Rattlesnake Mountain Hike in the Adirondack Mountains // New York

September 12, 2018

Happy Wednesday friends! I hope that you are having a wonderful week! Today I am so excited to share some pictures from the hike I did on Rattlesnake Mountain a couple of weeks ago over Labor Day weekend.
Honestly, as I have shared before, this summer was very different in some ways than I had originally imagined it would be. Not bad, just different. One of the ways it was different was that I had planned on doing much more hiking this summer than I actually did, due to the heat of this season. Because of this, I was so excited to get out and hike Rattlesnake!
The temperatures were warm but not unbearable and in the cool hiking trails it really was a wonderful summer day to hike!
Rattlesnake Mountain (located in the Adirondack Mountains in Willsboro, NY) is a private mountain trail that is known for offering great views for "limited effort" to the top. Typically the trail might take a healthy/active person approximately an hour to the top. For reference and for those who may be dealing with health issues, it took me about an hour and a half to get to the top and about 55 minutes on the way back. 
It's interesting because many people have termed the hike "easy", but I would say that the section of almost rock-climbing (as you can see in the above picture) makes the trail a more moderate hike. It is described as not a "steep" hike (and compared to some of the hiking I did in Alaska, I would agree), but I do think that there are some steep sections that is completely rocky that should be pointed out for beginning hikers. 
I also think that it depends on what you are looking for in a hike. I personally love hiking because I am out in nature (a favorite thing of mine), it is an opportunity to live out a dream after so many years of fighting for my health, and there is also the way that hiking teaches you so much about yourself. Hiking for me is not about "conquering quickly" but enjoying living in the moment and seeing the beauty of now.

I think that this hike is very family-friendly and if you are hiking as a girl alone you will find this trail to be safe as you have cell phone service for the entire hike. One of the things that I love about hiking in a lot of places, including on this trail was that people are genuinely encouraging each other - especially on the steeper rocky part. So if you are a beginning hiker or looking to get back into hiking this is a great trail for a lot of different reasons!
Rattlesnake Mountain, as I mentioned at the beginning is on private land so this trail is for hiking only. There is no camping, littering, fires, bikes, or motorized vehicles that are allowed, so it makes the perfect 1/2 day or full day hike.
Rattlesnake Mountain Trail is approximately 3 miles total round trip and the elevation of the trail is about 1300 feet.
To get to Rattlesnake Mountain take I-87 (the New York Northway) to exit 33. Continue on Route 22 for approximately 4 miles at which time you will see Long Pond on your right. As you continue to drive you will see small cabins appear on your right and on your left will be the entrance and a small parking area for Rattlesnake Mountain. 

From Albany it is approximately a 2 and 1/2 hour drive north. From Burlington, Vermont it is approximately an hour and 45 minute drive (including the Essex-Charlotte Ferry) and from Montreal it is approximately a 2 and 1/2 hour drive (contingent on boarder crossing times). 
Your first lookout area you come to near the top will show you views of Long Pond, the Adirondack Mountains, and some of the Green Mountains on a clear day (as you can see in the picture below). 

The views from the very top of the hike are spectacular and include views of the entire area, including Willsboro Bay and Point, the Four Brother Islands, Long Pond, Lake Champlain, and even the Green Mountains in Vermont. I can't wait to share the top views in a future blog post with y'all!
This is a beautiful piece of the Adirondack Mountains and definitely worth the time to hike to see this beautiful land and views! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and reading about it! I hope that y'all have a wonderful day!

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