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Buck Mountain - A Good Stiff Hike and a Great View

Not all fantastic summits are in the High Peaks.   Buck Mountain in the southern Adirondacks overlooks Lake George and is a very nice place to visit on a clear day (summer, fall, or winter). By walking around on the summit, one can get an almost 360 degree view. The sights include, the Tongue Mountain range (pictured), Gore mountain, Crane mountain, and the Sagamore. Occasionally you will see one of the lake steamers. This is not a wilderness summit; expect to see many other hikers if the weather is good.

There are two trails to the summit. The more popular one starts at a large trailhead near the end of the Pilot Knob road. This trail is in very good condition, and the 2000 foot ascent is spread out pretty well over its 3.3 miles, so that there are very few extra steep sections.  During wet periods like July and August 2004 there are a number of very pretty waterfalls at various points just off lower portions of this trail. Be sure to take the time to go investigate them. Views are available looking south and west even before the summit is reached. (NOTE: As of late 2007, the DEC has rerouted a section of this trail.  This should not matter to the casual hiker, since the new section just a obvious to follow as the old trail was.)

The other trail is shorter (ascent of 1130 feet over 2.3 miles), but it is not as much fun, there are no views until you reach the summit, and it is harder to get to the trailhead unless you happen to live in the greater Hogtown area. However, there are many other interesting hikes starting at the Hogtown trailhead, so sooner or later you will probably want to make your way there as well. Besides the extraordinary views available from the summit, you may encounter fauna such as this garter snake (courtesy of Stu Delman) or garnet embedded  in the rock.

NOTE: For a more complete description of the trails, please see ADK's GUIDE to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Eastern Region, pp 170-173.

Bob Goodwin