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Hiking in Adirondack Park

Shaker Mountain Wild Forest

Southwest Adirondacks
Hiking in Adirondack Park
Southwestern Adirondacks
Shaker Mountain Wild Forest

Irving Pond
Bellows Lake

 

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Irving Pond and Bellows Lake are two scenic bodies of water located in the Shaker Mountain Wild Forest of the southwestern Adirondacks. Irving Pond is actually much smaller than it is shown on many maps since the dam that created the larger pond was removed in the late 1990s. Both Irving Pond and Bellows Lake have mostly boggy shores, so the best time to visit and explore is in the winter when the soggy shores are frozen. The main trail to both places is a snowmobile trail that is used by hikers as well as mountain bikers in the spring/summer/fall.

Directions: From Caroga Lake Campground take NY 29A north. Soon after the junction with NY 10, turn right on County Road 112 and drive 1.8 miles. Turn left on Shutts Road and drive 0.4 miles to the end of the road. There is NO parking area. You will need to find a safe place to park along the side of the road. The GPS coordinates are N43 09.222 W74 27.344 for the trailhead for those who have a GPS devise in their vehicle.

Irving Pond Hiking Description

It's about 1.1 miles one way to Irving Pond from the end of Shutts Road. From the start of the hike follow where the road ends. You will enter state land after 0.2 miles. The trail crosses a bridge and veers left. The trail will soon veer right. After about 0.9 miles you reach a junction of a snow mobile trail on the left. This trail goes toward a golf course. Soon the trail travels near what remains of Irving Pond, or the old shore of the pond before the dam was removed. To actually reach the current shore you will have to make your own path or what is sometimes called bushwhack.

Bellows Lake Hiking Description

To reach Bellows Lake continue on the snowmobile trail from Irving Pond. After less than a mile from Irving Pond you reach close to Bellows Lake. The trail never gets close to the lake. You will need to find your own path or as they say, bushwhack to explore the shore. Your best bet is to bushwhack near the outlet of the lake as most of the shoreline is very marshy. You can find the trail to these two destinations on the National Geographic Adirondack Park Trails Illustrated Northville/Raquette Lake Map #744. The trail continues on toward Little Holmes and Holmes Lake, although most hikers take the shorter route from Holmes Road.

Look below for a map of these hiking destinations in Shaker Mountain Wild Forest.

 

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