Goodnow Mountain

The trailhead is located on NY 28N and is marked by a white trailhead sign that you can't miss from the road. The highly used trail starts out fairly level, then at 0.5 miles begins to ascend steeply in some spots the rest of the way to the summit. The hike is 1.95 miles from the parking area to the fire tower. The fire tower on the summit is part of the Fire Tower Challenge in New York State that includes fire towers in the Adirondacks and the Catskills. This is a great hike in any season for any age and for anyone with any or no hiking experience.

My favorite thing to do is to hike Goodnow Mountain for sunrise. I love chasing the light and capturing it with my camera, and to me sunrise presents the most interesting light. Try to reach the summit at least 15 minutes before the actual set time of sun rise to catch the beautiful color show before the sun comes up. Always stay at least 15 minutes after the sun comes up as well to see the full sunrise. From the top you can see a 360-degree view of neighboring towns and the famous Adirondack High Peaks.

If you hike in the winter, be sure to come prepared with snowshoes and extremely warm clothes. Even in the summer, temperatures on the summit can be freezing with the added wind chill, so bring tiny mittens and warm clothes!