Bald Mountain is rated an easy trail to do with families around Old Forge. My family with teens decided to hike this trail and said it was super fun. They liked the climbing the boulders, ledges and roots. It does take some balance and finesse to navigate the trail. Some difficult areas have herd trails next to it to help with the steep portions if you're unable to climb. It would be difficult for anyone with mobility issues or balance issues. 3 areas with breath taking views. The full trip is 1.8 miles with a steep incline a few steps in and then some ups and down in the trail. It took our family 28 minutes to hike up. This was with stops to take pictures and 34 minutes to hike down. Descending is more of a challenge. Registration book and pencil at the beginning of the trail to sign in. I would use caution during a wet season or early morning dew. read more

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REALLY enjoyed my hike the other weekend!! I didn't know what to expect because of the number of people this mountain attracts but I was really happy during the hike because it wasn't as crowded as I thought. It was like the perfect amount of hike! The views were gorg and amazing!! We had to wait in line for like 20 minutes to climb up the lookout, but it was totally worth it for the pic and the view! Really beautiful, will be back for sure! Also - be careful parking on the side of the road, the cops wait to give out tickets after people park.. read more

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The hike up the mountain is relatively difficult. You definitely need some good hiking boots to keep your footing though we did see lots of people including children and dogs. Pay attention to the trail markers or you can easily get off the trail. Really beautiful views from multiple stops along the way. It's not a long trail it's just that the rocks are sometimes hard to travel especially i because it was a little wet. The whole trail and especially the top of the mountain is so beautiful! It's a good hike too! The view is beautiful from the rocks, but even better when you climb the stairs up the fire tower. You can see a large part of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. Spectacular view! I would definitely say this is a must-see hike if you can do it. We went in May. read more

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Perfect 1 hour hike! Just wish it weren't so popular. Parking and on trail conditions suffer from its proximity to OF and relative ease.

Bald Mountain is just off Route 28 near Old Forge and Eagle River - a great hiking trail with fantastic views, especially if you're brave enough to go up to the top of the fire tower once you're at the top. Keep in mind that there are some steep portions, and that it's probably not a good idea if you've got little kids as some parts of the trail are a little tough. Lots of large boulders and rock formations make up parts of the trail, along with great views of the surrounding lakes. An hour long must hike if you're in the area. read more

Bald Mountain - Starting the ascent... - Hiking Near Me - Old Forge, New York

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My sister took me here for the first time recently. I had no clue this was here. It's a pretty simple hike with basically a bunch of rock scrambles to run and balance across. This mixed with a lot of tree root steps it becomes a very interesting hike really quickly. It can be a little muddy but there is enough pathways to get the top easily enough. For some of the steep spots are a little slick too after a rainful, being basically exposed smooth rock. The total length can't be more than a mile. Overall a nice scene too. Lots of tree coverage and looking down into a valley. Came in the fall and you could just see miles of colorful trees. There are a few lookout points and a fire tower at the top. It's rickety but I assume it's stable. If you are afraid of heights ... get over it :) read more

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Must see! The trail is about 4 miles north of old forge. During peak times the parking lot could get crowded. The trail itself is short. Took about an hour to get to the top and I stopped many times along the way. It took about 30 minutes to get down since I was starving!!! The trail itself is on a lot of rocks so I could see the difficulty of it if it was wet. Can get slippery. At the end- the rondaxe fire tower. Can go up and enjoy the views. read more

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What a great hike! It was challenging but still achievable. The dogs didn't have any trouble with all the rocks and steep climbing. The views are unreal. So breath taking. There is a fire tower at the top for an even higher view. read more

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A really easy summer hike! Not sure it even took me 30 minutes to get to the firetower. A great place to watch the sunrise without having to camp overnight. Very popular destination. May be best to go very early or later when crowds dissipate. Fire tower is in great shape and views are tr read more

