Peaked Mountain

If you find yourself looking for a great day hike in the Indian Lake area, check out Peaked Mountain in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness. A great hike for families and hikers of all skill levels, this 7-mile round trip hike offers visitors a spectacular rocky summit with views of the surrounding lakes, wetlands, and mountains. The trailhead can be reached by following Thirteenth Lake Road (off of NY28 - south of Indian Lake and just north of North Creek) to the Thirteenth Lake parking area.

From the trailhead (Google Maps pin), the trail skirts Thirteenth Lake for 0.9 miles before heading into the woods toward Peaked Mountain Pond and the summit of Peaked Mountain. After leaving the lake, the trail climbs at a gentle grade following and crossing the Peaked Mountain Brook. Along the way, you will pass multiple wetland areas perfect for seeing Adirondack wildlife. At 2.7 miles you reach Peaked Mountain Pond. Sitting at 2244 feet in elevation, Peaked Mountain Pond is a gorgeous spot to stop and take a break before the final push to the summit. There is also a campsite right off of the pond, for anyone wanting to use this spot as an overnight trip.

Continuing along the pond, the trail starts to climb more steeply toward the summit. The last 0.7 miles of trail remains steep and rugged, with some sections of scrambling, and finally reaches the summit at 3.4 miles. The Peaked Mountain summit, sitting at 2919 feet, is loaded with open rock and cliffs, allowing visitors to spread out and take in the views from all directions. The Adirondack High Peaks can be seen to the north and you can just see a portion of Thirteenth Lake from the summit, allowing you to visually trace your steps along the wetlands you passed on the way up.

After taking in the views you head back on the same trail you came up. On the hike out, there are plenty of spots to soak your feet in the brook or take a swim in Thirteenth Lake. There are also several campsites and picnic tables located around the lake making this location perfect for sunrises, sunsets or overnight adventures.

Tip: This incredible day hike can be done in all seasons; however, I would definitely put it on your list for the fall! The views of the foliage from the summit will surely be spectacular.

Thanks to our PureADK Pioneer, Bryce LaDuc, for putting together this write-up. You can follow Bryce and more of her hiking adventures around the Adirondacks and beyond via her Instagram profile. She currently resides in Portland, Oregon, but spent a lot of time exploring the ADKs and hopes to return again someday.