Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

All trails are free and there is no charge for their use.

Cross Country Ski Trails in Speculator, Lake Pleasant & Piseco
Kunjamuk Loop: Village of Speculator
A 0/-8 kilometer loop, composed of novice and intermediate trails starting at the Firehouse, Rt.30 Speculator. This marked and groomed trail follows the Kunjamuk River plain into upland woods, skirts International Paper’s Pine Plantation and leads almost to the Kunjamuk River over an unplowed log road. Turning right again, the trail follows the flat section along the river plain back to the Firehouse. map

Lake Pleasant Nature/Ski Trail: Lake Pleasant
A 1½ mile loop consisting of novice and intermediate conditions. The trail begins along the side of old Lake Pleasant Firehouse and loops up the hillside into the County's 40 acre lot. The trail leads back down the hill and through the apple orchard along side the Firehouse. Parking is across the road from the Firehouse.

Northville-Lake Placid Trail: Piseco
South: Intersection of Rt.8 and Old Piseco Road. Follow the trail south to Whitehouse. North: Trailhead is located at the end of Haskell's Road, off Old Piseco Road (just past the Airport). The trail follows an old logging road for l0 miles to Spruce Lake. These trails are not groomed; they are hiking trails. The trails are for advanced X-Country skiers.

Piseco Airport "Foxy Brown" Loop: Piseco
Approximately a 6 mile loop trail beginning & ending at the Piseco Airport parking lot. Turn onto Old Piseco Road from Route 8 (across from Piseco School), 2 miles to Airport Road. Park in Airport parking lot. You will ski 1/2 mile on a marked trail before entering State Forest land on a well marked trail with a wide variety of trees and terrain. After emerging from woods, the marked trail continues around the Airport perimeter, returning to the parking lot. This trail is usually not groomed. map

Ski Tours & Snowshoe Hikes in Southern Hamilton County
1. Cathead Mt.: Snowshoe short & steep, good views. 1.6 miles one way.

2. Middle Murphy & Bennet Lake: Ski Tour on snowmobile trail (not heavily used so far) 1 Car: Start at southern end. 2 Cars: 11 mile ski through
Strong Novice/Scenic

3. Tenant Creek Falls (first falls only): Park at north end of Hope Falls Rd., ski last mile +-of road then along snowmobile trail along river 1/4 mile to bridge, then east upstream to falls.
Easy/Scenic

4. Moffits Beach, Lake Pleasant: One mile paved loop in "Siberia" section is excellent skiing. Not groomed but is often packed by skiers. Good dog trail. Good moonlight tour.
Short/Easy

5. Pine Orchard -from Dorr Rd.,Wells: Short, rolling terrain to Old Growthof white pines. 3 miles one way.
Challenging for Novice

6. Whitehouse-from West River Rd.: Park at end of road, ski 2 miles to footbridge. Rolling country road.
Long-Novice

7. Mud Lake from Whitehouse: Additional 3 miles south to leanto, considerable climbing with quick return.
Intermediate/Advanced

8. Big Eddy from Whitehouse: Additional 1.2 miles to Hamilton Stream campsite - often end of trip or cross stream and travel .8 mile to Big Eddy.

9. Piseco via Northville/Placid trail from Whitehouse: Skis better from N to S, but shuttles easier S to N. 11 miles +-total, gentle terrain, leanto at midpoint for lunch.
Long, Strong Novice or better

10. Gilmantown Road-Dunning Pond Trail: To Rt. 30, 5.5 miles all the way, some route finding-not well marked.
Intermediate

11. Dunning Pond and back: 2.5 miles, snowshoe hike, short & easy.
Novice

12. Auger Falls off Rt.30, approx.8 miles south of Speculator: Short/moderate snowshoe walk, very scenic-Don't Fall In!
Novice

13. Griffin Gorge Rd.: Ski on roadway& snowmobile trail, Scenic, short and easy.
Novice ski

14. Cod Pond from Rt.8: Short, intermediate cross country ski, a little tricky for novice. Easy snowshoe hike,1.5 miles one way.
Intermediate ski, Novice snowshoe

15. Kibby Pond: Easy snowshoe hike or advanced cross country ski trek, 600'gainon first ridge, some route finding required, 2 miles one way.
Advanced ski, Novice snowshoe

16. 11th Mountain & E. Branch Sacandaga: Long snowshoe hike or cross country ski trek. Steep up and down both sides of 11th Mountain. Approximately 5 miles to leanto, can ski through from 13th lake Siamese Ponds side trail = more up and down hills -"sporty".
Advanced ski, Advanced snowshoe

17. Pillsbury Mountain: Snowshoe hike, get a ride to trailhead on snowmobile.
Intermediate Snowshoe

18. Fawn Lake Trail: Pick up trailhead at end of Fish Mountain Road. It's a snowmobile trail, quite heavily traveled. Easy ski trek or snowshoe hike.
Novice ski or snowshoe

19. Foxy Brown Trail: Pick up trailhead at Piseco Airport. A 6 mile trek through two softwood areas with large spruce and balsam trees as a canopy. The trail loops back to the Airport. map
Intermediate ski

20. Airport Loop: This loop remains on airport property. Easy and flat.
Novice ski

21. Kunjamuk Loop: Trailhead is behind the firehouse on Rt 30 in Speculator. A groomed, 8 kilometer loop consisting of novice and intermediate trails. This marked trail follows the Kunjamuk River plain into upland woods, skirts International Paper's pine plantation and leads almost to the Kunjamuk River over an unplowed logging road. Turning right the trail follows the flat section along the river plain back to the firehouse.
Novice – Intermediate ski

22. T-Lake Mountain: Trailhead after 1st public campsite on mountain side of Old Piseco Road. 3.6 miles one way. Lots of ups and downs, nice leanto at T-Lake.
Intermediate-Advanced ski or snowshoe.

23. Jockeybush Lake: Access to trailhead is 8 miles south of intersection of Rts. 8 & l0
Intermediate cross country and snowshoe trail offers a variety of terrain.

24. Good Luck Lake: Trailhead on Rt. l0 just north of the second bridge above Arietta. Terrain is fairly level, lake can be seen from a ridge at 1 mile.

25. Behind Hamilton County Courthouse, Lake Pleasant: Short series of loops behind the white house in county complex. Trails packed by snowshowers. Skiable, some challenging, some easy.