TRAIL VIA KEESE MILLS ROAD
Directions: From Paul Smith’s, NY, Turn LEFT from NYS Route 30 onto Keese Mills Road. Keese Mills Rd is approximately 100 feet North of the main entrance to Paul Smith’s College. The College is located at the intersection of NYS Route 86 and NYS Route 30, in Paul Smiths, N.Y. The trailhead is 2 miles on the left in Keese Mills.
Click here for: Google Map.The 2874 foot Saint Regis Mountain is located in Franklin County at the center of the Saint Regis Canoe Area in the Adirondacks. It is part of the ADK Fire Tower Challenge as well as the Saranac Lake 6er challenge.
The DEC trail register where the footpath starts is at GPS Coordinates 44 deg. 25.85′ N – 74 deg. 17.95′ W.The trail is a gradual 3.3 mile ascent to the summit. This moderate hike has an overall elevation gain of 1,260 feet. It maintains a moderate grade until the last .3 where some steep sections are encountered, but nothing too difficult and no challenging scrambles.
Cold weather conditions of ice and snow on the upper sections of the trail can exist from mid October to mid May; the use of traction devises is highly recommended when the trail is covered by ice and snow.
The mostly rock summit, and of course on top of the tower, offer spectacular views. The view includes thirty lakes, including the Upper and Lower Saranac Lake, and Upper and Lower Saint Regis Lake. The high peaks can also be seen from the summit.
In the cab are 4 panels indicating the the names of the sites you see.
TRAIL VIA UPPER ST. REGIS LAKE
Directions: One can launch a canoe or a small motor boat at the Upper St. Regis boat launch off route 30; or launch a canoe at the Paul Smith’s College launch site. See campus security for parking directions. The trail head is in Spring Bay of the Upper St Regis Lake. There is a small dock and a DEC sign at the trail head. Please be sure your canoe or boat is secured and out of the way of other hikers/paddlers.
The trail starts off relatively steep then flattens out nicely. It follows Spectacle Pond on the right. After a mile, it connects with the trail from the Keese Mill Road. From here the trail maintains a moderate grade until the last .3 mile where some steep sections are encountered, but nothing too difficult and no challenging scrambles.
