A Safari Sampler—Fall 2007

The following nature adventures are only a few of the wilderness opportunities Adirondack Safaris offers. Many more nature walks, long hikes, mountain climbs, and bushwhacks are available. Please call 518-251-3006 and I’ll design a trip that will be an ideal match for your interests and abilities.

  Packed lunches are available at Café Sarah located at 260 Main Street, North Creek. Telephone: 518-251-5959. Call a day ahead to reserve your sandwiches and treats. Although peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not on Sarah’s regular menu, she will make them if ordered the day before. When you pick up your sandwiches, you may wish to stop long enough to sample one of Sarah’s delicious breakfasts or pastries. Sarah’s is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after Labor Day 

Easy Nature Hikes
Cod Pond Loop—Round trip 2.0 miles  (Half-day)
An ideal “Moss Petting Zoo” awaits as well as many varieties of “baby” trees to fascinate young children. For older kids, many dozens of dragonflies and numerous salamanders inhabit the shore of Cod Pond .

Round Pond (2 miles round trip)
Round Pond  is an easy half-day hike to a beautiful, seldom-visited pond that is the site of an active beaver community. It’s a perfect walk for adults and children who wish to learn more about this industrious mammal. Walk “beaver highways,” examine beaver  dams, discover a few lodges and examples of beaver construction.
(Ask about other hikes into beaver country.)

Nature Walks with Easy Access for the Disabled (Half-Day)
There are several wheelchair-accessible nature walks in the Adirondacks . Both have new, well-maintained boardwalks that make nature viewing easy for people in wheelchairs and for those who need a firm, level footing. Birdwatching, wildflower viewing, and plant study are all a joy on these trails.

Moderate Hikes
Trail to Fish Ponds and Beyond (Half-Day or Full-Day)
This trip’s appeal is based on its remoteness. Few hikers travel this trail and thus it is the perfect setting for an encounter with wilderness. Bring your bug spray!

Sacandaga River Trail (Half-Day or Full-Day)
This trail, a favorite with hikers and backpackers, skirts the East Branch of the Sacandaga. It is ideal for birdwatching. Bring your binoculars and your patience to view many varieties of warblers and other songbirds.

Foxlair—(Round trip approx. 2 miles) (Half-day) (Full-day in combination with nearby trails)
Foxlair is among the top-rated hikes on our list, largely because this adventure has it all: natural beauty, a walk through history, birdwatching, splendid picnic sites, and other natural wonders.

Challenging Hikes

Peaked Mountain (Full-Day)
This trail begins by meandering along Thirteenth Lake and then follows the rushing cascade of Peaked Mountain Brook. After passing three beaver meadows, we’ll reach Peaked Mountain Pond, a serene spot. Then we’ll tackle the steep trail up to the summit for some glorious views of the High Peaks and other surrounding mountains.

Crane Mountain   (Full-Day)
Most Crane Mountain visitors sprint to the top by taking an extraordinarily short, steep trail that offers few views on the way to the summit. Those who attempt the other, longer route are often frustrated by how poorly marked this second trail is. Let Adirondack Safaris guide you on this latter scenic route that affords many beautiful vistas and plenty of cool breezes. We’ll lunch on the shores of Crane Mountain Pond that lies just below the summit. Then we’ll hike to the top for magnificent views of the southern and central Adirondacks .