A Lyon of a Mountain

Lyon Mountain from Route 374 in Dannemora

On the northern most edge of the Adirondack Park, just to the west of Chazy Lake, lies a sleeping giant. This formidable peak will reward brave hikers with sweeping views from the Adirondacks to Montreal. But at 3,830 feet, with 1,790 feet of vertical ascent, Lyon Mountain is not for the faint of heart.

When my wife, Andrea, and I moved to Plattsburgh in 2005, Lyon Mountain was the first mountain we climbed. Although the trail was only 2.5 miles long, reaching the decaying fire tower was a steep, rugged, and rigorous trek. Finding the unmarked trailhead was a feat in itself, but it was nothing compared to the trail ahead.

The trail opens with a gentle walk for a few tenths of a mile, providing the illusion of an easy walk through the woods. But things changed as it abruptly began its steep ascent up a rocky old stream bed, which didn’t end for two miles. This climb took us more than two hours and left us as broken as the old fire tower when we finally reached the top.

This is me by a stream on the new trail.

A lot has changed in five years. Although the trailhead is still unmarked, a new path has been cut into the side of this massive mountain. Rather than the direct approach of the original trail, the new route makes a detour through a vibrant and healthy birch forest and hikers can now enjoy a well made path marked with red trail makers and loaded with switchbacks.

This new trail adds another hour or so to the hike, but meandering through a forest loaded with wildlife more than makes up for it. On our hike, we encountered at least a dozen toads, several streams, a snake, a downy woodpecker, and a healthy growth of Lady Slipper flowers.

One of a dozen toads on the new Lyon Mountain trail.

Although the original trail is still open for more ambitious hikers, don’t think you’re getting off easy on this new path. Just as it detours off of the original trail, it joins up with it again near the top, making sure everyone gets a taste how steep and rocky the old route is. After a few hours of winding up the mountain, joining up on this path seems to be a cruel joke, but hikers are rewarded with a stunning view of Chazy Lake and the Champlain Valley, which will stay at their backs as they pick their way up the old trail.

Fear not, however, as this only continues for about half a mile where the trail levels out in a thickly wooded area. As it continues across the top of the mountain, the newly repaired fire tower and bald peak come into view. The ultimate reward after this rigorous hike is the stunning 360 degree view. From the tower, you can see the High Peaks in the south, Malone and its farms and windmills to the northwest and on a clear day, so I’ve been told, Montreal to the northeast. Thanks to Canadian wildfires, it was not a clear day.

Lady Slipper flowers may be endangered but they seem to be doing well here.

If so inclined, hikers can continue on south of the tower through a thick pine forest to the end of an old logging road that runs from the top of the mountain to Route 374 on the bottom. I love hiking and truly enjoy the rigors and challenges a good trail has to offer, but few things are more defeating than learning I could have driven to the top of the mountain—which is why you’ll never see me on Prospect Mountain in Lake George again. I don’t think you can drive up this road but either way it’s a sad thought, to say the least.

As is our tradition, Andrea and I ate our lunch on top of the mountain before heading back down. I tell you, no gourmet meal in the world tastes better than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the top of a mountain.

After our lunch we made our way back down to our car, sweaty, bug bitten and happy. All in all, our trek took us about four hours and it was worth every second. I highly recommend this peak.

The Adirondack's can be seen from this beautiful souther view.