Trails, Waterways and Day Hikes
in
Minerva and Olmstedville

This information is believed to be accurate, true
and based on personal experience. If you note any discrepancies, please notify me by email.

Safety cannot be stressed enough...

weather is fast changing and unpredictable. Please read our page on hiking and outdoor safety. Please sign in at trail heads and let someone not hiking with you, know your plans. A good map, compass, water, protection from the eliments can be the difference between a great hike or a disaster. A wonderful resource for the hikes and others is "Discover the Central Adirondacks" by Barbara McMartin. She offers a series of eleven guide books for the Adirondack State Park. Beaver Brook Outfitters has this series available for purchase, they are located in Wevertown, at the corners of Route 28 & 8, or by calling (518) 251-3394. Or if you prefer to be guided, contact Jamie Frasier at Mountain Stream and Guide Service, in Olmstedville at(518) 251-3762.

Minerva Stream

Minerva Stream: a several mile trip that can take 2-4 hours, depending where you drop in. Drop points: North End of Fourteenth Road (north of Minerva Lake. You may be lucky enough to be escorted by a local beaver. Perfect for the beginner, most of the stream is tranquil, going over the beaver dams are my favorite.

Blue Ledges & Huntly Pond
along the Hudson River


(Minerva/Hudson River) 4 miles roundtrip from trailhead to BlueLedges: Take Route 28N and head up Minerva Hill, just before the top, look on the left for NorthWoods Club Road and head up the hill, where you'll cross the Boreas River, the road soon turns to dirt and Huntly Pond will be on your right along with the trail head. Beautiful woodland plants line the very easy path. Take a lunch and make a day trip easily done with even little ones if you take your time and meander. Halfway in you'll hear the roar of the Hudson.

Minerva Lake

Minerva Lake: A lovely flat water lake dotted with two small islands. There is a public boat launch (sorry no power boats allowed) between the beach and campgrounds. Unmarked trails are very visable and are marked in the winter for cross country skiing. At the trail head is the Warming Hut and hockey rink.

Stony Pond, Big and Little Sherman Ponds & Falls Brook

Stony Pond, Big and Little Sherman Ponds and Falls Brook to Irishtown (Minerva, County Route 28N) Take Route 28N up Minerva Hill, 3.8 miles past the NorthWoods Club Road on your right, and look on your right for parking and the trail head. A 2 mile walk will bring you to Stony Pond and its lean to. I've done this trip (Stony Pond Trail head to lean-to and back) with a few adults and a herd of children. In spring, plan on getting your feet wet, as there is a large beaver dam to traverse. Once at the lean-to, you may want to continue the loop, make sure you have a good map, keep an eye out for a sign that points, right (or South) and its 4 miles to John Brannon Road in Minerva(Irishtown). Follow Red trail and Orange snowmobile markers. Following the trail you will climb a small ridge, and drop down into the Sherman Ponds, the trail crosses the outlet gorge, 1.5 miles from the lean-to shortly the trail will wind you nearby the Burden Iron Mine Company wich operated an iron mine from 1869 to 1881. 2 miles from Sherman Ponds the trail leaves state land and you will follow Falls Brook and then leaves you on Long Hill Road/John Brannon Road.(6 miles total; two vehicles needed to do the loop)

Hewitt Pond

Marked Trail: .06 miles/25 minutes: Take Route 28N and head up Minerva Hill, 5 miles north of the North Woods Club Road on the right look for Hewitt Pond Club Road, drive 1/2 a mile and look for parking, just before the Club property. Follow Red Trail Markers east then south. The West end of the pond and surrounding property is Private. Please be respectful of markers. Fishing is prohibited on private land.

Rankin Pond

Marked Trail: .3 miles each way, very nice for a childs first experience hiking. 4 miles past the NorthWoods Club Road on your left, look on your right for parking and to the left(west) for the trail head. Just as you pass the trailhead sign look to the left for blue markers. The trail follows a small creek flow down and then bends to the right around the edge of Crusher Hill, up a bit and then down to the pond. The kids I took on this walk (ages 5,6,9 & 10)loved looking for "bog plants" that they studied for a 4th grade project. Fishing and camping allowed, State owned pond.

Vanderwhacker Mountain
Elevation 3325 feet

Great hiking and snow shoeing, Marked Trail 5.8 miles roundtrip; aprox. 5 hours: