New York

Choose Your Pace: Hiking the Adirondacks

Program No. 23151RJ
Learn about garnet mines, railroads, wildlife and more as you explore the Adirondacks on foot and by canoe, choosing from multiple activity levels each day.

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At a Glance

The rugged peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and the lakes that dot its foothills were carefully carved by glaciers and faults. The result is a fascinating ecosystem of forests and wetlands in the Adirondack Park. Explore this beautiful region of New York as you choose from varied hiking options each day, from gentle walks to an epic hiking excursion of one of the Adirondack's High Peaks. Learn about logging, railroads and garnet mines during expert lectures and discover the wildlife and natural beauty of the Adirondacks as you explore it on foot and by canoe.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Choose Your Pace
Choose from hiking options each day based on your desired level of challenge, up to 8 miles and 1200-foot elevation gain. Some options include paddling of kayaks.

What You'll Learn

  • Learn about the garnet mines before exploring them in person, or venture to one of the region's High Peaks.
  • Visit Adirondack museums to learn about local history, art, culture and the important role of the railroads.
  • Take comfort in knowing that you can choose from multiple hiking options depending on your desired challenge each day.

General Notes

Airport transfer available at added cost.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Jim Rucker
Jim Rucker and his wife are the owners of Garnet Hill Lodge. Jim is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys running, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and skiing. Whenever the opportunity arises, he is out hiking the trails or canoeing the lakes and rivers of the Adirondack Mountains. Jim has had a home in the Adirondacks for more than 20 years and is thoroughly familiar with the trails, both easy and more challenging, that are accessible from the lodge. He enjoys introducing Road Scholars to these activities.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Jim Rucker
Jim Rucker View biography
Jim Rucker and his wife are the owners of Garnet Hill Lodge. Jim is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys running, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and skiing. Whenever the opportunity arises, he is out hiking the trails or canoeing the lakes and rivers of the Adirondack Mountains. Jim has had a home in the Adirondacks for more than 20 years and is thoroughly familiar with the trails, both easy and more challenging, that are accessible from the lodge. He enjoys introducing Road Scholars to these activities.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5 B 4 L 5 D
DAY
1
Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner, Performance
North River, NY
D
Garnet Hill Lodge

Activity note: If you are taking the shuttle from Albany Airport, it is scheduled to leave at approximately 2:00 p.m. Lodge check-in available from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. At 5:30 p.m., we’ll hold a welcome reception followed by Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Each day, there will be three choices of hiking field trips, each with its own level of difficulty. This is a “Choose Your Pace” program and everyone will be able to decide which level you prefer based on interests and abilities. Hikes will be led by local experts. Transportation for field trips will be via shuttle van. We will make our own lunches to have during field trips. Be sure to bring your own reusable water bottle. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In Garnet Hill’s Log House Restaurant.

Evening: We’ll gather at the fire pit on the grounds open to everyone. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
Adirondack Rivers, Lakes & Woods, Hikes & Paddling
North River, NY
B,L,D
Garnet Hill Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a shuttle van. Three hiking choices. Easy Hike: 2-mile walk at your own pace in SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry demonstration forest plus visit to a local museum. Moderate Hike & Paddle: Hiking 3 miles to Elizabeth Point on 13th Lake, some elevation; paddling 1.5 hours total, return to Garnet Hill boat launch. Challenging Hike: Climbing Moxham Mountain; hiking 5.5 miles round-trip; elevation gain 1,000 feet.

Breakfast: At the Log House Restaurant. Garnet Hill Lodge will provide the makings for packed lunches to take with us. After breakfast, we will select from a wide selection of choices including gluten-free and vegetarian. Be sure to bring your own reusable water bottle.

Morning: We will divide into three groups (based on physical demands, hiking ability, and preference) and set out with local experts on trails near the lodge or the Hudson River. 1. Easy Hike: We will take a 40-minute shuttle van ride to a demonstration forest owned by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry for a 2-mile walk with each of us at our own pace. 2. Moderate Hike & Paddle: We will hike three miles to 13th Lake — with some elevation — and paddle back to the Garnet Hill boat launch in canoes or kayaks, approximately 1.5 hours of paddling. Those who like are welcome to walk back to the lodge. 3. Challenging Hike: We will hike up Moxham Mountain to an elevation of 2,360 feet with an ascent/descent of 930 feet. At the summit, we will have views of surrounding mountains, forests, and ponds.

Lunch: At a scenic spot on the trail, we’ll have the packed lunches we prepared.

Afternoon: Easy Hike participants will ride via shuttle van to the Adirondack Depot Museum in North Creek to learn about the fascinating important role of the railroad in developing the Adirondack region. The museum is in a restored 1872 Adirondack/D&H Railroad Depot. North Creek was the railroad’s northern terminus for many years. It was also the “birthplace” of New York skiing as well as home to the local mining industry. Hikers in the Moderate and Challenging groups will continue hiking and have some time to freshen up and relax after returning to the lodge. The lounge, games room, and pub will be open and available, as well as the network of trails and Garnet Hill Beach.

Dinner: At the Log House Restaurant.

Evening: We’ll gather for a lecture on fascinating aspects of the Adirondacks by a local expert. Topics may range from learning about native mushrooms to local mining history.

