As far as views go, this is one of the best in the area and should not be missed.The waters of Tupper Lake can be seen to the north as well and the wooded hills of the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the west. An easy summit hike that is great for kids.

Hiking

Located right on the border of Hamilton and Franklin Counties, Coney is an outstanding bang-for-your-buck mountain. With its ease of access and short distance it is sure to please every member of your family.

The trail up Coney Mountain is relatively new, as it was redeveloped to replace an old path that led to the mountain's bald round dome. The trail for the majority is very rocky and still quite new, so footing is a bit rough in areas. Following the well-marked, trail you will sweep your way around the steep western slopes of the mountain. As the trail steepens a bit, it continues to contour its way around to the northern slopes of Coney Mountain and then meets up with the original trail just below the summit.

The final approach is over slab rock, no scrambling is necessary. The views start to open up with Goodman Mountain to the north and Mount Morris to the northeast.

Trailhead

From the intersection of Routes 30 and 3 in Tupper Lake, continue on Route 30 South for 10.3 miles to the parking area on the right. The parking area is just off the road, up a little hill.

Tupper Lake Triad

Coney Mountain is also one of the three peaks that make up the Tupper Lake Triad hiking challenge. The challenge includes Coney and Goodman mountains, as well as Mount Arab. The three easy hikes total less than 8 miles, and can easily be done in a day including driving between the trailheads. Once completed, hikers can register and get a Triad patch and sticker. There are separate patches for those who complete the challenge in the winter, from December 21 through March 21 each year.

Elevation

2250'

Distances

Route 30 trailhead to summit – 0.9 miles

Family with Young Kids

• 45 minutes to summit

Experienced Hiker

• 30 minutes to summit

Out of Shape Hiker

• 45 minutes to summit

Snowshoeing

Coney makes for an excellent snowshoeing trip for the entire family. Be sure to keep Coney Mountain in mind if you have never snowshoed before and want a perfect spot to get started. This is also an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to the sport. With typical heavy snow and ease of access, this is a popular destination in winter. However, expect the chance of heavy winds and cold wind-chills once you are on the mostly tree-less summit.

This trail is not recommended for cross-country skiing.

Coney Mountain is a small peak in the Adirondack Region of New York State. At only about 2260 Feet, it does not qualify as one of the Adirondack "46'ers", all over 4000 feet, but Coney does offer spectacular 360 degree views of the area.

Most of the trail is rocky but you wouldn't know it in winter unless conditions are less than favorable. All the rocks and imperfections of a trail are covered in snow, making for a much smoother walking surface. The trail you will find swings around the western slopes of the mountain with the steep slopes of Coney on your right. Soon the trail steepens and continues to move around to the northern slopes of the peak.

On the back side of the mountain you will come to the original path to the summit, located just below the summit. The last section is over slab rock, so it may be icy, but most snowshoes have traction on them. On the wide open summit you can see Goodman Mountain to the north and Mount Morris to the northeast. The frozen waters of Tupper Lake can be seen to the north as well and the wooded hills of the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the west glisten in white. As far as views go, this is one of the best in the area. This well used trail and bald summit should be a highlight to your visit to the region.

Elevation:

2265 feet

Ascent:

515 Feet

Distance Round Trip:

2.2 miles

Approximate Time Round Trip:

• Families with Kids: 2.5 to 3 hours
• Experienced Snowshoers: 1.5 to 2 hours
• Out of Shape Snowshoers: 2 to 2.5 hours

Trailhead

From the intersection of Routes 30 and 3 in Tupper Lake, continue on Route 30 South for 10.3 miles to the parking area on the right. A state DEC sign marks the location. This parking spot may not be plowed in the winter, so be sure to park in a safe spot and snowshoe to the trailhead.

Difficulty: 1=easiest, 5=hardest

Two, good destination for a beginner snowshoe, but can be a bit steep in sections, otherwise this would be a one.