guide to the lake trail
Introduction and Route Overview
The Lake Trail tells a two-fold story about nature and people. Environmental features and the composition of species tell us about the natural history of the area from glaciers to blueberries. Meanwhile, historical artifacts like the sugarhouse foundation and overgrown toboggan run show how the people who lived and worked here shaped the lay of the land.
For the first half-mile, this moderately difficult trail begins by tracing the route of the carriage path that historically brought William Durant and the Vanderbilts to camp. The trail runs 3.8 miles around Sagamore Lake, leading you past historic sites, spectacular views, and through a vigorous northern hardwood forest community. Hikers will encounter rolling terrain with gentle slopes as well as rocks, roots, and wet spots. This guide will identify points of interest and unique species to see along the way.
The trailhead and a small public boat launch (for non-motorized boats only) are accessible from Sagamore Road. There is a car pull-off for 1-2 vehicles at the trailhead. Additional parking is available in the New York State lot across from the Sagamore gateway and visitors’ center. The trail loosely follows the lake’s perimeter and leads to Sagamore Road via the Lake Trail Extension. The extension is not noted on the Sagamore Trails map, but is marked with a sign at the junction with the Lake Trail proper. Please sign in at the trail log before setting out and enjoy your hike!
Historical Background
From fishing in an Adirondack guide boat to reading in the gazebo, the lake was a focal point for recreational life at camp. At the height of Vanderbilt use, two cabins, one lean-to and one gazebo lined the lakeshore beyond the main grounds, but those structures no-longer stand today. The canopy of arching branches and the needle-strewn path encircling Sagamore Lake made for a great background for guests of the early 20th century to stroll, hunt, ride horseback, and take carriage rides.
On the Trail
As you hike, look for evidence of forest residents. You might see animal tracks and scat, nibbled twigs, and even bear claw marks on a tree. Quiet hikers are more likely to see the animals that leave these signs. Respect wildlife by practicing wilderness ethics (such as the Leave No Trace Principles at the end of this guide) and giving wild animals their space.
Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)
The saying goes that “Alice Algae and Freddy Fungus took a ‘lichen’ to each other, but their relationship has been on the rocks ever since.” Lichens are formed by a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus and have no trouble growing on rocks and other seemingly inhospitable surfaces. Reindeer lichen has a silvery glow and gets its name because it is a favorite food of caribou in the arctic. Walk quietly and keep your eyes alert for movement and you might spot chipmunks, red squirrels, American toads, and birds flitting through the beds of lichen.
Sagamore Lake Lookout
The secluded rocky outcropping was where Sagamore visitors of yore got their first glimpse of camp after the long journey. Across the lake, Wakely Mountain rises prominently from the Blue Ridge Wilderness area. Can you pick out the tiny outline of Wakely’s fire tower? After almost 1 million acres of forest burned in the two “great fires” of 1903 and 1908, the Adirondacks developed the fire tower observation system. A total of 57 fire towers were built and the system remained in use until the 1970s, when aircraft observation took over.
Look at the opposite shore of the lake more closely. What do you think causes the sharp line in the undergrowth of the trees along the water’s edge? Those trees are northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis). They are a diet staple for white-tailed deer during the winter. When the lake freezes, the deer stand on the ice to munch, creating this browse line.
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
A member of the dogwood family, these low-growing plants produce a white flower in early spring followed by a cluster of small red berries starting mid-summer. Legend has it that the berries were used by Native Americans and early settlers to make jams, puddings, and pies, but it is said they had to mix in blueberries for flavor due to the comparative blandness of the bunchberry.
Borrow Pit
The Adirondacks are not known for level ground. When Durant or the Vanderbilts were building roads, they would take dirt and stone from up-hill slopes along the trail to level the terrain. These “borrow pits” are visible in several places along the trails around Sagamore. See how many man-made pits you can find as you hike.
Big Slope
Part of the historic route to camp Uncas, the Big Slope Trail connects the Lake Trail and Powerhouse Trail. Read more about it in the Big Slope Trail Guide.
Farm Meadow
A quarter mile loop leads through the old Sagamore farm. The camp’s remoteness necessitated a degree of self-sufficiency. The farm supplied dairy, grains, and potatoes. What’s different about the plants that grow here now? Fewer trees give this area a more open feel because years of farming and pasturing changed the soil composition. Now we see pioneer species like grasses and lowbush blueberry which recondition the land as it returns to forest. Be sure to look for ripe blueberries toward the end of the summer and keep an eye out for claw marks on tree trunks from black bears.
Sagamore’s sugarhouse foundation lies shortly before the Farm Meadow Loop rejoins the Lake Trail. Here, staff made maple syrup and maple sugar in the early spring. Which do you think came first: the maple trees growing here or the sugarhouse?