Hadley Mountain
Encyclopedia
Hadley Mountain is a mountain located in the southern Adirondacks
of New York
State. The Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on September 23, 2001 for its role as a Fire lookout tower
with the New York State Forest Preserve. Hadley Mountain is the highest of the three peaks that form the West Mountain ridge.
, Saratoga County, New York
, the trailhead parking area is located approximately 1.5 miles along Tower Road, which off branches from Hadley Hill Road. Trailhead
parking can accommodate 10-15 vehicles.
and especially the Great Sacandaga Lake
.
The only trail begins from the trailhead parking area, passing the Historical Marker and begins an immediate climb. The hiking register is reached within seconds of leaving the trailhead. A moderate climb following red trail markers leads through woodland on a mostly bedrock trail. Crossing back and forth over a small creek (dry in summer), the trail continues steeply past interesting boulders and cliffs to a level shoulder at about 1.0 mile. Following this brief gentle section the trail steepens and continues mostly on bedrock to the summit. Outstanding panoramas can be viewed from clearings along the final 0.5 mile to the summit.
Descent is via the same trail.
The summit of Roundtop Mountain may be reached via a 0.8m bushwhack from the summit of Hadley Mountain by heading NNE. In Winter this is a popular snowshoe trail due to access and length of trail to summit.
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State. The Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station
Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station
Hadley Mountain Fire Observation Station is a historic fire observation station located on Hadley Mountain at Hadley in Saratoga County, New York. The tower is a prefabricated structure built by the Aermotor Corporation in 1917...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on September 23, 2001 for its role as a Fire lookout tower
Fire lookout tower
A fire lookout tower, fire tower or lookout tower, provides housing and protection for a person known as a "fire lookout" whose duty it is to search for wildfires in the wilderness...
with the New York State Forest Preserve. Hadley Mountain is the highest of the three peaks that form the West Mountain ridge.
Location
Located in the Town of HadleyHadley, New York
Hadley is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,971 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Hadley, Massachusetts.The Town of Hadley is in the northern part of the county and is west of Glens Falls....
, Saratoga County, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, the trailhead parking area is located approximately 1.5 miles along Tower Road, which off branches from Hadley Hill Road. Trailhead
Trailhead
A trailhead is the point at which a trail begins, where the trail is often intended for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or off-road vehicles...
parking can accommodate 10-15 vehicles.
Route
Hadley Mountain is a popular short hike (1.8 miles) with outstanding views of the Southern Adirondack MountainsAdirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
and especially the Great Sacandaga Lake
Great Sacandaga Lake
The Great Sacandaga Lake is a large lake situated in the Adirondack Park in northern New York in the United States. The word Sacandaga means "Land of the Waving Grass" in the local native language. The lake is located in the northern parts of Fulton County and Saratoga County near the south...
.
The only trail begins from the trailhead parking area, passing the Historical Marker and begins an immediate climb. The hiking register is reached within seconds of leaving the trailhead. A moderate climb following red trail markers leads through woodland on a mostly bedrock trail. Crossing back and forth over a small creek (dry in summer), the trail continues steeply past interesting boulders and cliffs to a level shoulder at about 1.0 mile. Following this brief gentle section the trail steepens and continues mostly on bedrock to the summit. Outstanding panoramas can be viewed from clearings along the final 0.5 mile to the summit.
Descent is via the same trail.
The summit of Roundtop Mountain may be reached via a 0.8m bushwhack from the summit of Hadley Mountain by heading NNE. In Winter this is a popular snowshoe trail due to access and length of trail to summit.
History
Significant fires in the early 1900s resulted in the first fire tower being built in 1916. This wooden tower was replaced with a steel tower in 1920, followed by a staffed cabin for a ranger. The tower was closed in 1990, but restored and staffed seasonally beginning again in 1996. A historical marker was added to the site in 1999 detailing a brief history of the tower.Further Reading
- Laing, L. (1994). Guide to Adirondack Trails: Southern Region. Glens Falls, NY: Adirondack Mountain Club.
- McMartin, B. (1999). Discover the Southeastern Adirondacks. Caroga, NY: Lake View Press.