A lovely walk to Marcy Dam turns into a challenging scramble over a boulder-strewn trail. The west edge of the lake follows a trail of bolted ladders and catwalks on the face of Avalanche Mountain. The whole trip is a day of adventure.
Avalanche Lake Trailhead: Take Route 73 leaving Lake Placid from the South, and turn right on Adirondack Loj Road. 5 miles down is Heart Lake and a parking lot.
8.8 miles RT, Easy Walk, then moderately challenging. NO DOGS because of the ladders and catwalks needed to complete the hike.
Time in hours:
Family with Young Kids: best to turn back at Marcy Dam Experienced Hiker: Round Trip: 7.0 Out of Shape Hiker: best to turn back at Marcy Dam
There's an excellent history at adirondackpark.net. Read their article about this hike!
