2019-20 Southern Adirondacks Guide to the First Wilderness Heritage Corridor

Moxham Mountain
Our hike up Moxham Mountain on Sunday afternoon had
a decidedly autumnal feel with bare trees and a cold, steady
wind. But the crisp air, the few remaining colorful leaves, the
open woods and wide ranging views left us feeling that fall may
indeed be the best season for hiking.
Moxham is a real
treat, sure to become
one of the most popular
hikes in the Southern
Adirondacks as
its reputation spreads.
Why? Simple. It’s got
what people want: tons
of views, a moderate
length (5 mile round
trip) and vertical
(1200-ish feet), and
a grade that is never steep. Kudos to the DEC and the Student
Conservation Corps for the layout and construction of this trail.
From the trailhead, the trail rises gradually through hardwoods
(lots of beech) to the top of a ridge, then descends to a
pretty beaver meadow. A moderate climb then leads to Moxham’s
ridgeline and the first of many lookouts. A hiker could be
satisfied with the views of Gore, Puffer and Bullhead mountains
and turn around here, but that would be a shame as the views just
keep getting better as the trail gradually ascends the ridgeline to
the summit.
A series of interconnected ponds and wetlands come into
view a little further up the trail. Moxham’s summit comes into
view as well as the trail alternates between woods and open
ledges. The summit comes almost as a surprise - you’ve seen it
getting closer all along, but the trail never gets steep to signal the
summit’s approach. 180-degree views open up from the broad
summit ledges, taking in the ponds and wetlands below, Gore
close by, Crane, Puffer, Bullhead, Snowy, Blue and many lesser
peaks in the distance. The ridgeline you just ascended sweeps
away to the west. It’s a spectacular spot.
Between the chilly breeze and our late start (just after 1pm),
we didn’t linger on the summit for as long as we might have.
Extra calories from a quick summit snack, more views and a
gentle grade made our return hike pass quickly. Our round-trip
time on the hike was a little under 4 hours, but experienced hikers
without young children would probably come in closer to 3
hours. This is a very kid-friendly
hike. Our kids - ages 9 and 5 (6
in December) - had no difficulty
with the time, distance or elevation,
although I would say they
are relatively experienced hikers
for their ages.
The trailhead is located 2
miles west from NY 28N on
Fourteenth Road in Minerva, just
after the pavement ends. There
is a small parking area on the left.
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