Pilot Knob Ridge – A Trail in Two Parts

This hike is on a nature preserve made possible by the Lake George Land Conservancy. Please respect their property and the rules that they have made to protect the beautiful lands that they have purchased.

The trailhead for this hike is located on Pilot Knob Road just before the Washington County boundary sign. There is a nice parking place for several cars. The lower portion of the trail is marked with orange trail markers.   After a short uphill stretch, you reach a trail junction, marked by multiple markers.   The trail straight ahead leads uphill on a steady gradient to a splendid lookout at a gazebo (an ascent from the parking lot of around 600 feet).   Back at the first junction, the trail to the right is the other portion of the orange loop, leading to the same lookout.   This is the view of Lake George from the gazebo on a nice March day.  

Later in the year, the lake is alive with a variety of water craft.   If you wish to descend by the rest of the orange trail loop, follow across the “Gazebo flats” to a good woods road which switchbacks down to a point where the orange trail leaves the road and contours on a slightly rough trail back to the junction mentioned above.

Looking across the flats, one can see a post with orange markers and also blue markers.   This is the start of the upper blue marked loop trail.   This trail is mostly on an old tote road and as such wanders back and forth across the side of the ridge, dropping first and then later climbing.   It is heading toward a nice waterfall near the top of the ridge.   The trail is on easy gradients and lends itself to a stroll through the woods while enjoying the many natural treasures of the southern Adirondacks.   If your intention is to check out the waterfall, then when you get to blue trail loop junction (again marked with many blue markers) follow straight ahead down toward the stream where you will soon find the base of the waterfall.   You can reach the top of the waterfall by continuing on the blue trail which soon swings back up hill and crosses the stream above the waterfall.   If you wish to complete the loop, be advised that you will encounter the one short steep section of the blue trail as it descends over the cliff.

This area is a great introduction to the hiking pleasures of the eastern shore of Lake George.

NOTE: Currently this trail is not described in ADK's GUIDE to ADIRONDACK TRAILS - Eastern Region. However, the location of the trail is shown on the National Geographic Map #743 Adirondack Park - Lake George / Great Sacandaga.

Have a great hike!
Bob Goodwin