Backpacker Magazine – May 2005

Epicenter: The Scene In North Creek, New York

Hike, climb and fish the wild Adirondacks

by: Charlie Wood

Tags:
• Adventures
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• Paddling
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• New york
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• Adirondacks
|

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©Bob Grabowski View from Peaked Mountain.

You gotta...

Eat

» Café Sarah serves baked goods, yummy sandwiches, and fresh-roasted coffee. Locals dig the mozzarella and pesto on ciabatta bread. (518) 251-5959

» Trapper's Tavern, the sweaty-hiker part of the elegant Copperfield Inn, re-creates the feel of the region circa 1720 with log walls and antler chandeliers. Trapper's Stew and draft beer replace the calories you cooked on the trail. www.copperfieldinn.com/ci_trap.htm

Sleep

» Camp anywhere within the Siamese Ponds Wilderness that lies 150 feet from water, trail, or road (unless it's a designated site). Permits are required only for camping for three-plus nights at the same site.

» Goose Pond Inn is the prototypical Adirondack B&B, set in a 100-year-old house. Start your day with brandied French toast and sautéed apples. Rates start at $85 for a double. www.goosepondinn.com

Know

Best dayhike Right off the main drag, Schaefer Trail rises 2.5 miles through mature hardwood forest and past house-sized glacial erratics to Burnt Ridge. Take in the High Peaks to the north, then follow the ridge 2 miles to Gore Mountain's 3,583-foot summit.

Best river running The Hudson Gorge is a 16-mile mosh of near-continuous Class III and IV whitewater. April is high season, but water releases keep rafts running into autumn. Hudson River Rafting (www.hudsonriverrafting.com) has guides and free camping.

Gear up

Pete Burns' Beaver Brook Outfitters in nearby Wevertown leads fly-fishing, caving, and paddling trips (among others), sells gear, and dispenses local wisdom on nearby adventures. www.beaverbrook.net

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