Bald Mountain - Hiking Near Me - Old Forge, New York

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For the southern Adirondacks, this is the best view you can get! Just a short drive north of Old Forge, pretty close to the main road. The hike to the top takes about 30-45 mins if you aren't meandering. There are several points on the way up with a view where you can stop, take a break, and get some photo opps (although the best view is at the summit). I am a seasoned hiker and I agree, especially after a rain, this can be a intermediate climb. There are many rocks (hence Bald Mtn) and tree roots to use for footing but you MUST, I repeat MUST *Wear proper sneakers, preferably hiking boots*. Athletic dogs can certainly handle the climb, but I wouldnt bring your senior pet. The fire tower at the top is your key to the prime views. Please do not miss out on this pure ADK experience! read more

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Bald Mountain is a great mountain for beginners or those who can't afford to take off more than a few hours from their schedule. I hike the High Peaks often, but I like to do this one when I want to see the sunrise or go for a quick hike in the fall. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to the top if you move at a steady pace. I've done it in the summer, fall, and winter, and it never gets old. read more

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Did this hike with my brother's family so we had 6 kids ranging from 5 to 14yo. Everybody made it to the top. You would think it would be assumed that you wear proper footwear but some oddballs were wearing sandals and flips. If you are not a hiker, at least wear running sneakers with socks. The trail itself is super easy to follow. There are a lot of exposed roots and rock faces that you need to navigate. Be really careful on wet days as the rocks and roots are slick. If you are someone who has difficulty with uneven ground and steep inclines, this may unfortunately not be for you. If you get to the first rock exposure and are having difficulty, please be safe and consider you ability to continue as the inclines and rocks get more challenging. My wife is a hard core runner recovering from a broken foot and had to bail as the terrain made her uncomfortable about reinjuring her foot. The view from the top and cool breeze is worth the climb. read more

First things first: not an easy trail at all. It is actually at some points steep and others a little moderate. Even though there were some low points, definitely not an easy trail. Just be warned that although some people bring there children along, these parents are young and hopefully in shape enough to watch over there babies and make it up and down safely. I will not recommend if you have bad knees, have fear of heights and if you do not have good blood pressure. I had climbed many different types of trails and hiked many different types of mountains along the Appalachian mountain chains of NC. When a review says it is easy, medium or moderate and hard; it should be truthful. The reviews I have read from various sites are saying this is an easy hike. Just because it goes up doesn't mean it is easy to climb. There is something to say about rappelling. Just saying, this is a few degrees shy of such a skill set. Please hear me when I say that there is a lot of mud, no railings, all tree roots, and large boulders and shin high rocks or larger. Need hiking shoes and need a climbing stick if knees not stable. That's what I will purchase next time. Also the rocks are very steep and slippery. Please use this as fair warning that you will need to prep for this climb. Lastly, you will want to bring your smartphone to take pics when at the top; breathless sights. And if you do go ahead and decide to hike this wonderland of brush; parking lot is limited in spots and people parked alongside the road. read more

Beautiful Views of the Fall Foliage! This hike is well worth it! Great for the whole family even dog! It starts out easy and flat but then you come across giant boulders which you'll have a fun time climbing up for a few minutes. After that, the trail continues on the boulders continuing up the mountain. Along the way, there are many grand views of the Adirondacks! Once near the top, some of the boulders narrow and make balancing part of the climb. Once at the top, enjoy the panoramic view from the top of the fire tower! It's well worth the stairs and scarier on the way up than down! Bring a snack and stay a bit at the peak. Enjoy these spectacular views! It can be wet and slippery on the rocks and in some areas especially after rain. This trail is very popular and the parking lot fills up quickly so plan on arriving early or plan on parking on the side of the road. The hike should take you about an hour and half to complete leisurely. read more

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This is a nice hike. Went up to the summit. The previous review is right. There are some steep sections, and the views of the lakes are just breathtaking. I would recommend older kids go up with you only in that there ae some steep sections and some precarious points. All in all a terrific trip. read more

This is a short fairly easy hike unless you aren't in shape. The views from the top are very nice. For more experienced hikers I recommend traveling up to inlet to hike Black Bear Mountain which is more challenging and offers even better views. Because I am an experienced hiker I could give Bald Mountain only 3 stars. read more