Lake Arnold is a small body of water located at almost 3800’ in elevation, making it one of the highest bodies of water in the Adirondack Park. If one were so inclined they could possibly throw a rock to the opposite end.
Hiking
The hike follows along the busy Marcy Dam Trail before forking off toward Avalanche Camps. Once at Avalanche Camps you should be prepared for a steady and rather steep ascent over rocky terrain. The trail follows a very picturesque brook to a very tight-knit balsam/spruce forest.
There you will find Lake Arnold nestled at the base of Mount Colden, near the top of a high mountain pass, deep in the heart of the High Peaks Region.
Be sure to wear sturdy boots for rock protection.
Lake Arnold Trailhead: From the intersection of Route 73 and Route 86 in Lake Placid follow Route 73 toward Keene. Continue for 3.25 miles to Adirondack Loj Road on the right – this is the first right after the Olympic ski jumps. Follow Adirondack Loj Road to its end at Heart Lake. There is a fee ($12 as of 2020) for parking.
9.4 miles RT, steep ascent of 1582', Elevation 3750'
Time in hours:
Family with Young Kids: not recommended
Experienced Hiker: To Summit: 3.0 Round Trip: 6-7 hours
Out of Shape Hiker: not recommended
Snowshoeing
This is a great snowshoe outing and the trail can be counted on as being broken out. Expect heavy snow accumulation, especially above 3,000 feet in elevation.
The hike follows along the busy Marcy Dam Trail before forking off toward Avalanche Camps. Once at Avalanche Camps you should be prepared for a steady and rather steep ascent over rocky terrain. The trail follows a very picturesque brook to a very tight-knit balsam/spruce forest.
There you will find Lake Arnold nestled at the base of Mount Colden, near the top of a high mountain pass, deep in the heart of the High Peaks Region.
Trailhead: From the intersection of Route 73 and Route 86 in Lake Placid follow Route 73 toward Keene. Continue for 3.25 miles to Adirondack Loj Road on the right – this is the first right after the Olympic ski jumps. Follow Adirondack Loj Road to its end at Heart Lake. There is a fee for parking.
Distance: 4.7 miles
Ascent: 1,582 feet
Elevation: 3,750 feet
Find out more
Read our blog post, Mount Colden via Lake Arnold.