Cascade Mountain Trail

The Cascade Mountain Trail at Adirondack Park near Lake Placid, New York is a difficult 4.8-mile out-and-back and highly-trafficked trail that leads hikers through the High Peaks Wilderness and up to the rocky summit of Cascade Mountain, which features panoramic views from the top.

Hike Description
Please note the mileage listed in this guide is based on this GPS recording and may be slightly different from what the map shows. This hike begins along NY-73, just west of Cascade Lake and follows a red blazed trail that winds its way up Cascade Mountain. Within the first 100-feet of the trail, hikers will find a registry box that should be used to check in and out.

After passing the registry box, the trail follows a mostly-moderate to easy grade as it begins the "easier" section of the ascent. Along the way, hikers will cross a couple of small brooks.

Steeper Climbing - Mile 0.8
Between miles 0.7 and 0.8, hikers will reach the beginning of where the trail follows a much steeper grade. Starting here, going slow is key to making your way up the mountain without burning out. Around mile 1.25, hikers will reach a bench in the mountain which provides a nice break from the steeper climb, but only for a short while.

Obstructed Vista - Mile 1.6
Around mile 1.6, hikers will reach a small obstructed vista just off-trail. Here, there are some glimpses of the mountain located to the northeast, Pitchoff Mountain.

High Peaks Vista - Mile 2
Around mile 2, hikers will reach a bald spot on the mountain which makes for a nice view facing south, southwest, and west. Here, hikers get a view that peers a bit deeper into the High Peaks Wilderness.

Summit Junction - Mile 2.23
Between miles 2.1 and 2.23 (2.23 in the GPS track provided), hikers will reach a 3-way trail junction. To reach Cascade Mountain summit, just continue straight. There's also a privy located on the left-hand turn here.

Rocky Summit Climb - Mile 2.3
Right around mile 2.3, hikers will reach the last section of the trail which is blazed yellow. Here, the trail follows a loose path up an easy-to-climb rock face. At most, this turns into a scramble as you make your way up to the summit of Cascade Mountain. Hikers will finally reach the summit around mile 2.4 to 2.5 (2.5 miles in the GPS track provided).

Cascade Mountain Summit
At the summit, hikers get to take in a 360-degree view from the northern section of Adirondack Park's High Peak Wilderness. The best view from the summit faces south since it provides a breathtaking view of the larger mountains and peaks in the distance. The summit can be very windy and in the winter makes it challenging to take photos or fully enjoy the summit experience.

Difficulty
The average hiker will find this trail to be difficult, hence the "Hard" rating. Some may find this hike to be strenuous - depending on your skill level and ability. The climb to the summit is between 1,990 - 2,010 vertical feet - which is not easy. Despite this mountain being the "easiest" 4,000-foot mountain in the Adirondacks, do not assume the hike will be easy!

Parking
Hikers will find parking at the coordinates provided. The parking lots are separated into three sections with two larger parking lots. The smaller of the three lots can fit a handful of cars while the larger of the three lots can fit more than 5, but less than 10 cars. Note the parking situation because of the popularity of this hike.

Popularity
This trail is one of the most popular day hikes within the High Peaks Wilderness because Cascade Mountain is considered the easiest 4,000-foot mountain to climb within the park. To fully enjoy this mountain by yourself, you have to hike it in the early morning during a weekday. If you plan to hike this trail on the weekend, a similar rule applies - you must show up very early to claim a parking spot.

Trail Rules
No campfires, no motorized equipment, all dogs must be leashed, no bikes, skis or snowshoes are required by law during the winter, max group size for day use is 15 people, max group size for overnight use is 8 people.

Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed and their waste should be carried out by the hiker.

Cascade Mountain in the Winter
This track and original guide is from late January, 2022. Snowshoes are required by law and is actually enforced on a daily basis to ensure people aren't ruining the trail - there is a fee if you're on the trail and are not using snowshoes. Since this trail is heavily-trafficked, we found the snowpack on the trail to be really hard, but yet snowshoes are still required. Hikers should be aware of several difficulties during the winter - first, snowshoeing is more difficult than hiking without snowshoes, so plan extra time for this hike. Second, ice can be found on rocks along a few sections of the trail - snowshoes should be fine, but crampons can be used on icy terrain. Last, the climb up the summit can be a bit sketchy if you do not use crampons, so it's smart to at the very least bring a pair of ice spikes or hiking crampons to reach the summit.