Kelly Mountain (ME) September 6th, 2026

Kelly Mountain

Location: Brighton Plantation, Maine
Mileage: 1.27 Miles
Elevation Gain: 341 Feet
Trail(s)Used: ATV Trail
Views: From Fire Tower Observation Deck
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate 
Hiking List(s): Maine Town High Point

Day two of our mini-Maine weekend, and I’ve been looking forward to this hike since our last trip up here. The trickiest part was figuring out which of the many ATV trails in the area would get us there. After a tasty breakfast buffet and a quick stop at the local grocery store, we made our way to Amy’s dad’s camp. A quick look at the map later, we jumped on the ATV and set off toward Kelly Mountain.

Kelly Mountain, the tallest peak in Brighton Plantation, Maine, is part of the Longfellow Mountains.

Riding along one of the many ATV trails in the area, I noticed quite a few people out enjoying the beautiful weather today.

The end of the ATV road leads to the summit of Kelly Mountain, where we parked the ATV.

The hike up the ATV trail to the summit of Kelly Mountain was fairly easy, with clear signs of recent ATV activity and foot traffic along the way.

The ATV trail evens out as you arrive at the summit plateau of Kelly Mountain.

The wooded summit of Kelly Mountain, standing at 1,676 feet, sits right beside the fire tower.

The fire tower on Kelly Mountain, built in 1925, was probably around 40 feet tall, though I’m not certain. Its nearly vertical ladder made it one of the few towers that actually made me nervous to climb.

From just below the Kelly Mountain observation deck, the views stretch out to the north, west, and east. I couldn’t bring myself to go all the way up onto the deck.

Amy is walking down the 0.6-mile stretch of the ATV trail back to the car.

It was a fairly quick hike up and down with a short stop at the summit of Kelly Mountain. The fire tower here was one of the few that bested me, thanks to the nearly vertical climb to the observation deck. Most towers have stairs, handrails, and easier access, but this one had a small opening that left me wondering how to squeeze through and safely get my feet back on the iron rung ladder. I still made it as high as I could for some nice views. With rain clouds in the distance, we decided to hurry back down to the ATV, which had a cab to wait out the rain if needed. A nice little hike once you figure out where to start the trail.

Coot Hill/Big Hollow (NY) August 31st, 2026

Coot Hill/Big Hollow

Location: Moriah, New York
Mileage: 3.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 476 Feet
Trail(s)Used: Road Walk, Coot Hill/Big Hollow Trail
Views: From Ledges around Coot Hill Summit
Difficulty: Easy (if able to drive to trailhead) / Moderate (if having to do a road walk)
Hiking List(s): Moriah Hiking Challenge

By Monday, we were feeling tired and sore from two days of hiking and exploring around Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake. I suggested tackling the last Moriah Hiking Challenge hike on our way home, since it shouldn’t take too long depending on where we could park. After grabbing breakfast and strolling through downtown Lake Placid, we drove to Lang Road to find a spot to park and start the hike to Coot Hill.

The Moriah Hiking Challenge features four local Champlain Area Trails (CATS) hikes, and completing them earns you a patch. The other three hikes include Belfry Mountain, with its fire tower; Crowfoot Pond, a longer hike to a backcountry pond; and Cheney Mountain, which has stunning views of the High Peaks and Lake Champlain.

From where we parked, it was about a mile-long walk down Lang Road, passing by several houses and hunting camps.

Lang Cemetery is a historic burial ground located in the old Cold Springs Park area, just across from the Coot Hollow/Big Hollow Trail. Some of the graves remain unmarked.

This is the starting point of the Coot Hill/Big Hollow Trail, a short 0.3-mile hike to scenic views atop Coot Hill. The trail also serves as a route for ATVs and snowmobiles.

The Coot Hill/Big Hollow Trail offered a fairly easy hike, with just one steeper stretch along an old ATV path leading up to the summit ledges on Coot Hill.

Cloudy views stretch back toward the Adirondack High Peaks from the ledges of Coot Hill, while to the south lies Big Hollow, a 400-foot glacial chasm.

From the ledges on Coot Hill, you can take in stunning views of the Lake Champlain Valley and the Green Mountains in Vermont.

All that remained was the long, humid, buggy walk back to the car. The views were beautiful, but not being able to park at the trailhead and having to trek the long road was the only downside of the hike. Still, we finally completed the Moriah Hiking Challenge, which we half-heartedly began about two years ago. One patch down, more to go. We love coming to New York to discover the little gems the state has to offer.

Buck Mountain (NY) August 30th, 2026

Buck Mountain

Location: Long Lake, New York
Mileage: 2.7 Miles
Elevation Gain: 527 Feet
Trail(s)Used: Buck Mountain Trail
Views: From Ledges around Coot Hill Summit
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate 
Hiking List(s): Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills)

The first hike of our three-fire tower day on Saturday was a bit of a puzzle to plan. We had a few hikes in mind but needed to figure out the logistics, since they were far apart and separated by lakes and mountains. We decided on Buck because it was the closest and easiest to reach. The night before, rain seemed unlikely, but when we woke up, the radar and horizon showed rain bands moving in, so we set out to see what we could get done before the weather turned.

Buck Mountain is #23 on the Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskill) list.

The kiosk at the trailhead parking lot for Buck Mountain, located just off South Sabbatis Road.

