Other direction on road continues to West Canada and Cedar Lakes area on Northville-Lake Placid Trail)

30. Northville-Lake Placid Trail - 130 miles trail. Popular sections include from Durant campsite to Stephen's Pond (3 miles) and to Tirrell Pond (3.5miles). Both are easy and link to local trails. Other connections at McCane’s on Cedar River Road, Headquarters at Cedar River Flow, Sucker Brook Trail and Perkins Clearing/Sled Harbor Road.

If You Are Planning To Camp On State Land

A camping permit is required from a local NYS Forest Ranger if you are planning to stay over three nights at one location or state land. If you have a group of ten or more, a permit is required for any number of nights
Only DEAD and DOWN wood can be used for firewood.
Carry out more than you carry in.
Don’t put anything in our bodies of water that you wouldn’t put in your own body..
Extinguish all campfires until cold to touch.
Because of possible Giardia contamination, avoid drinking from all water sources found in the woods.
Bury and cover human waste six to twelve inches deep.

If Your Outdoor Activity Includes Boating Or Canoeing

Properly fitting Life Jackets that you can’t pull over your ears are a must for safe boating, even on Wilderness Ponds. Life Jackets must be worn to be of any good. It is nearly impossible to put one on while trying to swim in 40-degree water.
These tips are suggested to you by your New York State Forest Rangers who remind you: You may need their assistance in the event of a problem.

Hiking Trail Courtesy

• Stay on the trails. Sign the registers. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.

• Check weather reports and plan your hikes carefully so you have time to get back.

• Be prepared for emergencies. Bring along a compass, a pocketknife, waterproof matches, extra high-energy food, a first-aid kit, extra protective clothing, maps and guidebook.

• Whatever you carry in, carry out. Please don’t litter.

• If you do become lost: Stay calm, keep warm, and stay where you are. If you do feel you can find your way out, remember that following streams downhill will usually lead to signs of habitation.

• Please be extra careful of matches, cigarettes, and fire.