Stunning mountain panoramas are within the reach of even novice hikers in the Lake George, N.Y. Berry Pond Preserve. The 1,436-acre tract is owned and maintained by the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC), a not-for-profit land trust.
The preserve is just south of Prospect Mountain and is accessed through the Village of Lake George Recreation Center trails off of Transfer Road. Hikers will find ample free parking at the Recreation Center; the Village trail system begins directly behind the parking lot kiosk.
To reach the preserve trailhead, follow the Village trail marked Guard Help Way, keeping an eye out for the Lake George Land Conservancy blue trail markers. The Blue trail is rated moderate to challenging, the challenging part being three steep inclines that will test a hiker’s hamstrings, but the trail is broad, allowing for a little zigzagging on the ascent. The final climb is the steepest and can be intimidating but persevere, the top is near.
About one and a half miles in (and up) the trail plateaus at the first scenic lookout, a view that looks north up Lake George. The second scenic lookout, at the trail’s peak elevation of 1,640 feet, looks over Glens Falls, Washington County and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
The blue trail descends gradually to join with the Orange trail, a broad and level trail that loops around Berry Pond. Parts of this trail join with the South Warren Snowmobile Club trail system, and hikers will notice the club’s yellow, diamond-shaped signs.
The Berry Pond Preserve was purchased by the Conservancy in 2008 and connects close to 10,000 acres of protected land, including Prospect Mountain. According to LGLC land steward Warren Rosenthal, The Conservancy will be turning the preserve over to the state in 2014, making it part of New York State’s Adirondack Forest Preserve.
The area is open for day-use only —camping and campfires are prohibited. The unhurried hiker should allow four to five hours to cover both trails.