This Challenging But Rewarding Adirondacks Trail Boasts Dazzling Lake Views From A Pristine Perch

Outside of the sprawling wilderness of Alaska, America's largest state park is New York's Adirondack Park with its near-endless natural beauty. Located in the scenic Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York, Adirondack Park's 4.8 million acres of sublime mountain scenery have more amazing destinations than you can fit into a single trip. Alongside popular vacation stops like Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks also contain hidden gems like the sprawling Cranberry Lake. And, if you're looking for scenic viewpoints, Adirondack Park has some of the best on the East Coast, none more stunning than the pristine observation perch you'll find at the gorgeous Treadway Mountain. 

Treadway Mountain reaches an elevation of over 2,200 feet above the surrounding Adirondack Park forests. This altitude is a bit lower than the nearby Pharoah Mountain (not to mention the Adirondack high point at the 5,344-foot Mount Marcy). But, as with so many things in life, quantity in this case is much less important than quality. And, when it comes to quality views and unforgettable experiences, Treadway Mountain ranks among the best stops in Adirondack Park. 

Treadway Mountain sits within the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, a 46,283-acre area of Adirondack Park that is particularly rich in beautiful lakes and ponds. While individual bodies of water like Putnam Pond and the area's namesake Pharaoh Lake offer memorable visits on their own, the entire area also features a spectacular tableau of Adirondack beauty when seen from the elevated perch atop Treadway Mountain. Many experienced hikers believe that Treadway Mountain has the best overall views of the Pharoah Lake Wilderness, even better than the taller Pharoah Mountain. This is thanks to the mountain's hefty 824-foot prominence combined with a relatively unobstructed summit, allowing for breathtaking panoramic views unsullied by too many trees or excessive overgrowth.

Depending on your preferences, you will usually have three different options for reaching Treadway Mountain's summit. The most common summit route begins at the nearby Putnam Pond State Campground and continues for about 3.8 miles toward the top of the mountain. The total round-trip hike to the summit and back will be around 7.8 miles, and will normally take you roughly four to five hours to complete. If you want to explore even more enchanting scenery in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, you can opt for the longer Treadway Mountain and Putnam Ponds trail, which also passes by many of the lovely surrounding ponds. When making the hike to the summit, you can expect lengthy flat portions interspersed with sudden steep climbs, especially as you get closer to the top. But, if you can manage that, you'll be rewarded with magnificent views that rival those of more popular Adirondacks hikes like the scenic and pristine Bald Mountain-Rondaxe Trail. 

The hike to the Treadway Mountain summit and back is short enough that you can experience the mountain's fantastic views in a single-day trip. However, you also have plenty of great nearby options for staying overnight if you want to make your Treadway Mountain adventure a multi-day experience. The Putnam Pond Campground has around 70 campsites for overnight stays. If camping isn't your thing, the broader Adirondacks region has plenty of cozier lodging options to bring a touch of modern comfort to your mountain hike. If you're flying in, the Plattsburgh and Burlington Airports are your closest travel hubs. Otherwise, you're looking at a roughly four-hour drive from New York City or Boston.