Hiking Hadley Mountain at Sunset
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Hadley Mountain at sunset, red and grey skies, pine tree offset to the right. Photo By John Murray
Hadley Mountain, at Sunset
So I just get back from Rome, NY and my boy Liam hits me up and asks if I want to hike Hadley Mountain. It’s about 4pm and I’ve been waiting to hike Hadley for a while so I said “F*ck it, wing it to win it”. So Liam picked me up about 5:30pm or so and we headed up to Hadley, NY.
Hadley mountain offers a popular trail with generous views. The trail, located about 1.5 miles down Tower Road after branching off from Hadley Hill Road, provides a moderate trek of 3.6 miles round-trip, marked with red trail markers from the parking lot to the summit.
With an ascent of 1525′, hikers are rewarded with breathtaking views, encompassing the Sacandaga Lake, Vermont, the Catskills, and both the southern Adirondacks and their northern high peaks. This picturesque landscape makes the mountain a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts seeking both adventure and natural beauty.
Arriving at 7pm and making our way up, the first thing I noticed was how immediately the trail began going UP at a steep incline. With the first push being entirely uphill made of scattered rock and flat possibly slippery rock, this was no easy walk through the woods after a long day.
Making our way up, the terrain didn’t change very much until the top. Towards the top, a dirt path finally emerged after one of the many natural rock staircases.
Once at the top, you can see out in to the vast Adirondack mountain ranges, and even the Great Sacandaga Lake. Since we came at dusk, we got to see the the view as the sun kissed the mountain ranges with a beautiful hue of red and pink.
Hadley is one of the Adirondack High Peaks, you can register to get a number & patch online or just buy it if you’ve already done the trail. This is a must do for any local upstate New York hikers!
In the summer, hikers may encounter young summer stewards, hired by the Hadley Fire Tower Committee, tending to the trail and structures while also welcoming visitors. Under the guidance of the local forest ranger, these stewards reside in the rustic quarters of the old ranger cabin, situated near the peak before the final ascent to the restored fire tower.
The committee, established in 1995, collaborated with DEC personnel to renovate the observer’s cabin and fire tower, replacing windows, bolts, stairs, and other components using materials transported by a state helicopter. Over the years, the tower underwent significant maintenance, including the replacement of footings, repainting, and a new roof in the summer of 2000.
I recommend anyone hiking Hadley to bring some trekking poles to help you get up, you can get yours here and support Jmurrayathletics while you do so!
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