Silver Lake Mountain
Region: Northeastern Adirondacks, Taylor Pond Wild Forest
June 21, 2021 | near Au Sable Forks, NY
The background: So, this was actually supposed to be a backup hike for any given day on my trip – and I ended up going, loving every minute of it (mostly.) My original plan had been to hike at the AMR (one or a few of the Lower Great Range peaks) but the weather was expected to have a mind of its own on this day. Thunderstorms were forecasted for “sometime in the afternoon,” so I did not want to chance it on such a long hike. Enter Silver Mountain Lake – a short trail that’s part of the Adirondack Blue Challenge, offering classic Adirondack wilderness beauty and serenity. Also – a relatively easy one to run back to the trailhead should the weather start to turn… but I prayed this would not be the case!
Getting there: For reference, you’re looking at a 30-minute drive north of the Village of Lake Placid. Head east on NY-86E for about 12 miles. You’ll reach the town of Wilmington and continue on to Bonnieview Road for another 6 miles until you reach Silver Lake Road. Turn left here, and after about 5.5 miles, the parking lot will be on your righthand side (there is a sign.) A decent number of cars can park here. Given that it is a bit out of the way from Lake Placid and Wilmington, I am unsure how crowded it really gets, so you should be OK in terms of getting a parking spot (but I could be wrong – if I am, just let me know so I can update this!)
You won’t have (AT&T) cell service in the lot, or on the road leading to it. Your vehicle will make it down the road and into the lot just fine in 3-season weather.
The hike: 1.8 miles round trip out-and-back; elevation gain of 928 feet (short but mightily steep!)
After a glorious leisurely breakfast at Noonmark Diner in Keene Valley, we made our way to the trailhead around 10AM. But as soon as I parked, I heard it – a pitter patter, which soon came flooding down the car windshield- rain. And then the distant booming – thunder?! It wasn’t supposed to rain here yet! What was Mother Nature pulling on me today… and with no cell service, I couldn’t see if it was passing. So, we waited a few minutes, and in true ADK fashion, the mini storm passed. It was time to get on the trail.
The short journey starts behind the parking area, which we had no trouble finding. The trail is easy to follow, but you won’t really see any trail markers (I only saw one old ruby red trail marker towards the summit, on the descent.) The trees were lush and green (I love summer for this reason) as we started on a relatively flat trail, shielded from the elements by the forest. We soon came across the trail register on our left, and signed in. Before we knew it, we started to climb – given the short distance (0.9 miles to the summit) the “flat” section of trail is fleeting. This was a true cardio workout – up and up and up! Don’t let the short mileage fool you – this elevation gain is no joke, and I did not expect it to be this steep, despite reading about it beforehand. There are also a few rocky areas, so be sure to watch your footing as you make your ascent.
We took a few mini breaks but kept going steadily up until we reached an area where we now had a view of the surrounding wilderness. Thankfully, the storm had well passed, leaving us with a strong breeze on this hot and muggy day. We walked across the ridge, admiring the Taylor Ponds Wild Forest beauty surrounding us, with no other humans on the trail (yet…just a newt was encountered thus far.) We concluded at a partially open area on the summit with a view. After some hard-earned snacks, we continued to soak in the sunshine until a family (+dog) joined us on the summit. We bid farewell and started our (careful) descent, hoping this would be easier than the ascent – and it was. As always, we watched our footing since there are some roots and rocks to navigate (as one would expect in the ADK!) We made it back to the trailhead in what seemed like no time, thankful to have hiked such a beautiful mountain and beat the afternoon storms.
Concluding notes: This hike is a perfect option if you have only a pocket of time to spare; that said, the steepness won’t exactly make it a “walk in the park.” In terms of mileage, you’re looking at nearly 2 miles roundtrip, which is not long by ADK hike standards. This trail is not technical nor complicated by any means, but you will be putting in the work for most of the hike to get to the summit. I think this hike is also off the beaten path a bit, making it perhaps slightly less crowded than some of the others closer to town (again, I could be wrong…) Either way, you will get in a workout, enjoy a spectacular trail, and soak in views from afar in the region. No better way to spend an hour or two in my opinion…(or a whole morning or afternoon.)
An ideal day and what you can pair this hike with:
What I would do: if you are trying to complete the Blue Challenge or want to add on something after a moderate hike and make efficient use of time while driving north, I would recommend hiking Lyon Mountain Fire Tower first (30 min. north) and then stopping by Silver Lake Mountain on your way back to the Lake Placid/Wilmington area. This is how I would have done it if I had more time after Lyon (we started later than I expected that day.)
Add on any hike in Wilmington (Whiteface Region) for a great day! I don’t think you can go wrong – Bear Den, Flume Knob, Jay, are some that come to mind, but there are so many to choose from!
♥️
