Located in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York, Blue Mountain is located in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. Blue Mountain Lake is a small hamlet of the Town of Indian Lake, which is in Hamilton County. Two of the main features of Blue Mountain are its hiking trails and bird watching opportunities.
There is a trail at Blue Mountain that leads to the summit of the mountain. The mountain is approximately 3,759 feet high, and the trail to the summit is easily accessible. The trailhead is located off of Routes 28N and 30. The hike to the summit is roughly four miles roundtrip. It is a steep climb. The elevation change from the start of the trail to the summit of the mountain is roughly 2,700 feet.
The trail up the mountain is marked well. The forest along the first section of the trail is a mixture of deciduous trees like beech, cherry, maple, and oak. Further up the trail, the forest contains evergreens. The forest is mainly made up of fir and spruce near the summit of the mountain.
The first mile of the trail is easy to moderate climbing. There are level stretches that alternate with uphill stretches. The second mile of the trail is a more difficult climb. The second mile consists of a lot of bedrock. In addition, it can be slippery in parts from dew and runoff.
The summit is relatively bare-rock and offers successful hikers scenic views of the surrounding area. Frequently, dragonflies can be seen. In addition, red squirrels and eastern chipmunks frequent the area. Since the trail at Blue Mountain is popular, visitors who would like to see the mountain when it is less populated may want to hike the trail during the week.
Bird watching is popular in the area. Visitors can expect to see black-capped chickadees, black-throated green warblers, red-eyed vireos, chestnut-sided warbler, white-throated sparrows, black-throated blue warblers, and dark-eyed juncos.
There is a fire tower on the peak of the mountain. Visitors are able to enjoy amazing 360-degree views from atop the fire tower.
For those interested in seeing Blue Mountain, Blue Mountain Lake, and the surrounding area, boats can be chartered at the Blue Mountain Lake Boat Livery. Cruises are available along Blue Mountain Lake and neighboring lakes, and these cruises offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the history of the area. Blue Mountain Lake is also home to the Adirondack Museum, which offers visitors another opportunity to learn about this region of the Adirondack Mountains. Other nearby attractions and activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, golfing, hunting, fishing, railroading, snowmobiling, whitewater rafting, scenic tours, and more.
The areas accommodations offer a variety of options. Visitors can stay at a bed and breakfast or go camping. The area is also home to rental cabins, cottages, lodges, resorts, motels, and conference centers.
The best place to contact for additional information on Blue Mountain, Blue Mountain Lake, and the surrounding area would probably be the Town of Indian Lake. They can be contacted by calling 518-648-5112.
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