The 26,600 acre
Ha-de-ron-dah Wilderness is in the western foothills of
Adirondack
Park,
west of the popular tourist destination of Old Forge. This popular area in
the Adirondacks
is easily accessed off NY 28.
There are nearly 35
miles of marked hiking trails located in Ha-de-ron-dah Wilderness.
There are four popular bushwhacks for those who like going off trail
can attempt. Cross Hill, Six Mile Hill, Coal Hill and
Quarry
Mountain
are bare summit hills created by forest fires from a century ago. There are two lean to’s located in the Wilderness, both being very popular to
backpackers. The shelters are located at
Middle
Settlement
Lake
and
Middle
Branch
Lake.
The make up of the hiking trails in this
wilderness offer backpackers a chance to explore the area utilizing
loop hikes. You can choose a number of loop hiking options in this
wilderness, from shorter loops to longer, multi day backpacking loop hikes.
Ha-de-ron-dah
Wilderness hiking trails
Big Otter Lake
Trail -
(Blue, 7.8
miles) Thendara to
Big
Otter
Lake.
This former truck trail is now closed to vehicular use by 2 gate
barriers at Thendara.
Lost Creek Trail
- (Red, 2.6 miles) Big Otter Lake Trail northerly to a dead end on
Lost Creek.
Lost Creek- East
Pond- Link Trail - (Blue, 1.8
miles) Links Lost Creek Trail with East Pond Trail.
East Pond Trail -
(Yellow, 2.8 miles) Big Otter Lake Trail to East Pond via Little
Simon Pond.
Blackfoot Pond Trail
- (Red, 1.0 mile) East Pond Trail
to Blackfoot Pond.
Moose River Mountain
Trail - (0.7 miles) Old trail to
site of the former fire tower.
Middle Branch Lake
Trail - (Yellow, 1.6 miles) Old
Cedar Pond Shelter to Big Otter Trail.
Middle Branch Lean-to
Trail - (Red, 0.2 miles) Middle
Branch Lake Trail to shelter.
Middle Settlement
Lake Trail - (Yellow, 3.7 miles)
Site of the former Cedar Pond Shelter to Brown's Tract Trail via
Middle
Settlement
Lake.
Vista Trail
- (Blue, 0.2 miles) Middle Settlement Lake Trail to top of a cliff.
This trail is no longer maintained as the trees have grown to block
the scenic view.
Middle Settlement
Lake Access Trail - (Blue,
1.2 miles) Middle Settlement Lake Trail to Brown's Tract Trail. This
is a popular trail with hikers looking for the quickest route to the
lake.
Cedar Pond Trail
– (Red, 2.2 miles) Brown’s Tract Trail to site of the former Cedar
Pond Shelter.
Grass Pond Trail
– (Yellow, 0.5 miles) Cedar Pond Trail to Grass Pond.
Scusa Access Trail
– (Red, 0.6 miles) NY 28 parking area to Brown’s Tract Trail.
Lost Lake Trail
– (Blue, 3.8 miles) Middle Settlement Lake Trail to Pine Lake Trail
via Lost
Lake.
Brown’s Tract Trail
– (Yellow, 6.7 miles) Thendara to
Copper Lake Road
and then on to the extension of the trail that continues to a
parking area off NY 28 on
Conservation
Easement
Land.
Destinations in
Ha-de-ron-dah Wilderness
