Avalanche Lake Via Adirondack Loj and Heart Lake

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Avalanche Lake Via Adirondack Loj and Heart Lake

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Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 9.5 miles / 15.3 km
Duration: Full day

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Overview: This is a wonderful hike from Adirondack Loj to Avalanche Lake in between Mt. Colden and Algonquin. You'll climb along ladders and bridges bolted directly to the cliff walls around the lake. The views up the slides and trapdike towards the top of Colden are incredible.

Tips: Heart Lake Adirondack Loj Trailhead:
From Exit 30 take Route 73 towards Lake Placid for 26.5 miles. Take a left onto Adirondack Loj Road and continue 5 miles to the Loj and the parking area. There is a $10 fee to park here for the day.

Points of Interest

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Adirondack Loj Hear Lake Trailhead

Parking here is $10 per day. Head on down the most traveled trail towards Marcy Dam after signing into the register.

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Marcy Dam

From Marcy Dam look for the trail for Avalanche Lake. It should be well marked. If not you can always ask the ranger at the station for help with directions.

Haystack hike - Sept. 19,2009 022.JPG Photo

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MacIntyre Range Junction

From here you will see a trail head off to the right towards Algonquin. Ignore this trail.

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Lake Arnold Trail

A trail here heads off to the left towards Lake Arnold. Ignore this trail.

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Avalanche Lake

You are at your destination! From here have fun following the wooden ladders and bridges bolted to the cliff walls above the lake and make your way to the south end of the lake.

Avalanche Lake With Mom 11 (1).jpg Photo

King of the stairs (Shady Corner Curve, New York, United States) Photo

Cool stairs at Avalanche lake (Shady Corner Curve, New York, United States) Photo

Avalanche Lake view. (Shady Corner Curve, New York, United States) Photo

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Trapdike

You are now at the end of your hike far below Mt. Colden at the south end of Avalanche Lake. You'll have great views of the trapdike running up the face of Colden above you. Relax for a bit at the lake then head back the way you came.