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The new 2.2-mile spur trail connecting the 134-mile Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) to the hamlet of Long Lake in Hamilton County has officially opened.
The spur trail provides ease of access to food, supplies, and lodging for backpackers through-hiking the NPT and is hoped to enhance the local economy.
Located in the Blue Mountain Wild Forest, the spur trail connects with the NPT approximately 1.9 miles south of Route 28N. The connection is marked with yellow trail markers and includes 0.4 mile of the Three Brook Ski Loop Trail, 0.8 mile of recently constructed trail on Forest Preserve lands, 0.8 mile of trail built by the town of Long Lake on town-owned lands in 2017, and 0.2 mile of Pavilion Lane, a town-owned road.
The trail terminates at a gravel parking lot at the intersection of State Route 30/28N, South Hill Road, and Pavilion Lane. The Long Lake Post Office, where many backpackers send packages for resupply, is located on the opposite side of State Route 30/28N. Businesses with food and supplies are located less than 0.2 mile from the terminus.
Overall, using the spur trail eliminates an estimated 1.4 miles of hiking, including 1.3 miles of hiking on the shoulder of the state highway. In the winter, cross-country skiers can ski from Long Lake to the Three Brook Ski Loop Trail along the NPT and back for a pleasant 5.5-mile round trip ski.
The 0.8-mile of trail on the Forest Preserve was constructed using sustainable principles by DEC staff and crews from the Student Conservation Association (SCA) Adirondack Program. Crews also improved conditions on the Three Brooks Ski Loop.
Users are encouraged to practice Leave No Trace when recreating in the Adirondacks to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and minimize impact on the natural resources.
Be Prepared: Properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC’s Hiking Safety webpage and Adirondack Trail Information webpage for more information about where you intend to travel. The Adirondack Almanack reports weekly Outdoor Conditions each Thursday afternoon.
Map of Long Lake NPT Spur Trail provided by DEC.
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This is a great addition to the NPT and hopefully will benefit Long Lake too. I would have definitely used the access to the village had this spur existed when I did a thru-hike years ago. Also a good option for staying overnight.