Summer Activities at Garnet Hill Lodge in the Adirondacks

Summer is the time for outdoor fun and relaxing vacations. Just a short drive from the Capital District and most points in NY and NJ, a visit to Garnet Hill takes you to another world - a world of relaxation and immersion in nature.  Once you arrive Garnet Hill, you can put your car keys and cell phones down and get away for a while to the things in your life that are truly important - family and/or friends. Without leaving our campus you can hike, swim, boat, fish, ride mountain bikes, play tennis or just relax and read a book by yourself or with those special people you love and enjoy. 

The Garnet Hill Lodge Mild to Wild Adventure Center

About The Trails -

The cross country ski trails, old roads, and single track bike trails combine for a great variety of Mountain Bike adventures at Garnet Hill in the Adirondacks of New York. The novice ski trails are novice bicycle trails, and the expert ski trails become expert only mountain bike trails.

Beginner Mountain Biking Rides - The easiest riding for beginners is on the roads in the area - Old Farm Road, 4-H Road, Harvey Road, and 13th Lake Road. The Old Faithful Trail connects the 4-H Rd. and Harvey Rd and makes a nice beginner loop.

Intermediate bike rides are found on Trapper, Cougar, and Sugarhouse Trails. These trails also lead to Mt. View Trail, Apple Way and The North Acres Farm. There are great mountain views here and you can see the new llamas at the farm.

Expert riders can test their skills on Matt & Jeff, Solitude, Bobcat, Duffany's, and the single-track trails. Get a copy of the Mt. Bike Guide, and maps at the lodge or at the Adventure Center.

 Rental Bikes

The use of the bike trails is free to Garnet Hill Lodge guests.  Bike rental is displayed below:

2012 Rates (Rental rates include trail fee)

Bike Links

NORBA - National Off Road Bicycle Association - Race organizers, and other Mt. Bike info. 
IMBA - International Mt. Bike Association - Trails advocacy, environmental concerns, & other Bike info.
TREK - They make the best bikes, that is why we rent them here!

The Lake - Swimming, Canoeing, Boats

Thirteenth Lake is a wild and beautiful clear wilderness lake. Except for our beach, there is no other evidence of human activity. The beach is sandy with a gradual decline into deeper water. There is a roped off shallow area, and a swimming raft anchored a short distance off shore. Relaxing on the beach and swimming in the cool lake water can be the highlight of any summer vacation.

Garnet Hill also has a fleet of water craft available to guests. Canoes, rowboats, and kayaks can be used to explore the lake or to just have fun. At the head of the lake it is not unusual to see beaver or otter swimming, loons, ducks, and other wildlife.

Local outfitters also rent sea kayaks, and provide instruction on whitewater kayaking, canoeing, and offer guided river trips on the Hudson river and through out the Adirondacks. Beaver Brook Outfiters 888-454-8433 rents and sells canoes and kayaks for a great lower Hudson river trip near Thurman (40 min. away) Lake George Kayak Company - Rents and sellscanoes and kayaks on Lake George. Blue Mt. Outfitters in Blue Mt. Lake rents and sells canoes and can outfit multiple day trips on the Fulton Chain Canoe trip and other areas. WILDWATERS Outdoor Center, Warrensburg, NY (518) 494-4984 also offers sales, rental and instruction in canoeing and kayaking.

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Hiking in the Adirondack Mountains of New York

Choose from an all day climb topping out a 4000 ft. high peak, a leisurely walk in the woods, or a fishing adventure-hike to a remote pond. Garnet Hill is the ideal jumping off point for outdoor Adirondack hiking fun. At right the view from Peaked Mt.

Right outside the door, guests can begin hikes and trail runs to nearby William Blake Pond, Balm of Gilead Mountain, and trails into the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area. Rising right out of Thirteenth Lake are "The Garnet Hills" - Ruby, Peaked, Slide, Little Thirteenth, and Hour Pond mountains. These trails and hikes are described in the Garnet Hill Lodge Hiking Guide and also by Barbara McMartin in her guidebook, Discovering the Adirondacks. (available at the lodge).

