Jay Mountain

Dec 23

July 2022 | Jay, NY

Region: Jay Mountain Wilderness

The hike: ~8.5 miles (13.67km), 2,500 ft. (762m) elevation gain. This is approximate, as it will depend on if you hike the entire ridge.

Getting to the trailhead: From I-87, take exit 30 towards NY-73. Turn left onto US-9N when exiting. In 2 miles, stay left onto NY-73. Once you pass a Stewart’s in the town of Keene, you will shortly after stay right on to 9N (not the direction of Lake Placid for those familiar.) In 19 miles, make a right onto Upper Jay-Trumbulls Corners Road. In approximately 3 miles, the parking pull-off area will be on your left. The trail will start across the street (you will see the sign.) You will have sparse cell service, if any. Your vehicle should have no difficulty on this road in 3-season weather.

For reference: it’s about a 15-minute drive from Wilmington, 25-minute drive from Lake Placid, and 1-hour 15-minute drive from the village of Lake George.

Trail notes: After signing in at the register, you will have no trouble following the trail. I loved this area dearly and enjoyed meandering through the forest and soaking in pockets of sunlight. If you love feeling the elements beat down on you, don’t worry - you will soon encounter the ridge, where you will continue on until you reach expansive, gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains. While I wouldn’t call this hike technical, it is definitely longer than some other hikes in the surrounding area. Given the exposure to the elements and the length, be prepared with sunscreen, layers, a hat and more water than you think you will need. I would also strongly advise you carve out time to enjoy the views. This easily became one of my favorite hikes of the season.

An Ideal day and what you can pair this hike with: Hungry before or after? Head over to nearby Adirondack Mountain Coffee a breakfast and lunch sit-down or to-go restaurant that also sells baked goods and coffee (note they are open for breakfast and lunch. We stopped for a light lunch prior to hiking since we drove up and had a later start.) If they are closed by the time your hike ends, check out the Ice Jam Inn & Restaurant (just check the operating hours ahead of time.) You’re also not too far from Keene, Wilmington or Lake Placid, so can make the drive over to one of the towns for more options (depends how hangry you are after the hike!)

Craving another trail? Check out a darling hike called Flume Knob (15-minutes away driving) or any of the hikes in the Keene Valley area.