We started on the Jackrabbit Trail, parking at the trailhead on the Whiteface Inn Road. This ascends easily for a while. There is a steep section going up McKenzie Mountain on the Red trail. Great views on McKenzie in two directions – from separate ledges.
(The day before the hike, I scouted Chipmunk Lane, from which the Lake Shore trail could be previously accessed. There is a sign there which states: THIS AREA IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. FORMER LAKE TRAIL NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC USE. Looking down to the lake, I saw that a property owner has erected a 7’ stockade fence all the way down to the water. So much for my plan to climb McKenzie on the Lake Shore trail and the Bartlett Pond trail. On to Plan B.)
From McKenzie to Moose Mountain, the trail is in GREAT shape. Well marked with S.O.A. (Shore Owners Association) markers, and with distance and view signs. It is like hiking on the ridge of the Dixes 40 years ago. The nicest trail I have hiked on for a long time. Great views from Moose, especially of Lake Placid, with one ledge looking east, and another looking west.
There are two steep trails down Moose to the south. We took the Loch Bonnie trail because we wished to see this pond. In retrospect, it would have saved a great deal of time if we had descended by the Two Brooks trail. But then we would have missed Loch Bonnie.
Loch Bonnie is a gem. Well worth visiting and exploring. See if you can find the spring which comes up through the tall grass. It has the saddest-looking leanto – part of which would be welcome in a downpour.
The 0.3 mile link trail between the Loch Bonnie trail and the Two Brooks trail is almost completely overblown with large trees. By the time we climbed out of the lake bowl, the trail completely disappeared in the field of blowdown. We bailed out to the right (west) and picked up the Two Brooks trail coming down from Moose. I wonder if this trail can be restored.
The Two Brooks trail is in pretty good shape after the Loch Bonnie link trail. We took it SW and S to the intersection with the Bartlett Pond trail.
To return to the car, we bushwhacked south on state land for a half hour – through open hardwood forest.
The whole loop took us 9-1/2 hours. This includes 90 minutes for lounging on summits and exploring Loch Bonne – both worthwhile pursuits.
A huge round of thanks and a standing ovation to the gentleman who restored and maintains the S.O.A. trails. It is evidently a gargantuan labor of love.
(The day before the hike, I scouted Chipmunk Lane, from which the Lake Shore trail could be previously accessed. There is a sign there which states: THIS AREA IS PRIVATE PROPERTY. FORMER LAKE TRAIL NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC USE. Looking down to the lake, I saw that a property owner has erected a 7’ stockade fence all the way down to the water. So much for my plan to climb McKenzie on the Lake Shore trail and the Bartlett Pond trail. On to Plan B.)
From McKenzie to Moose Mountain, the trail is in GREAT shape. Well marked with S.O.A. (Shore Owners Association) markers, and with distance and view signs. It is like hiking on the ridge of the Dixes 40 years ago. The nicest trail I have hiked on for a long time. Great views from Moose, especially of Lake Placid, with one ledge looking east, and another looking west.
There are two steep trails down Moose to the south. We took the Loch Bonnie trail because we wished to see this pond. In retrospect, it would have saved a great deal of time if we had descended by the Two Brooks trail. But then we would have missed Loch Bonnie.
Loch Bonnie is a gem. Well worth visiting and exploring. See if you can find the spring which comes up through the tall grass. It has the saddest-looking leanto – part of which would be welcome in a downpour.
The 0.3 mile link trail between the Loch Bonnie trail and the Two Brooks trail is almost completely overblown with large trees. By the time we climbed out of the lake bowl, the trail completely disappeared in the field of blowdown. We bailed out to the right (west) and picked up the Two Brooks trail coming down from Moose. I wonder if this trail can be restored.
The Two Brooks trail is in pretty good shape after the Loch Bonnie link trail. We took it SW and S to the intersection with the Bartlett Pond trail.
To return to the car, we bushwhacked south on state land for a half hour – through open hardwood forest.
The whole loop took us 9-1/2 hours. This includes 90 minutes for lounging on summits and exploring Loch Bonne – both worthwhile pursuits.
A huge round of thanks and a standing ovation to the gentleman who restored and maintains the S.O.A. trails. It is evidently a gargantuan labor of love.
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