Noah John Rondeau at his hermitage on the Cold River, from our collection. 

The Northville-Placid Trail

The Northville-Placid Trail (also known as the N-P Trail, or simply the NPT) is a long distance north-south hiking trail that runs nearly the entire length of the Adirondack Park. Though the most common association hikers have with the Adirondack Mountains may be the challenge of climbing the 46 High Peaks (mountains over 4,000 feet in elevation), this is not the only option for experiencing what the area has to offer. Instead of summiting the cloud-splitting giants of the Canadian Shield (1), the NPT instead bisects the Park by winding through the river valleys and accessing some of the wildest areas of the Northeast (2). For those who value solitude, human-powered recreation, and the restorative powers of wilderness, the NPT represents a rare experience.

History of the NPT

The NPT is one of the oldest hiking trails in the United States. Its construction began in 1922 and was completed in 1924 as the first major project of the newly formed Adirondack Mountain Club. Initially called the ‘Long Trail’, its designation was changed to avoid confusion with Vermont’s recently undertaken long distance trail of the same name (3). Both of these trails predate the Appalachian Trail, and are part of the legacy of protecting and enjoying the wild spaces of this country through foot-travel (4).

The initial process of building the trail was made easier by the history of logging in the Adirondack Park. Much of the paths were former logging roads, leading to camps deep in the woods (2). One of the most famous characters of the NPT, the hermit Noah John Rondeau, was a former logger who set up his ‘Cold River City’ at once such abandoned camp he had previously worked in. His hermitage is one of the most iconic landmarks along the trail, nestled in an area as far from any road as possible (5). When hiking the NPT, it’s not hard to imagine why one would choose this wild place as a refuge from the outside world. The Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society’s collection includes photos, diaries, and other artifacts related to this infamous man, as outlined here: https://www.lakeplacidhistory.com/noah-john-rondeau-collection/

The low-lying nature of the river valleys the trail follows also allowed for an almost organic passage between the various mountain ranges in the area. Indeed, the highest the trail ever climbs is a modest 3,008 ft near Blue Mountain Lake (2). Instead of expansive views into the distance, the hiker witnesses quiet backcountry ponds and lakes, massive old- and second-growth forests (6), and the rugged terrain of truly remote places. Between the stretches of wild walking, the hiker passes through or close to Adirondack towns (namely Northville, Piseco, Blue Mountain Lake, Long Lake, and Lake Placid) with options for resupply and supporting local economies.

Depending on your route, this trail is approximately 135 miles long (7). Why the approximation? Several factors play into the difficulty of pinpointing an exact length for the trail. The most eminent is the ever-changing nature of the wilderness. Huge storms cause blow-down that block the trail. Rushing rivers wash out man-made bridges and require fording or rock-hopping. Adirondack wildlife residents, primarily the beaver, alter the landscape to their liking and flood out massive sections of trail (8). For all of these reasons and more, the NPT is a different hike for every individual who hikes it, fluctuating from year to year and season to season. To this effect, it is also very important for anyone embarking on this journey to have an excellent knowledge of map-reading and navigation as well as the most up-to-date guides and maps. The Adirondack Mountain Club publishes both of these crucial items in addition to undertaking much of the trail work needed to maintain this trail (8). Getting lost in a remote area is a serious factor to consider when recreating in the wilderness. Preparation for a long-distance hike involves extensive research, knowledge of Leave No Trace wilderness ethics (9), and awareness of current weather and hiking conditions. Additionally, familiarity with regulations as well as proper food storage and bear safety are key to a successful trip (10).

Another element that contributes to the impossibility of determining an exact mileage is the addition of side-trips, either to mountain summits or towns along the way. Some folks choose to add in a stay at a local hotel mid-way through their journey, or mail a resupply box to a local post office. A newly-added spur trail makes a stop for Stewarts ice cream in Long Lake even easier (11). A hot meal and a shower sweetens the trip for some, while others carry their entire journey’s worth of food from the start and stick to the woods as much as possible. Either option is viable, and the hiker must “hike their own hike” (12). This includes the amount of time one chooses to take to complete the thru-hike (end to end in one go), whether they choose to hike it section by section, if they hike north-to-south or vice versa, and what they consider the ‘official’ beginning and end of the trail. This last point leads us to our next part of this journey.

