Hadley Mountain Fire Trail
Author: Camille P.
Summary: Hadley Mountain Fire Trail is a 3.6 round trip hike located just outside of Hadley, NY. After an ascent of 1525 feet to the summit, one can expect to see views of the Adirondacks High Peaks to the North, as far as Lake Champlain and Vermont to the east, the Catskills to the south, and Spruce Mountain to the west.
Date: Observations and data recorded on July 4, 2022
Site/location: Hadley Mountain Fire Trail is located at 255 Tower Rd, Hadley, NY 12835.
Distance from Camp Hudson Pines: 12 miles
Participants: 43 year old, 41 year old, a 17 year old, 14 year old, 8 year old and Apollo the dog
Length of Observation: Approximately 2.5 to 3 hours
Activity: There is a small parking lot at the trailhead. We went on a holiday and it was full. Beyond the parking lot, your options are to park as far over on the side of the road as you can. We took a picture of the Fire Tower sign at 12:51 and began up the trail.
The hike is a pathway cut through the middle of a very forested and beautiful area. There is a lot of bedrock along the pathway and some huge boulders in sections on the side of the path.
The incline is steady to start and moves to a steeper incline as you get further into the trail. You will cross a small stream and move up above most of the trees and into the sun as you get closer to the summit. We reached the summit at around 2:00. The views are incredible and well worth the hike. Make sure and climb the fire tower to get the farthest views but plan to spend more time sitting on the bedrock and taking in the scenery.
Reflections: We like to consider ourselves as regular hikers but this hike was significantly more difficult than we had anticipated. The 1525 foot incline is steep and hard. Pack lots of water, snacks and a picnic for the top. We didn’t and regretted that decision.
You will want (need) to take a break at the top. We stopped numerous times along the way as well to rest for a minute. That being said, our 8 year old completed the hike and we saw lots of other families with children as well. It’s possible to do it with kids, but it’s a challenging hike.
We hiked in July and were excited to find wild blueberries at the top. Keep your eye out if you are hiking during blueberry season as it was a welcome surprise.
It’s worth climbing up the Fire Tower and you do get further views from there. The stairs are narrow. Watch your head on the way up and be prepared for a small enclosed space at the top. We recommend climbing the tower but spending most of your time on the open expanse on the top of the mountain enjoying the views.