A short drive (40min.) to the state trailhead at Tawahus can access trails into the Adirondack High Peaks area. The High Peaks is 50 square miles of mountain wilderness and world class hiking adventures. Hikers can access trails to Mt. Marcy, Algonquin, Mt. Colden, and other mountains in the area. Also in the High Peaks Area is the former great camp Santanoni. The old road leading into the camp is a great walk or mountain bike ride. There is also horse and wagon trips into Santanoni.

Also near Garnet Hill are great hikes to Blue, Snowy, Crane, and Chimney mountains. Hikers climbing Chimney are rewarded not only with a great summit view, but also an opportunity to explore a network of ice caves located near the summit. Even during August there is ice in the caves.

There is also a hiking guide available at the lodge describing some local hikes and driving directions to some trailhead locations in the area (Click here for a sample description of hiking in the area). For additional hiking and trails information link to Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK), or NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

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Fishing Adventures

The warm April sun that melts the mountain snow also frees the lakes, ponds, streams and rivers of last winter's accumulated ice. Trout and salmon increase their activity as waters warm and fishermen head out to the local lakes, ponds, and streams. There is no finer excitement than a journey through the wilderness in search of a secret fishing spot and wild mountain brook trout. Even returning empty handed leaves one with the satisfaction of a day spent in the forest among streams and ponds as wild as they were 100 years ago. At right fishing 13th Brook.

Ice-out on 13th lake is usually mid April. The lake has brook and brown trout, and landlocked salmon. Rowboats and canoes are available to rent at the lodge. We also have cached other boats in some remote ponds of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area.

Not to be overlooked are countless miles of streams, brooks, and rivers, all with good fishing. Probably the most underfished area is the remote and rugged Hudson river gorge. This is the stretch of river popularized by whitewater rafting. It is true wilderness with no easy access, but the rewards are a fisherman's dream: brook, brown, and rainbow trout to three pounds and more. For guided fishing trips in the area ckeck out Beaver Brook Outfitters web site. or Jamie Frasier's Adirondack Mountain and Stream Guide Service or NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation.

Fishing Season - April 1 - November 30th. License required - available locally or by mail from: NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, 50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation . 5HP limit on boat motors on 13th Lake. Important: From mid May to Mid June the Adirondack black fly (a small biting insect) makes its appearance. Insect repellent does a fair job of discouraging them, but they can be very annoying especially to first time guests.

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Nature Study and Ecology

It is always a thrill to observe wild animals. A deer along the side of the road, or a raccoon rifling through garbage Visitors on the Front Lawn at Garnet Hill in the Adirondacks cans, still evokes a sense of excitement. Visiting the wilderness of the Adirondacks gives one the opportunity to see first hand the wonder of wild things and perhaps understand the events of their lives.

Garnet Hill's 600 acres of land and our location next to a vast wilderness area in the Adirondack Park provides a dynamic window into the magic life of nature. We're an ideal place to learn more about the ecology and interrelationships of plants and animals in the area. We maintain a self-guided nature trail, with a guidebook to interpret wildlife signs and the natural scene along the trail. You can learn tree, plant, and bird identification, stream, lake and forest ecology, and the relationships of animals, plants, and man with the environment. Seeing with a naturalist's perspective will make you aware of the world around you and the inexorable bond tonature. Other interpretive nature programs are available at The Adirondack Park Visitor Interpretive Center in Newcomb link or call (518) 582-2000. Or the new Wild Center in Tupper Lake 518-359-7800.

Birding

The Adirondacks has a rich variety of birdlife. Shore and water birds inhabit the lakes and wetlands, the hardwood forest is home to many beautiful songbirds. Birding walks are conducted at the lodge in conjunction with some programs, and at other times. In addition, we do sell and lend guidebooks to help guests identify some of the more common bird species found in the area.
Birding Links for NY.

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Tennis

Garnet Hill maintains two tennis courts for use by guests and vacation home renters. There is a sign-up sheet posted near the entrance. In addition there are two tennis courts available in the village of North Creek. A basketball court is also available near the tennis court

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Golf

There are many great golf courses in the area including the award wining Sagamore Course in Bolton Landing. Just to our south in Warrensburg is Cronin's beautiful course along the Hundson River. There are two courses in Indian Lake just to our North - Wakley Lodge and Cedar River. The newest course in the area is the High Peaks course in Newcomb.

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