Climbing St Regis Mountain, NY

 My name is Bob and  I am a neighbor of  the Lodge on Lake Clear.  

 I'm very enthusiastic about the multitude of outdoor opportunities available in the Lake Clear area.  

 I want to enlighten potential visitors to hiking, climbing, canoeing/kayaking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing day trips that are easily accessed from here.

For my first trip I'll pick the most obvious -  St Regis Mt.   I say most obvious because St Regis is the mountain that dominates the view from The Lodge beach.

I've climbed St Regis more than any other mountain - probably around 60 times including in the winter. ( Actually a favorite little cross country  ski jaunt is skiing up the St Regis trail until the steeper section starts.  But that's for another post.)   

         There is a great view from the top of St Regis Mountain - of the numerous lakes that start right at the mountain's base and extend far off into the distance.   Lake Clear is right there front and center.    The high peaks are visible too but they are pretty far away.   One year we climbed St Regis, pitched a small tent on the one flat grassy spot,  and stayed up there overnight so we could stay up late and watch the Perseid meteor shower.  Then we woke up early and watched the sun rise over the lakes.  Pretty cool !   So far we've gotten 3 of the 7 grand children to the top using their own leg power. 

       To get to the trail head : take a left out of the Lake Clear Lodge main driveway, then take the next left up Route 30 North.  Drive north on route 30 to Paul Smiths College,  about 5-6 miles.  You'll see the main college entrance on your left (you would turn right to go to Saranac Lake from here).   Immediately  past the entrance turn left on Keeses Mills Road.  Go about 2.5 miles and you'll see a small parking lot on the right with a Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) sign.  About another 100 yards down the road is a large gravel parking lot on the left which is where you park.  Walk down  the dirt road by the parking lot about 1/10th mile to where the actual trail begins.  

Distance is 3.4 miles each way with a 1266 foot climb.  It's certainly not easy but not too difficult a climb either.   

Of course all such pronouncements are highly subjective !   Have fun!

Hiking the St Regis wilderness in the Adirondacks

     Saint Regis mountain is nestled in New York states only wilderness canoe area.  Named for the patron saint of lace the mountain was once home to a functioning fire tower.  The mountain maybe approached by land or sea.  My favorite path starts as a boat launch at St Regis landing, don't forget to sign in at the brown box.
     The paddle portion of the trip is fairly short so you may want to explore a little either before or after the hike.  St Regis lake leads to Spitfire lake through a small channel on the northside of the lake.  Making your way through Spitfire lake, again to the north, leads to Upper St Regis Lake at Paul Smiths College.  If you continue on this path you will arrive at the other St Regis mountain trailhead on Keesemill Rd.
     The waterborne Lower St Regis trailhead is located on Spring bay.  Simply follow the south shore of the lake past several old great camps.  After about half an hour you'll come to Ward island, a large island with several great camps.  The small channel to the left of the island will take you to spring bay.  On the far side of the bay you'll see a dock along a fairly steep hillside.  This is the path that will lead you up the mountain.
     The trail from the water starts off steeper than the road trail but both come together about mid hike. 

Stay with us. We are just 7 miles from the trail head of St. Regis Mountain, and you can see St. Regis from our beach. 

Lake Clear - one gateway to dozens of hiking and biking options!

www.lodgeonlakeclear.com

Book online HERE!

more info see dec.ny.gov/lands/70572.html