Mount Arab

The rain had been relentless for several days. I fully appreciate that April showers bring May flowers, but it was getting a bit ridiculous. I’d been getting a bit stir crazy staring out the window at the endless deluge we were getting. I had had enough of watching climbing documentaries on YouTube. I needed to get outside and interact with nature. Finally the weather cleared last Friday and gave me my opportunity to crawl out of my cage. I decided to pack up my gear and head to the mountains. But the usual agonizing question of where to go haunted me. I checked my dry erase board where I have a list of options to choose from. I decided to head towards Tupper Lake for the day. It was the perfect day to take a leisurely hike up Mount Arab.

The trees were starting to show the colors of yellow and shades of green as I drove along Route 458. I was finally able to make out the small buds desperately trying to blossom on the trees. The roadside was starting to line with bright green grass. The sun shining through my windshield felt warm for the first time in a long time. The last time I had made this drive everything was white and brown. Nature was in a deep winter's sleep. The rolling mountain peaks of the Adirondack foothills were no longer covered in windswept snow. The ponds and creeks no longer froze over, they were back to their natural flowing rhythm. Cruising by Barnum Pond in Paul Smiths it no longer looked like a frozen tundra but a perfect location to canoe and set up a picturesque Adirondack camp. The winding mountain road around Lake Clear to Tupper Lake was just what I needed. It really is the perfect road trip stretch of pavement.

By 10 am I was pulling into the parking lot of the trailhead. With only two cars in the lot I was feeling pretty lucky since this is a very popular hike. The air was a bit cool as I climbed out of the truck but I knew I would warm up quickly so I decided to ditch the hoodie. The bright sun shone through the young growth on the trees on my way to the sign in box. That distinct earthy Adirondack smell was swirling in the breeze.

Past the sign in box the elevation gain increased right away. The soft, slowly drying dirt trail was easy to navigate. Song birds chirped and bees buzzed around in search of any flowers that had started to bloom.

Along the side of the hardened trail was the remains of a winter mountain runoff stream. Rock stairs and red DEC trail markers made the trail easy to follow. Step by step up the mountain I realized that the hours spent at the gym over the last few months were paying off. Instead of gasping for air I was feeling great. About halfway up the mountain multiple stages of wooden planks and stairs lined the trail.

These walkways keep the trail in good shape for all the use it would see thought out the rest of the year. I had forgotten about them, since the last time I was here they were covered in over three feet of snow. Large boulders sit next to the trail in several spots along the way. I wasn’t sure if it was my time at the climbing wall or just the little kid inside of me but I couldn’t help but climb a few of them.

The trail started to go from dirt to bare rock as I got closer to the summit. Large rocky outcrops rose from the earth's floor as I rounded one of the last switchbacks. Finally the fire tower and the ranger's cabin had come into view.

After a 40 minute leisurely hike I had made it to the peak. Again, like a little kid, I couldn’t help but race up the stairs of the tower to see the view from above. The wind blew pretty hard as I looked over the expanse wilderness. Mountains, ponds, and streams surrounded me for miles.

It felt wonderful to take in that fresh mountain air. After taking a bunch of pictures I decided to climb down and take a break on the beautiful new bench that sits on top of the mountain.

I had a quick snack and took a few more pictures. Once I heard voices in the distance coming up the trail I decided it was time to hike down. It was a quick walk down the trail and before I knew it I was back at my truck happy that I finally had the weather window I was looking for to get my first spring hike in for the year. On my way home I decided to do a little investigating.

I took some time to wander around two state forests in hopes of finding a couple of new Northern NY Adventures to share with you.

About this Location:

Mount Arab sits in the town of Piercefield just outside of Tupper Lake. The trail head is very easy to find as there are multiple street signs along the way. The one mile trail up the mountain is very well maintained thanks to the Friends of Mt. Arab organization. This has to be one of the most popular hikes in the Adirondack park as it sees over 10,000 visitors a year.

I was shocked at this number at first but when I signed out I noticed that there had been 12 more climbers that had signed in since I had only an hour and a half before. The trail up the mountain is easy to follow. It is lined with red DEC trail markers.

They may not be necessary this time of year but I have had to break out this trail in the winter and they were a huge help. This trail is pretty steep in some places but overall it makes for a rather easy hike. I would definitely consider this for a first hike or put this on your family bucket list. The fire tower on top is in great shape and open to the public to climb.

If you are looking for a great place to enjoy the mountains without wandering out too far into the wilderness I highly recommend Mount. Arab. It makes a great Northern NY Adventure.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures

“Make Life an Adventure”