This mornings trip was to check out the "new" trail up to Mud Lake from Gifford Valley Rd. just outside of Northville. I wanted to see this area before the NPT officially gets re-routed through and the traffic picks up. No problems with that today as I pulled into a brand new, empty, parking lot.
After crossing a good bridge in the first 100', the trail stared to climb the 800' to Mud Lake. The new trail has some great switchbacks that make the climb fairly easy (at least with a day-pack). As the trail climbed, I noticed evidence of human activity in an abandoned water pipe, skidder ruts, logged stumps and some stone walls (photo 1). After only 20 minutes of switchbacking, the trail reached a more reasonable pitch and leveled off on a height of land that was very pleasant to walk on.
In a little less than 50 minutes I arrived at the marshy shores of Mud Lake (photo 2). The trail sticks to the north shore of the lake which is very weedy and had no less than four beaver lodges on it (photo 3). After checking out the pond, I back-tracked a little to bushwhack to the open rock on top of the small hill just north of the lake.
Less than ten minutes after striking out through the woods I came to the first of several open rock areas with great views (phot 4-5). To the northwest, I had an unrestricted view of the peaks in northern Fulton County; Pinnacle, Shaker, Pidgeon and Hogback dominated the skyline. To the southeast, the view was clear across Sacandaga Reservoir, the Mohawk Valley, the Helderbergs and on to the peaks of the Catskills.
After a tasty lunch of chicken sandwich and a fresh apple, I headed back down the hill. Once again, the switchbacks really eased the descent and my knees thank the crew who cut the trail. When I arrived back at the parking lot, I was surprised to see seven cars parked next to mine. What a great day to be out in the woods.
After crossing a good bridge in the first 100', the trail stared to climb the 800' to Mud Lake. The new trail has some great switchbacks that make the climb fairly easy (at least with a day-pack). As the trail climbed, I noticed evidence of human activity in an abandoned water pipe, skidder ruts, logged stumps and some stone walls (photo 1). After only 20 minutes of switchbacking, the trail reached a more reasonable pitch and leveled off on a height of land that was very pleasant to walk on.
In a little less than 50 minutes I arrived at the marshy shores of Mud Lake (photo 2). The trail sticks to the north shore of the lake which is very weedy and had no less than four beaver lodges on it (photo 3). After checking out the pond, I back-tracked a little to bushwhack to the open rock on top of the small hill just north of the lake.
Less than ten minutes after striking out through the woods I came to the first of several open rock areas with great views (phot 4-5). To the northwest, I had an unrestricted view of the peaks in northern Fulton County; Pinnacle, Shaker, Pidgeon and Hogback dominated the skyline. To the southeast, the view was clear across Sacandaga Reservoir, the Mohawk Valley, the Helderbergs and on to the peaks of the Catskills.
After a tasty lunch of chicken sandwich and a fresh apple, I headed back down the hill. Once again, the switchbacks really eased the descent and my knees thank the crew who cut the trail. When I arrived back at the parking lot, I was surprised to see seven cars parked next to mine. What a great day to be out in the woods.
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