Kane Mountain (NY) October 25th, 2026

Kane Mountain

Location: Caroga, New York
Mileage: 2.2 Miles
Elevation Gain: 480 Feet
Trail(s) Used: Kane Mountain East Trail, Kane Mountain North Trail
Views: 360 from Fire Tower Cab
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking List(s): Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills), Adirondacks 29er Junior Peaks

  

We had attempted this hike earlier in the year but opted not to drive to the summer trailhead due to icy and snowy conditions. With no parking available along the road, visitors must use the designated trailhead parking area. Since we had three days in New York and wanted to conserve energy for planned hikes on Monday and Tuesday, we decided to give this hike another try. Traveling four hours from New Hampshire, it made sense to keep the outing easy, so we brought minimal hiking gear for a straightforward trek.

Kane Mountain is #27 on the Fire Towe Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills) and #23 on the Adirondack 29er Junior Peaks lists.

The Kane Mountain Trailhead Kiosk and parking area, located off of Green Lake Road had an ample amount of parking.

The Kane Mountain East Trail follows an old jeep road, as it climbs somewhat steeply to the summit of Kane Mountain

The 60-foot fire tower on the wooded summit of Kane Mountain, elevation 2167 feet, offers panoramic views from inside the fire tower cab.

The views from inside the fire tower cab on Kane Mountain, offering a full 360-degree panorama.

The view from the fire tower cab on Kane Mountain, looking down at the fire warden's cabin.

A Central Osborne Fire Finder is installed inside the fire tower cab on Kane Mountain.

A few glacial erratics on the Kane Mountain North Trail, as we were headed back to the the parking area.

The fall colors were just past their peak but still retained some vibrant hues as we descended the Kane Mountain North Trail.

The Kane Mountain North Trail offered a more gradual but longer descent, and we noticed quite a few people ascending this route rather than taking the East Trail.

A nice fall hike for Kane Mountain, with quite a few people out enjoying the days hike. The fall colors were just past peak so I imagine this hike would be super popular when the colors are popping. It was a nice loop hike, although the only views from this peak were had from climbing the fire tower. This one is definitely geared for families to enjoy.

Eagle Mountain (VT) October 10th, 2026

Eagle Mountain

Location: Milton, Vermont
Mileage: 2.0 Miles
Elevation Gain: 221 Feet
Trail(s) Used: Hoyt Lookout Trail, Wildflower Loop, Mountaintop Loop 
Views: Ledge below summit of Eagle Mountain
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Hiking List(s): None

After the Fryeburg Fair on Friday, we headed to northwest Vermont for some geocaching and stumbled upon a small hike we’d missed last year due to rain. With a few geocaches in the area, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get some steps in and enjoy the views. When we arrived, there were quite a few cars, with more pulling in behind us, and the place was clearly very dog-friendly. We simply swapped our shoes and set off up the trail—no backpacks needed today.

The Eagle Mountain kiosk and parking lot are located at the end of Henry Road in Milton.

Beginning the hike on the Hoyt Overlook Trail, we passed through a mowed stretch of wild grass, touched with a bit of color on this crisp fall day.

We explored several parts of the Wildflower Loop, mainly for geocaching, since there aren’t many wildflowers in bloom at this time of year.

At this junction, we’d take a left toward Hoyt Overlook, then continue on to reach the summit of Eagle Mountain.

Definitely crafted by Bigfoot.

A charming commemorative bench to relax on while taking in the view at the Hoyt Overlook.

Several views stretch across Lake Champlain into New York, showcasing the ADK High Peaks and northern ADK peaks.

The wooded summit of Eagle Mountain, standing at 579 feet, isn’t particularly remarkable.

Snapped a bonus photo of Lake Carmi in Franklin, Vermont—just had to pull over and capture the moment.

Today’s hike was an easy, leisurely stroll through the Eagle Mountain Natural Area. Afterward, we took a northern tour of Vermont before heading home. It’s a great trail for people with dogs and young children. The Wildflower Loop could be especially charming in the spring, making it an ideal time to visit. Otherwise, the Hoyt Overlook offers pretty decent views on a crisp fall day.

Loon Lake Mountain (NY) September 26th, 2026

Loon Lake Mountain

Location: Franklin, New York
Mileage: 6.1 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1639 Feet
Trail(s) Used: Loon Lake Mountain Trail
Views: Ledges near summit of Loon Lake Mountain
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Hiking List(s): Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills), Adirondack Blue Challenge, Adirondacks 29er Challenge

Drove over from New Hampshire as usual for another hike in the Adirondacks. We had a few specific peaks on the Adirondack Blue Challenge we wanted to do so we had our pick of three peaks, Lyon Mountain, Jay Mountain and Loon Lake Mountain. We decided on Loon Lake Mountain as it was most likely going to be the easiest of the three peaks. I thought the parking lot would be full as it was getting towards peak foliage in the Adirondacks, but I was able to park just besides the sign in the first picture. We geared up and started our hike for the day. Conditions were pretty good for a fall day.

Loon Lake Mountain is #12 on the Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills), #4 on the Adirondack Blue Challenge and #12 on the Adirondack 29er Challenge lists.

The Loon Lake Mountain Trail begins off County Route 26, with parking available for about five to six cars, depending on how they are parked.

The Loon Lake Mountain Trail begins with a narrow path that connects to an old forest road.

You cross the meadow and follow the old woods road for just over a mile before turning into the forest to begin your climb to the summit of Loon Lake Mountain.

At around 1.25 miles, we took a left onto another old woods road. All the trails were marked with yellow DEC trail markers, so in some areas it was important to watch for those or follow arrows.

The Loon Lake Mountain Trail offers gentle grades for just over half a mile before it begins to climb more steeply toward the summit.

There are several bog bridges along this section of the Loon Lake Mountain Trail, though the hiking conditions were fairly dry.

The Loon Lake Mountain Trail had more old telegraph poles than I’ve ever seen on any fire tower hike.

This was probably the steepest stretch of trail we’ve tackled in the ADKs, maybe even Catamount Mountain. It was slow going and, no joke, incredibly steep.

An old telegraph pole still holds some of its original wire.

One of the rare scenic views along the Loon Lake Mountain Trail that isn’t at the summit.

The final stretch of the Loon Lake Mountain Trail evens out as it approaches the summit area.

Spotted all three summit benchmarks at the top of Loon Lake Mountain.

The 35-foot fire tower on Loon Lake Mountain, sitting at an elevation of 3,337 feet, is unfortunately in poor condition, making it inaccessible for enjoying the views. 

Nearly 180 views can be enjoyed from the summit ledges of Loon Lake Mountain, and you might discover even more to the south if you search for a path.

One of the nicer sections of the Look Lake Mountain Trail as we are headed back down.

A final bonus shot of a pond we passed on our way to our overnight stay. The stunning color made us stop and capture the moment.

The hike out was slow due to the steep descent, and we crawled through that section. I slipped once and scraped my wrist, but that happens fairly often. Once past the steep part, it felt like the old woods roads on the way out were longer than the hike in. The summit offered nice views, but unfortunately, we couldn’t climb the fire tower stairs. It’s one of the few fire towers in New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York that I haven’t climbed. I can’t emphasize enough how steep the upper sections of this hike are.