Paul's Ledge - Gore Mountain

 

A wonderful half day hike in the central Adirondacks is a 2.5 mile climb to Paul`s Ledge on the Schaefer trail on Gore Mountain. The trailhead is a easy to find since it is a turn to the south onto Ski Bowl Road off Route 28 0.3 miles beyond the intersection of 28 with 28N into North Creek.

The trail leads up a logging road and then through a field. Make sure that when in the field to look right as the trail enters the woods. Follow the blue markers as the trail is well marked although in certain spots it is possible to lose track of the trail if not paying careful attention. Backtracking to a blue marker and scanning the area will usually right yourself in the proper orientation to continue on. It seemed to me on a hazy day in August that trail navigation was more difficult on the ascent than the descent.

The trail itself is absolutely delightful. Mostly so, because it is not used that much that so it retains a footpath feel instead of a hiker highway feel. There were many spots where vegetation was overgrown over the trail which added just the right bit of character to the hike. In the 2.5 miles to the ledge the trail ascends about 1800 feet. If you continue on beyond the ledge and lean-to, you would ascend just under 700 additional feet in the next 2 miles to the summit firetower on Gore. It was surely a continuous up at moderate grades throughout the hike.


There are nice views of Crane Mountain from the ledge. At a steady pace the round trip hike took me two and a half hours, with about 15 minutes ledge time. One word of caution, there is an extreme drop off at the ledge of a few hundred feet. Be careful up there with youngsters and pets.

This hike is a true quiet treasure of the central Adirondacks.

Enjoy it sometime.

Dr. Stuart Delman

NOTE: For a more complete description of the trail, please see ADK's guide to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Central Region, pp 47-50.

Enjoy your hike!
Dr. Stuart Delman