I hiked up Black Mountain for the first time last week, and had a great time. It was cold and windy, but with proper clothing and gear I was very comfortable. The trail head is located off of Pike Brook Road near South Bay. We got to the trail at about 1:00pm, and it was breezy and about 50F.
The first portion of the hike is pretty easy climbing. Watch your step though, most of the trail is made up of crushed stone and wet rocks that are very slippery when wet. With the leaves all over the ground it becomes a little more difficult to find a spot to put your foot down.
After about a mile of hiking up an unimproved road, you will come to a few hunting camps that are guarded with a closed gate. Take a right into the woods here, and you’ll be on the trail to the summit.
NOTE: I went hiking on Friday, October 21, the day before rifle season opens in the Northern Zone. I wore a bright orange bandanna for safety, as I know muzzle-loader season had opened the week before. Be careful in the woods during hunting season!
The trail becomes moderately steep towards the top, but nothing to be afraid of. As you approach the summit you can hear the windmill whirring at the top. The windmill is pretty cool, and along with solar panels provides energy to communication devices and the weather monitoring systems at the top.
The view to the northeast from the summit is awesome. On a clearer day the colors would have been brilliant in the daytime sun, but it was overcast while we were up there. Regardless, a nice view of Lake George, the Tongue Mountain Range, and even the Green Mountains in Vermont to the east.
View of Lake George looking north towards Ticonderoga.
I apologize for the quality (or lack there of) on this next image. I was taking photos with my phone and had to zoom in a bit. It’s a cool photo though so I’m going to share it with you.
Those are the Green Mountains in Vermont. Pretty sure it’s Killington and Pico Peak in the clouds over there.
It was cold and windy at the top, and I’m glad I had a warming layer in my pack. If you are going up Black Mountain (or any mountain) in the fall, make sure you have extra layers with you. I prefer fleece over a hoodie or extra shirts. I also bring a windproof, waterproof jacket with me on EVERY hike.
From the top you can hike down the lake side of the mountain towards Black Mountain Point and the surrounding ponds. The loop connects you to Bumps, Fishbrook, Greenland, Lapland and Black Mountain Ponds, and the area is littered with 4 or 5 lean-tos if you want to make a night out of it. Following the loop even further will take you over to Sleeping Beauty and Dacy Clearing. If you can find a ride, do a through hike from Black Mountain to Sleeping Beauty and get picked up there.
Black Mountain is a good hike. It’s not too difficult, there’s a fire tower and a windmill at the top, which is cool, and the view is great. There are a few hunting camps down near the trail head, so please be careful when entering the woods, wear bright colors, go with a group so you’ll be talking and making noise.
Does anybody else have any tips for hiking/camping during hunting season? What to do, what not to do? Any suggestions would be great as I plan on hiking well into winter.
My general rule of thumb for doing something other than hunting during Big Game Season ANYWHERE: Do something else. Nerves, perceptions, , visual acuity, etc. a different with the adrenalin flushing through your system when you THINK you see a deer, bear, etc. Accidents do not happen in large numbers, but all you need is one to you that could ruin or take your life. I have gone steelhead fishing in Lake Ontario and Lake Erie tributaries during big game season in New York’s Southern Zone and wear a blaze orange vest and hat.