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.

Cathedral Rock (NY) August 30th, 2026

Cathedral Rock

Location: Fine, New York
Mileage: 2.22 Miles
Elevation Gain: 241 Feet
Trail(s) Used: LathamTrail
Views: 360 from Fire Tower Cab
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking List(s): Fire Tower Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills), Adirondacks 29er Challenge

The second fire tower hike on Saturday took us on a pleasant, though somewhat lengthy, drive from Buck Mountain. We chose this one first since it was the farthest from our stay in Saranac Lake, with plans to tackle Azure Mountain afterward if time and energy allowed. Rain came and went during the drive, adding a bit of atmosphere. The trail starts at the parking lot of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Cathedral Rock is #32 on the Fire Towe Challenge (Adirondack/Catskills) and #31 on the Adirondack 29er Junior Peaks lists.

From the parking lot at the Wanakena Ranger School Campus, head around the gate and walk about 200 feet to reach the Latham Trail.

The Latham Trail takes you up to the summit area and the fire tower on Cathedral Rock.

The Latham Trail was a mostly flat, one-mile stretch that passed over a few dirt roads and through some lovely, wooded areas.

The only steep part of the Latham Trail was well maintained, but I could imagine it getting pretty icy or wet.

The Latham Trail even featured a single set of steps on the way to the summit of Cathedral Rock.

A couple of memorial plaques along the Latham Trail, one with a somber tone and the other with a cheerful touch.

A small ledge offers a view just below the summit of Cathedral Rock, with a pavilion situated nearby..

An NYS Ranger Monument sits atop a glacial erratic just below the summit of Cathedral Rock.

The Cathedral Rock Fire Tower stands 47 feet tall atop the summit of Cathedral Rock, which rises to an elevation of 1,727 feet. This is its second location, the first being on Tooley Pond Mountain.

The view from the fire tower on Cathedral Rock wasn’t much, thanks to the rain, and in a few years the trees might grow as tall as the tower.

We retraced our steps and headed back down the way we came. We saw just one other person at the summit of Cathedral Rock, and no one else on the quick hike to the car. Luckily, the rain held off during our trek, which was a bonus. Of the three fire towers we visited that day, this was probably the least impressive, with the long drive and so-so views being the biggest letdowns.

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 Monadnock (NH) Redlining August 24th, 2026

 Monte Rosa - Mount Monadnock - Kiasticuticus Peak

Location: Jaffrey, New Hampshire
Mileage: 5.4 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1537 Feet
Trail(s) Used: Toll Road, White Arrow Trail, Fairy Spring Trail, Monte Rosa Trail, Smith Summit Trail, Amphitheatre Trail, Pumpelly Trail, Red Spot Trail, Smith Connecting Trail, Lost Hedgehog Trail, Sidefoot Trail, Do Drop Trail
Views: From summit of Monte Rosa, 360 from summit of Mount Monadnock, From summit of Bald Peak
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking List(s): New Hampshire 3000 Footers, New Hampshire 200 Highest 52 With a View, New Hampshire Town High Points, Monadnock 50 Finest

I had a few trails left to redline in the Old Toll Road area of Mount Monadnock, so today was the perfect day to finish them off. Amy had wrapped up all the trails over a month ago, so I felt it was time to get mine done too. I decided to squeeze in the hike before working Monday night, and the weather couldn’t have been better. I reserved a parking spot the night before, so I knew I’d have a guaranteed space. When I got there around 8:30 a.m., I was only the second car in the lot. I checked in, parked, got ready quickly, and began my road walk.

Mount Monadnock is said to be the third most hiked peak in the world, following Tai Shan in China and Mount Fuji in Japan. It stands as the highest point in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, as well as in Cheshire County.

Trekking up the Old Toll Road for roughly 1.2 miles feels like the hundredth time.

This short section of the Old Toll Road becomes the White Arrow Trail, leading to the site of the Old Halfway House.

The site of the Old Halfway House, which burned down in 1954, offers a great view of Mount Monadnock's summit.

I kept going straight along the Fairy Spring Trail, making my way toward Monte Rosa.

Along the Fairy Spring Trail, you’ll come across the site of Fassett’s Mountain House, a shelter where Mr. Fassett once sold refreshments to hikers making their way to the summit of Mount Monadnock.

The Fairy Spring site was nearly bone dry despite the recent rain. It has the potential to be a great water crossing when there's plenty of water.

The final steep, rocky ascent leading to the summit views on Monte Rosa.

A panoramic view looking south from the summit of Monte Rosa at an elevation of 2,500 feet.

Looking up at the summit of Mount Monadnock while hiking away from Monte Rosa.

I turned here onto the Amphitheatre Trail, one of the few I still needed to complete in the southern section of Mount Monadnock.

Looking down into the Amphitheatre along the Amphitheatre Trail, you’ll find Black Precipice nearby, the mountain’s largest vertical cliff and a popular spot for rock climbers.

It’s interesting how the rock striations resemble writing or hieroglyphs.

Glancing back at Monte Rosa, a rocky outcrop just south of the main summit, as I make my way toward the peak of Mount Monadnock.

Tackling the final steep stretch of the White Arrow Trail as it winds toward the summit of Mount Monadnock.

I’ve reached the summit of Mount Monadnock, standing at 3,170 feet. This marks my eighth time conquering this peak, with the first back in 2009 when I began hiking.

A few views from the summit of Mount Monadnock. I was the only one there at the time, a rare occurrence for this peak. Having been here many times before, I didn’t linger long for photos.

I found all three summit benchmarks at the top of Mount Monadnock. It can be tricky to spot them all with the usual large crowd gathered up here.

A zoomed-in photo captures people gathered at the summit of Mount Monadnock. I imagine it got busier after I left, judging by the number of cars in the parking lot when I finished.

A collection of photos capturing views of Mount Monadnock’s summit from the Smith Connecting Trail, the final trail I needed to complete on the mountain’s west side.

I decided to hike down the Lost Hedgehog Trail, just off Kiasticuticus Peak. I didn’t stop to take pictures since there was a decent-sized group of hikers relaxing there.

Although not an official trail, the Lost Hedgehog Trail is steep but surprisingly pleasant and has seen its share of foot traffic.

Once back on the Old Toll Road, it was a quick walk down to the car, without seeing another person the entire way. With those trails finished, I now have just four left to complete every trail on Mount Monadnock: Pumpelly Trail, Spellman Trail, Cascade Link, and a small section of the Parker Trail. It was a beautiful summer day on the peak, and the lack of crowds was a pleasant surprise.