DAY
3
Maple Sugaring House, Blue Ledges, Peaked Mountain
North River, NY
B,L,D
Garnet Hill Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a shuttle van. Three hiking choices. Easy Hike: Walk at your own pace on trails to an old maple sugaring house. Moderate Hike: 5-mile round trip to/from Blue Ledges overlooking Hudson River; 230 foot vertical rise. Challenging: Paddling less than 1/4 mile across 13th Lake; hiking 6.4 miles round-trip up/down Peaked Mountain; 1,245 foot vertical rise.

Breakfast: At the Log House Restaurant. We will make our own lunches to take with us. Be sure to bring your own reusable water bottle.

Morning: We will divide into three groups (based on physical demands, hiking ability, and preference) and set out with our local experts. Easy Hike: We will set out on the beautiful Garnet Hill trails to an old maple sugaring house and learn about its history. Moderate Hike: We will take a half-hour shuttle van ride to/from the trailhead and set out on a five-mile round-trip hike to/from Blue Ledges overlooking the Hudson. Challenging Hike: We’ll paddle across 13th Lake, then hike up Peaked Mountain. The summit is at 2,919 feet, loaded with open rock and cliffs. To the north, we can see the Adirondack High Peaks we explored before.

Lunch: We’ll have the packed lunches we prepared. Easy Hike group at the Sugar House; Moderate Hike group at the top of Moxham; Challenging Hike group at the top of a high peak.

Afternoon: We will continue our hiking field trips, then return to the hotel.

Dinner: At the Log House Restaurant.

Evening: We’ll gather for a class on another topic of interest related to the program. With the knowledge we gain, we’ll be better able to appreciate the environment around us.

DAY
4
Great Camp Santanoni, Evening Presentation
North River, NY
B,L,D
Garnet Hill Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a shuttle van; driving about 40 miles each way, approximately 1 hour riding time each way. Walking about 2.5 miles for Easy group; 5 miles for Moderate group; 10 miles for Challenging group. Opportunity to swim (weather permitting); bring a swimsuit and towel.

Breakfast: At the Log House Restaurant. We will make our own lunches to take with us. Be sure to bring your own reusable water bottle.

Morning: We will all board a shuttle van and ride to Great Camp Santanoni in Newcomb, one of the historic Adirondack great camps. It was constructed primarily during 1892-93 and named for nearby Santanoni Peak. The Pruyn family hired architect noted Robert H. Robertson, whose design was inspired by Japanese culture. We will meet local experts and begin our hiking explorations at the Gatehouse Complex. From there, it is a five-mile hike down a peaceful, wide, dirt and gravel carriage road through the woods to the main complex of Camp Santanoni. We will be accompanied by a horse-drawn carriage. The Challenging group will hike to the main camp complex and back, a distance of about 10 miles. The Moderate group will hike to Camp Santanoni and return on the horse-drawn carriage, a distance of five miles. The Easy group will walk 2.5 miles and take the horse-drawn carriage the remainder of the way. We will have an expert-led exploration of the main complex and — weather permitting — an opportunity to swim in Newcomb Lake.

Lunch: At Great Camp Santanoni, we’ll have the packed lunches we prepared.

Afternoon: We will continue our Camp Santanoni field trip. The Easy group will return to the gate by carriage. The Moderate group folks can either walk or take the carriage. The Challenging group will return on foot.

Dinner: At the Log House Restaurant.

Evening: We will gather for another presentation by a local expert, then sit around the fire pit on the lawn and relax in Adirondack chairs. Share stories from the day with new Road Scholar friends, enjoy the lodge amenities, or just relax.

DAY
5
Adirondack Museum, John Pond, High Peaks
North River, NY
B,L,D
Garnet Hill Lodge

Activity note: Getting on/off a shuttle van. Easy: 2 miles on local trails at your own pace before visiting Adirondack Museum via shuttle van. Moderate: Hiking a 4.4 mile loop around John Pond; no significant vertical rise. Challenging Hike: One of the region’s “High Peaks;” elevation of at least 4,000 feet. Length/duration depending on staff selection and current conditions.

Breakfast: At the Log House Restaurant. We will make our own lunches to take with us. Be sure to bring your own reusable water bottle.

Morning: Easy: We will set out on a walk of about 2 miles on local trails then take a shuttle van ride to the Adirondack Experience Museum on Blue Mountain Lake. The museum shares the history of the Adirondack Park through more than 40,000 square feet of exhibits. Moderate: We will hike 4.5 miles to/from John Pond. The trail runs along an old road in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness in the Central Adirondacks. This hike features great views of John Pond and nearby cliff faces. Challenging: High Peaks. Garnet Hill Outdoor Center Staff will select specific mountains and trails based on current conditions at the time of the program.

Lunch: At scenic spots on the trail, we will have the packed lunches we prepared.

Afternoon: The Easy group will take a shuttle van ride to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. This beautiful museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibits showcasing the best of Adirondack art, architecture, history, culture, wildlife, and natural beauty. The Moderate group will continue the John Pond hike before returning to the lodge. The Challenging group will hike and paddle back from Peaked Mountain.

Dinner: At the Log House Restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll enjoy live music at the Log House and relax. Upon return to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
North River, NY
B

Activity note: If you are taking the shuttle to Albany Airport, departures will be based on flight times. We recommend booking flights after 12:00 Noon. Lodge check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the Log House Restaurant. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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