The first stretch of the Buck Mountain Trail crosses several bridges and bog boards, offering a flat, easy path to follow, though it can be muddy and soft underfoot.

The middle part of the Buck Mountain Trail transitions from flat, wet areas to steeper sections with rocky steps.

As the trail steepens near the summit of Buck Mountain, you'll encounter around 10 to 11 ladder sections to help with the climb.

The actual wooded summit of Buck Mountain, at an elevation of 2,424 feet, was just a short bushwhack from where the fire tower stands.

The fire tower on Buck Mountain is a 60-foot steel structure that was built in 1933.

The panoramic 360-degree views from inside the fire tower cab on Buck Mountain.

Amy is making her way down the ladder section.

As we headed back down the mountain toward the car, the rain started and kept falling until we reached the gentler part of the Buck Mountain Trail. The first hike was quick and fairly easy, with decent views despite the drizzle, which lingered through the other two hikes and the rest of the day. Another fire tower peak checked off the list.

Mount Worcester - Worcester Mountain-Middle Peak (VT) August 22nd, 2026

Mount Worcester - Worcester Mountain-Middle Peak

Location: Worcester, Vermont
Mileage: 8 Miles
Elevation Gain: 2778 Feet
Trail(s) Used: Worcester Mountain Trail, Skyline Trail
Views: From Ledges below/and from summit of Mount Worcester
Difficulty: Moderate/Hard
Hiking List(s): Vermont 3000 Footers/Vermont 100 Highest

Amy was hiking in New Hampshire today, so I headed out solo for my hike. With so many hikes on my list in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire, I had plenty of options. I decided on something in Vermont that I’d been wanting to do for a while. Years ago, Brian and I dabbled in hiking Vermont’s 3000 Footers and checked off quite a few. We even tackled some sections of the Long Trail, so Vermont is definitely familiar territory for me.

It was going to be about a two-hour drive, so I left the house early in the morning and hit the road. Thank goodness for podcasts—without them, it would have been a long and boring trip. The trailhead was several miles outside Montpelier, Vermont’s capital, down a few dirt roads.

The kiosk at the parking area for the Worcester Mountain Trail marked the start of a fun journey. Getting there was an adventure in itself, driving along a narrow dirt road with about 7–8 berms—clearly the locals’ way of keeping speeds in check. 

It’s just a short 2.2-mile trek from the trailhead parking lot to the summit of Mount Worcester along the Worcester Mountain Trail.

The start of the Worcester Mountain Trail was gentle, following what seemed like an old road for about three-quarters of a mile. The trail was also in pretty good condition.

After crossing one of the major waterways, the Worcester Mountain Trail follows Hancock Brook for a pleasant stretch. Today, every crossing was either completely dry or had only a trickle of water.

For the most part, the Worcester Mountain Trail can get pretty wet when it’s raining or during the winter. In some sections, it’s almost like walking along a river.

The final half mile of the Worcester Mountain Trail was the steepest stretch of the hike.

The granite slab scrambles begin as they make their way toward the summit of Mount Worcester.

An early morning panorama from the ledges just below the summit of Worcester Mountain offers sweeping views across eastern Vermont and into New Hampshire.

The granite slab scrambles were fun and not too difficult to climb, though the steady steep incline led all the way to the summit. Along the Worcester Mountain Trail, there were still plenty of high-bush blueberries to pick.

A beautiful quartz dyke rests on the ledges just below the summit of Worcester Mountain.

From the summit of Worcester Mountain, the view of Middle Peak is stunning. It’s only about 1.4 miles away, yet it appears much farther in the distance.

From the summit of Worcester Mountain, you can enjoy a stunning view of nearby Mount Mansfield.

Summit sign marking the highest point of Worcester Mountain, elevation 3,296 feet.

The Skyline Trail begins just below the summit of Mount Worcester, and in some spots, it’s tricky to navigate due to the absence of blazes and the number of blowdowns.

A different perspective of Mount Worcester’s Middle Peak, taken from a ledge just below Worcester Mountain’s summit.

Some sections of the Skyline Trail were a nice ridge hike and easy to follow the trail. 

The wooded summit of Worcester Mountain-Middle Peak, at an elevation of 3,490 feet, is just a short bushwhack from the high point of the Skyline Trail.

A short stretch of the Skyline Trail was dotted with piles of moose scat, only a few weeks old at most. Moose are opportunistic creatures, using trails much like we use sidewalks.

About halfway along the Skyline Trail between the two peaks, there’s a vista offering stunning views west toward Mount Mansfield and across Northern Vermont.

On the way back to Worcester Mountain, I caught this view of the summit. It was actually fun having to reclimb it just to get back to the car.

Zoomed in on the ledges of Worcester Mountain, I noticed a few people on the summit during my return trip.

The summit sign is oddly placed on the Skyline Trail side of the peak instead of the Worcester Mountain Trail side.

It was a 2.2-mile trek back to the parking lot, a quick and uneventful descent.

I’d been eyeing this hike for years but never had the chance to try it—until today, and it didn’t disappoint. The Skyline Trail lived up to its messy reputation, with plenty of blowdowns and big patches of mud. Still, it was a beautiful summer day, cool enough for comfort, with great views from the summit of Worcester Mountain. I’ll definitely have to return someday to finish the rest of the Skyline Trail and tag Mount Putnam too.