Don’t end your hike with a parking ticket

To avoid congestion and potentially dangerous situations, parking on the shoulder of Route 73 between Chapel Pond and the Rooster Comb trailhead is off limits. Parking on the shoulder of the road near the Cascade Mountain trailhead is also off limits. Shuttles are available. read more

South Meadow

  • Meadow Lane
    Lake Placid

Hike Features

Ponds / Lakes
South Meadow has many forest and mountain views.
More amenities than you might expect.
Abundant water sources and vegetation the way birds like.
An alder flycatcher is one of the species in South Meadow.
Late fall is a lovely time to visit South Meadow.

Hiking

You may think of South Meadow is simply as a place to park your car when hiking into the High Peaks Region, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a birding destination, a wildflower hunting ground, and an amazing scenic opportunity. The trail is only a vague path and is not marked in any way, but the woods and grassy areas are open and walkable.

Primary Trailhead: Leave Lake Placid on Route 73, follow Route 73 toward Keene. Take the first right after the ski jumps onto Adirondack Loj Road. Then about 3.8 miles down this road, take a left onto Meadow Lane. Follow this somewhat rough road for 1.0 mile all the way to the end at the parking lot.

This is a 0.4 mile, one way; hike is over level ground that leads into South Meadow. From the parking area, locate a wood outhouse on the left and then locate the herd-path located in that general region. Alternatively, start along the red-marked Klondike Trail for 100 yds. and then go left through the grasses. Once on the herd-path it will proceed over gentle grades through an open forest. Keep South Meadow on your right, it can be seen through the trees.

Nature and Historic Walks

You will have ample opportunities to approach the grassy meadow along the way, or walk within it if you prefer. The herd-path basically ends at a branch of South Meadow Brook, which is too deep to ford. Retrace your steps or walk back along South Meadow Brook for additional vistas. In the fall this is an excellent area to take in the colors of the changing leaves.

All hikers, makes and models: To the end of the herd-path – 15 to 20 minutes

Birding

A grassy meadow bisected by a wide brook offers a blend of habitats. This area is protected by the High Peaks to the south and the Sentinel Range to the north.

HABITATS: River, meadow, and forest. FEATURED BIRDS: Snowy old, red-headed woodpecker, Eastern bluebirds, Savannah, cliff, and vesper sparrows, Ruddy Turnstone, Boreal Chickadee and Black and whie, Tennessee, Nashville, and Black-throated blue warbler, alder flycatcher, least flycatcher. SEASON: A great spot for spring and fall migration. LOCATION: Adirondack Loj road just past Lake Placid's ski jump complex. LAND OWNERSHIP: state land.

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