Nine Corner Lake is a popular destination as you will notice by the large pull off parking areas on both sides of NY 29A, as well as the amount of vehicles parked at the trailhead at certain times.  When we drove by the pull off on a nice Sunday late afternoon in August, both pull offs were almost full.  When we arrived on a beautiful Tuesday in August, just before 8am, there was one car in the pull off.  We passed a young couple hiking back from the lake and then passed a couple of people hiking in on our way back from the lake.  The lake looks like it is a popular swimming hole.

The wide, well worn trail starts near the DEC sign at the north side pull off.  Right away you'll reach a kiosk and trail register, then soon after pass by a gate.  The trail follows an old road to the lake and is a snowmobile trail in the winter.  The trail looks to be a wet, sometimes muddy trail from the looks when we hiked here in August 2010.

At 0.4 miles a scenic little stream comes in on your left, and the trail levels off a bit at 0.5 miles.  At 0.65 miles cross a stream on a wide snowmobile bridge with a series of small waterfalls on the right.  Looks like a nice spot to take a break.  The trail climbs slightly and reaches a fork at 0.9 miles where the trail again levels off.  Turn right onto the trail that is visibly more used as it is a well worn path.

The trail to the left is the continuation of the snowmobile trail that heads to the Spectacle Lake Trail.  The well worn trail reaches the shore of Nine Corner Lake at 1.0 miles (DEC sign says 0.9 miles).  This easy hike has an overall elevation gain of 294 feet and can be enjoyed by most members of your family.

This is a well used camping area and unfortunately you'll surely see the signs of recent camping (garbage).  For those who want to explore the lake further, return to the snowmobile trail and continue another 0.6 miles to where the trail again reaches the shore for a another look at the lake.

Below are a few pictures, a video and a map of this popular hike.  Other short hikes worth exploring in this area include Broomstick Lake, Kane Mountain, Jockeybush Lake, Good Luck Lake and Good Luck Mountain Cliffs.  Also check out a day hike to Stewart Lake and Indian Lake.

Directions:  The pull off is located a few hundred feet west from the NY 10 junction on NY 29A in the small hamlet of Pine Lake, north of Caroga Lake State Campground.  The GPS coordinates are N43 11.461 W74 31.620 for those who have a GPS devise.

A well worn path to Nine Corner Lake

Bridge along the Nine Corner Lake Trail