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Hiking in Adirondack Park

Powley-Piseco Road Ferris Lake Wild Forest

Hiking in Adirondack Park

Ferris Lake Wild Forest

Powley-Piseco Road

Goldmine Stream Falls

 

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The beginning of the trail to the waterfalls on Goldmine Stream is well concealed from Powley-Piseco Road.  Three blazes on a tree mark the start of the trail, opposite and just south of a meadow, about 0.1 mile north of a camping area.  This spot is about 12.45 miles north of NY 29A along Powley-Piseco Road.  There is parking along the wide shoulders of the dirt road.  It is a 1.3 mile moderate walk to the falls with major wet sections.  The path actually follows an old logging road built before WWII, but the area surrounding this part of the road was never logged.

The unmarked path takes hikers to a series of small waterfalls along Goldmine Stream.  This is one of those beautiful, somewhat unknown spots in the Adirondacks.  Although the trail is not an officially marked DEC trail, it looks that someone keeps the trail somewhat clear and some work on the trail was done in the past.  Hunters use this path.

After a short distance the trail reaches a wet area that someone has placed cut hemlocks as stepping blocks in the wet section.  Be careful the steps are slippery.  At 0.1 miles cross a stream on a plank and log footbridge with more stepping blocks across the stream.  After 0.3 miles the trail is in the old growth forest with huge mature yellow birch as well as spruce and hemlocks.

At 0.6 miles the trail descends to a small stream is forded.  Note this spot as it can be difficult to follow on your return.  The trail now heads into a marshy area that can be flooded at times.  This area will frustrate most hikers and send them back.  What remains of an old bridge over a stream at 0.7 miles is really inadequate and there is no way around the marsh.  

The stream is the outlet of Christian Lake and although is small, it is deep.  The old bridge has deteriorated to a couple of old logs.  After crossing the outlet stream the path heads to a higher section away from the vlei into a hemlock grove.  At 1.0 miles the path takes a steep ascent as Goldmine Stream is heard on your left, although it may not be seen through the hemlocks and brush.

After cresting the steep climb, turn left toward the stream for views of the series of small waterfalls, which is the Goldmine Stream Falls.  The path continues on past the falls, to a fern meadow where is seems to disappear.  If you explore this area you might come across an old foundation and a dug well.  Legend has this was the site of a goldmine.  The old logging road actually continued on toward Morehouse Lake.  Major blow downs and other obstacles choke the old road.

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