Moose Mountain

Mountain/Rock

Moose Mountain

Page Type: Mountain/Rock

Location: New York, United States, North America

Lat/Lon: 44.35085°N / 74.00316°W

County: Essex

Activities: Hiking

Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Elevation: 3898 ft / 1188 m

Page By: Puma concolor

Created/Edited: Nov 10, 2006 / Feb 16, 2007

Object ID: 242896

Hits: 1632

Page Score: 89.32% - 16 Votes

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Table of Contents

Overview

Ranked 48th in height among all Adirondack peaks, the 3,899-foot Moose Mountain is not only higher than two of the original 46R summits that are now known to be sub-4,000 feet, but is arguably a more enjoyable mountain than many loftier Adirondack peaks. The primary route to this summit starts along the western shores of Lake Placid before ascending through gentle woods to a peak rich with impressive views. To the southeast, one can see across the waters of Lake Placid to the High Peaks Wilderness while another perch offers outstanding views of the Whiteface-Esther massif. Nearby McKenzie Mountain (3,861 feet) also offers a possibility to "double-up" for an enjoyable loop trip.

It should be noted that the trails to this once popular peak fell into disuse before an effort to refurbish them was undertaken by the Shore Owners Association (SOA) on Lake Placid in 1996. While perhaps not of the same quality (and state of erosion) of the more popular state DEC trails, the well-marked and well-signed SOA trail system should pose no difficulty to the experienced hiker. From the start of the primary route at the end of Chipmunk Lane, the summit is attained in just 3.5 miles with about 1,900 feet in elevation gain. A round-trip is easily doable in less than four hours. The 13th edition of the Adirondack Mountain Club's "High Peaks Region" is recommended.

Approaching the summit push.

Getting There

Follow State Route 86 west out of the Village of Lake Placid. You will head up a moderate grade and pass a newer miniature golf area on your left. Just after this, turn right (north) onto Whiteface Inn Road. Follow Whiteface Inn Road nearly to its end or about 1.5 miles from Route 86. Turn left onto Chipmunk Lane and follow it to a large DOT turn-around at the end of the road. This area also serves as a parking area for hikers and visitors to the lake shore.

Esther (center) and Whiteface (right) from the summit of Moose.

Red Tape

In addition to normal High Peaks area restrictions, one should keep in mind that much of the early part of this route traverses private property. The key to finding the Lake Trail from the end of Chipmunk Lane is getting to the shore of Lake Placid. There is no way to do this without feeling like you're trespassing. The "High Peaks Region" guide instructs you to go directly down a set of steps located at the end of a driveway near the parking area/DOT turn-around. I wound up walking further along the "Camp Colburn" road and finding a path to the shore that felt less intrusive. Once on the trail, head north across the property of several camps in the vicinity of private docks on Lake Placid. Please stay on the trail as the Shore Owners Association can revoke public access at any time. The trail soon turns away from the water and finally reaches State land just over a mile into the route as one reaches Two Brooks. Normal DEC restrictions apply from this point forward, most notably no camping above 3,500 feet. For a complete listing of restrictions, refer to the Adirondack Mountain Club website.

McKenzie Mountain from the summit of Moose.

Camping

As regular visitors to the High Peaks Region are aware, there are fairly restrictive camping regulations in the more popular areas. Visitors to the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness, however, will find less DEC governance than in the Eastern and Western High Peaks Zones. Bear cannisters are recommended but not required in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness and there is no campfire prohibition. One notable restriction is that there is no legal camping anywhere above 3,500 feet within the relatively small (36,200 acres) McKenzie Mountain Wilderness. While it is important to keep these things in mind, the chances of encountering a Ranger on Moose Mountain is fairly slim. In spite of its many outstanding features, the summit of Moose Mountain is not a popular goal and with no State-maintained trails to the summit, it is not high on the DEC priority list. As such, there are no designated camping sites on Moose Mountain at any elevation. However, a relatively flat shoulder around the 3,000-foot mark due south of the summit offers many open areas to pitch a tent. The Loch Bonnie area at the head of Minnow Brook to the southeast of the summit also is likely to offer some camping possibilities although the author of this page cannot personally confirm this.

For those looking to climb both Moose and nearby McKenzie Mountain, there is a lean-to along the State-maintained Trail 96 approximately 1.5 miles from Whiteface Inn Road.

External Links

Adirondack Mountain Club

13th Edition of Adirondack Trails: High Peaks Region

Looking across Lake Placid to Mount Marcy (center).