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.

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.