Josh had hiked Chimney Mountain before, and I was excited that he wanted to share it with me. We were planning to camp at Mason Lake with friends that weekend, and decided to tackle this hike on our way there.
Hike Report
7/27/2019
The day already felt packed. We had spent the morning biking and still needed to meet our friends later, so I felt a little rushed heading into the hike. Still, I tried to make the most of it.
We started at the trailhead near the Cabins at Chimney Mountain. Sadly, due to trail abuse, this trailhead is no longer open to the public and is only accessible to guests staying at the cabins. I’m glad we were able to experience this route before public access was closed.
The hike begins with a relatively easy, flat section—my favorite kind of start. It gives me a chance to warm up before the climbing begins. From there, the trail gradually becomes steeper as it works its way toward the summit. Overall, I found it to be a fairly manageable hike, and one I would love to revisit someday.
On the drive up, we had stopped at Stewart’s for egg sandwiches, which made for a perfect summit lunch. We found a nice spot among the rocks and enjoyed the views while we ate.
Of course, because it’s the Adirondacks, we also got a surprise rain shower while we were at the top. Fortunately, it didn’t last long. The summit area was fascinating to explore, with impressive rock formations scattered throughout. It’s easy to see how Chimney Mountain got its name—many of the towering rock structures really do resemble chimneys rising from the mountaintop.
There’s also a designated camping area near the summit. I think it would be a lot of fun to hike up and spend a night there, especially to catch a sunrise or sunset from the top.
Looking back at maps afterward, I noticed there appears to be an unmaintained trail leading to the true summit. We didn’t look for it during our visit, but it gives me another reason to return someday.
Although we had moved quickly on the way up, I tried to slow down a bit on the descent to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, we still had places to be and friends to meet, so eventually our leisurely pace turned into a brisk walk—and sometimes a jog—to make sure we reached Mason Lake on time.
Sometimes I wish our weekends weren’t so packed, with every hour scheduled around the next adventure. But at the same time, I wouldn’t trade days like this. Any day spent exploring the Adirondacks with Josh is a good day in my book.
Trip Stats
- Distance: 2.3 miles
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Elevation Gain/Loss: +1,019 ft. / -1,011 ft.
- Weather: Mostly sunny and warm, with a brief rain shower at the summit
- GPS System: Gaia GPS (image below from OnX Backcountry)
Rating
7/10
Chimney Mountain was a beautiful hike with unique rock formations, great views, and a memorable summit lunch. The only downside was feeling rushed because of our plans later in the day. I’d love to return someday with more time to explore the summit area, search for the true summit trail, and fully appreciate everything this mountain has to offer.
Happy Hiking!
