Big Alderbed Lake is a somewhat tough hike with a trailhead off the Powley-Piseco Road located 10.9 miles north of NY 29A just south of the Powley Place Bridge over the West Branch of East Canada Creek.  It's a moderate round trip hike of almost six miles that includes a challenging stream crossing or two and some wet sections.  The trail follows an old logging road that was built without water drainage in mind, so you'll find wet sections.  The trail marked as a snowmobile trail although it seems to narrow to support it.

The lake has some history as it was made larger to support the needs the logging industry by the construction of a dam.  The dam has long washed away, but sometimes beavers partially rebuild it.  The old logging passes by some really large trees that interestedly were missed by the loggers.  In fact a huge area north of the trail still has an old growth forest, one of the few remaining in the Adirondacks.

The best time to make this hike is during times of dry weather.  It's a pleasant long walk along the old road and takes you to the beautiful Big Alderbed Lake as well as a pretty outlet stream, which is actually the start of the West Branch of East Canada Creek.  There is a very scenic grassy vly where the outlet flows.  This is not for hikers who get frustrated by many wet sections and tricky stream crossings.  For those who make it all the way, your reward is a scenic lake visited by few humans.

From the trailhead at Powley-Piseco Road, follow the old road past a few campsites and in 0.1 miles cross a wet area on old railroad ties.  At 0.3 miles the trail passes a clearing and crosses a small brook, then there is a short uphill section.  A small stream is crossed at 0.7 miles and a real muddy area is encountered at 0.8 miles, which most hikers avoid by going left or right.

Another wet area is crossed, then a small brook at 0.9 miles.  Begin a moderate climb and cross a larger stream by rock hopping at 1.0 miles.  The climb continues, but you should start to notice some really large trees in the forest.  Trees that escaped the axes of lumberjacks all those years ago.

At 1.3 miles is yet another boggy area with big rocks all around.  Your crossing yet another stream at 1.4 miles and then making your way through a grove of birch and beech trees.  At 1.6 miles the trail climbs again, then begins to descend at 1.7 miles.  Cross a wet area and then a larger stream at 2.0 miles.  You may need to find a good place to cross this stream.  Many frustrated hikers have turned around at this stream.  After the crossing the trail tends to get overgrown in the next section, especially in mid summer. 

The trail climbs again before descending to the swift moving outlet stream of Big Alderbed Lake at 2.5 miles.  This crossing can be difficult and shouldn't attempting during times of high water or after periods of heavy rain.  It certainly shouldn't be attempting in the spring during the snow melt.  The big dilemma of this hike is how or where to cross the outlet stream?  Wade across? Rock hop if enough rocks can be found? Bushwhack up to the dam and see if you can cross there?  During dry times the crossing shouldn't be a problem.

After crossing the trail again becomes difficult to follow, probably from more frustrated hikers turning back at the outlet.  If you can determine the trail it should take you to a nice grassy camping area on the shore of a scenic Big Alderbed Lake.  If you look closely, about 150 feet from the camping area near the outlet stream you might be able to see the wood and stone remains of the old dam from the early 1900s.  If you've made it this far, sit and gaze over an area most people have never seen.  Enjoy!

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