True North Terminus : The Lake Placid History Museum and the NPT

The ‘official’ beginning of the trail is now the wooden archway and kiosk in the town of Northville, followed by a 3.5 mile road walk. The road walk was previously much longer, but has been improved thanks to more recent trail work (13). Some hikers may opt to begin at the Collins Gifford Valley Road Trailhead and avoid this walk, if they are being dropped off by someone else (NPT-specific parking is at the Northville kiosk).

The most updated guide book is less specific about its end terminus. It states that the trailhead on Averyville Road is the end of the hike “for all practical purposes”(2). Of course, no one should fault you for ending your journey here, just as no one would blame you for wanting to stay overnight in town or skipping a road walk. Purists may think otherwise, however, and their opinion on the ‘true’ north terminus leads us just a little further down the road.

The Lake Placid History Museum, formally a train station, is about 1.8 miles from the trailhead on Averyville Road, through the busy “four corners” intersection at Old Military Highway. This historical building marks the real ‘end of the line’ and has more to do with the history of the Northville-Placid Trail than most hikers may realize.

Northville and Lake Placid where chosen as the start or end points for this walking trail due to the transportation options at the time of its creation. Cars were not as prevalent in 1924, and railroads were one of the most common ways to travel long distances. Both of these towns had regular daily train service. This made travel to and from these points convenient, and arguably easier than it is today (2). To this point, the NPT has as much to do with the storied history of railroads in the Adirondacks as it does with human-powered recreation (14).

Visiting the Lake Placid History Museum during your Northville-Placid Trail Journey

While we do not consider ourselves hiking purists, nor insist you start or end your journey here at the Museum, The Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society welcomes the hiking community to stop by at any time.

For those who are interested in history, they will find information about railroads, transportation, logging, tourism, hermits, and recreation in Lake Placid and the Adirondacks. For those who would just like to use the restroom (flushing toilets and running water!), they are welcome to do so during open hours. Those on duty at the museum would love to hear your hiking stories or point you in the right direction for local restaurants, hotels/hostels, transportation options, and any other information you might need. Some of us have hiked portions of the trail as well, and share in your excitement.

Long-term parking for the Northville-Placid Trail can be tricky. The closest option other than the Averyville Trailhead is the parking lot here, behind the Lake Placid History Museum (there is a little road between Hurley Brothers and The History Museum that leads to the back lot). There are no cameras recording the back lot, and The Lake Placid-North Elba Historical Society is not responsible or liable for any vehicle tampering. That being said, hikers are welcome to use our parking lot to either begin or end their journey of the NPT. Parking is free and donations are accepted in order to allow us to continue providing this option for the hiking community, and to preserve and present our community’s history. As a human-powered recreator, enjoying and protecting the wilderness as well supporting local towns and communities makes you an integral part of the living history of Lake Placid and the Adirondacks.

Museum Hours:

The History Museum is located at the historic train station in Lake Placid. It is open seasonally, Memorial Day to mid-October.

Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Address:

242 Station Street

Lake Placid, NY 12946

Contact:

Office: 518-523-3830

E- mail: info@lakeplacidhistory.com

References and Additional Informational Links

  1. Geology and the Canadian Shield : https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Canadian_Shield
  2. Adirondack Mountain Club Northville-Placid Trail Guidebook edited by Jeff and Donna Case
  3. History of the Long Trail : https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/
  4. History of the Appalachian Trail : http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home/about-us/history
  5. Noah John Rondeau’s Adirondack Wilderness Days Book: https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/book_reviews/noah-john-rondeaus-adirondack-wilderness-days
  6. Location of Old-Growth Forests in the Adirondacks: https://courses.hamilton.edu/forests-of-the-adirondack-park/location-of-old-growth-forests
  7. Central New York Hiking’s NPT Page: https://www.cnyhiking.com/Northville-PlacidTrail.htm
  8. Purchase ADK Maps and Guides : https://www.adk.org/product/northville-placid-trail-guide-and-map-pack/
  9. Leave No Trace: https://lnt.org
  10. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hiker Information: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/351.html
  11. NYS DEC’s Long Lake Spur Trail: https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/117069.html
  12. Hike Your Own Hike: https://thetrek.co/appalachian-trail/hike-your-own-hike-really/
  13. NPT Chapter of the ADK : http://www.nptrail.org/new-maps-showing-the-completed-gifford-valley-rd-re-route-opening-sept-16-2015/
  14. History of Adirondack Trains : https://www.adirondack.net/history/automobiles