4 Short and Easy Hikes in the Adirondacks (Big Views for Less)

dog facing camera in front of Lake Placid Lake, dog and man standing on edge of pond, staircase leading into High Falls Gorge

To put it lightly, you’ve got options (lots of ‘em) when it comes to hiking in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid and finding beautiful views and fun summits to climb. But what do you do when you’re looking for short, easy hikes in the Adirondacks or hikes you can enjoy in less time? You find big views for less effort!

Whether you want to maximize your time in the Adirondacks by hiking as many trails as possible, or you want a taste of hiking the ADKs without committing to a full-day hike, here are 4 short and easy hikes in the Adirondacks that give you big views for less effort.

(Want to read about other hikes we recommend near Lake Placid? Click here.)

map of trailhead locations near Lake Placid

Above is a map with the trailheads of each location so you can get a better idea of where the hikes we’ll be sharing are located. This way, if you want to double or triple up hikes, you can see which order is best. (We’ll also share them in order below if you want to follow our list one hike at a time.)

Here’s our breakdown of 4 short and easy hikes in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid, NY to help you find those spots where you can get big views for less effort. Enjoy!!

Note: In full transparency, short and easier hikes is a better description of this post. After all, you are in the Adirondacks and looking for big views, so sometimes a little elevation gain or climb may be necessary during your trek. But hopefully, the shorter lengths and big views will make it all feel worthwhile!

Table of Contents Hide

1. Copperas Pond

Copperas Pond is a great, short hike in the Adirondacks with a beautiful, serene view. You won’t see distant mountain ranges like you will by hiking some of the other hikes on this list, but instead, your 1/2-mile trek through the woods will lead you to a quiet, peaceful pond.

There are a few steep sections you’ll find while hiking to Copperas Pond, but we think this trail being one of the shortest trails in the area, makes the steep sections feel more doable.

We visited Copperas Pond after work on a Monday and had the pond to ourselves, but we’ve also read that some people have visited midday on a weekend and enjoyed a solo visit also. If it’s warm enough (or you’re up for it anyway), bring a suit and towel and jump in!

RTL Tip: Once you arrive at Copperas Pond, you can follow the trail part of the way around the pond. If you go left when you arrive at the pond, then right, you may even be able to follow the trail all the way to Owen Pond— but grab AllTrails ahead of time to guide you!

Dog-Friendly? Yes!

2. High Falls Gorge

High Falls Gorge is another short, gorgeous hike, but this time your walk will lead you through a granite-walled gorge with four waterfalls (though as you walk and count, it seems like more!).

There are stairs at High Falls Gorge along the Waterfall Path, but there is also an “Easy Path” that is wheelchair accessible and leads to the center of the gorge without stairs. (See a map of the High Falls Gorge here.)

While this additional trail was closed when we were visiting in August 2022, there is also a nature trail (a 1-mile loop) you may also be able to walk while visiting.

You can learn more about High Falls Gorge here. (Note: There is an entrance fee.)

Dog-Friendly? No.

3. Cobble Lookout

If you’ve been following along with all of our Lake Placid recommendations, then you know I’m just about at capacity for being able to talk about Cobble Lookout… but I can’t keep it off this list because this hike has, IMO, one of the best, if not THE best, view-to-effort ratios in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid.

Cobble lookout is about 20 minutes from Lake Placid and is a shorter hike, about 2.4 miles round trip. But the real ease in this trail comes from minimal elevation (yay! plus no stairs!).

And best of all? A gorgeous view will be waiting for you after your 1.2-mile walk through the woods. We visited Lake Placid and Cobble Lookout in the summer (and it was stunning), but if you’re visiting in the fall, Cobble Lookout seems amazing for fall foliage as well.

RTL Tip: This trail does have exposed roots to be cautious of when hiking or trail running. And it gets VERY muddy and, most importantly to know, slippery when wet. So we don’t recommend running this trail if it’s recently rained. (Hiking may be okay, as long as you take it slow and have proper footwear.)

Dog-Friendly? Yes!

4. The Alpine Trail on Whiteface Mountain

Here’s another Adirondack activity I should probably stop talking about (and I promise I will soon, but it’s just so versatile!!) - Whiteface Mountain.

If you’re visiting in the summer and would prefer not to hike the 10-mile Whiteface Mountain Summit Trail, you can drive to the top of Whiteface Mountain (by way of the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway) and hike the 1/5-mile-long Alpine Nature trail.

(Note: While we’ve read this hike is only 1/5-mile-long each way, it did NOT feel that short to us. It’s definitely doable, if you don’t mind a staircase climb, and it’s absolutely stunning at the summit with 360-degree views, but if you complete this hike and are wondering how it’s “only” .2 miles long one way, we agree!!!)

RTL Tip: To give yourself a break while you’re climbing the staircase to the summit, take a moment (or three) to turn around and enjoy your glimpse of Lake Placid Lake!

Dog-Friendly? Yes!

Bonus: Mirror Lake Loop

Mirror Lake is beautiful. And while this hike actually starts in Downtown Lake Placid (so it’s different than the other hikes on this list)… If you’re looking for a flat path with absolutely minimal elevation, this one’s for you!

While you won’t be able to view Mirror Lake for the entirety of this 2.6-mile loop, you will stroll past Mirror Lake Public Beach, through Lake Placid Main Street, and by gorgeous homes (many of which sit on Mirror Lake). You can stop at Mirror Lake Public Beach or Mid’s Park for gorgeous views of the lake.

Plus, you’ll pass by a Lake Placid Access Site if you’d like to peek at Lake Placid Lake during your stroll. (Lake Placid Village sits on Mirror Lake, while Lake Placid Lake is to its side.)

Dog-Friendly? Yes!

Bonus: Mt Van Hoevenberg East

This is definitely the longest trail on this list, and probably the hardest. But of the next category of hikes in the Adirondacks (moderate to hard hikes or day hikes), this is one of the easiest.

The Mt Van Hoevenberg East Trail is still fairly new, which means the trail’s in really good condition and an easier one to follow/hike. Plus, while there is an incline as you work your way to the summit, this felt like a more gradual incline - without any rock scrambling.

There are stairs to climb for this hike, but your view at the top is stunning!

RTL Tip: Want to hike but it’s lightly raining? If you feel comfortable and have good hiking boots, try this hike anyway (as long as it’s safe). You may be rewarded with the most beautiful rainbow at the summit.

Read more about good day hikes in the Adirondacks here.

Dog-Friendly? Yes!

Have time for more? Keep Planning Your Perfect Trip to the Adirondacks

Here’s what we consider the 6 best things to do near Lake Placid.

And here’s our pick for the perfect weekend itinerary in Lake Placid.

Plus, here are 10 of our favorite day hikes near Lake Placid.

Have extra time and up for a road trip? Here’s a one-day itinerary for a road trip to Burlington, Vermont (about two hours away). And here’s a great foodie road trip with 8 fun things to do near Stowe, Vermont (about 2.5 hours away).

Your turn! Leave us a comment below!

We’re always looking for inspiration, and would love to hear about your adventures too! What’s the best road trip you’ve ever taken (and why), or which of these Adirondack hikes sounds the best to you? Please share with us in the comments below!

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