Moxham Mountain: 10/20/2013

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.

View of Gore Mountain from the first lookout

Moxham is a real treat. The trail was only recently marked (last summer) and is not yet in any guidebooks that I'm aware of, but it is 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.

Leaves made it hard to pick out the trail at times

Lots of big trees, I beleive this is an ash

View of Gore's ski trails from one of the early lookouts

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 cool rib of rock on the ridgeline

The ridgeline trail darts in and out of the woods

Clear Pond, with some late foliage still hanging on

These wetlands looked like perfect moose habitat

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.

View of Moxhan's summit and cliffs

Looking back down Moxham's ridgeline and the route of the trail

Beth on the summit

Wetlands and ponds below Moxham's summit

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.

Summit view of the ridgeline and ponds

Moxham's broad summit ledges

Looking back at Moxham's summit as we descended

The hike out

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.