Hiking

Floodwood Mountain is an excellent hike for the entire family. The terrain is moderate with only a short amount of steep sections. At the summit, it is a relaxing space, well-positioned for lovely vistas. A southern summit bit further on offers new angles which many prefer.

Trailhead

From Tupper Lake, take Route 3 east towards Saranac Lake. At the intersection of Route 30, 5.5 miles from downtown Tupper, turn north. Follow Route 30 west for 5.75 miles to Floodwood Road on the right – this is easy to drive by. Follow Floodwood Road for 6.25 miles and watch for signs for Floodwood Mountain. There will be a turnoff on the left near the end.

From the gate you will be hiking along a forest road, where a bit of flooding often occurs due to beaver activity.  The road will split but don’t follow the left fork.

The trail leaves the road soon after the fork and begins a moderate climb over rocky terrain to a couple short steeper pitches that brings you to the highest summit on Floodwood Mountain. A sign on a tree clues you in the right direction to the Southern Summit. This section is marked and is only about 0.25 miles in length. There is a short steep descent over slab rock to a small rock scramble that gets you to the summit.

Distance Round Trip

4.2 Miles

Elevation

2304’

Elevation Gain or Loss

700’

Time Round Trip

Family with Young Kids:     4 to 5 hours

Experienced Hiker:         3 to 4 hours

Out of Shape Hiker:     4 to 5 hours

Camping

Floodwood Pond has sites for a backcountry camping experience. Many can only be reached by watercraft, but some in the nearby area are roadside.

At-large backcountry camping is also permitted throughout the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest, as long as all sites are more than 150 feet of water, roads or trails unless otherwise posted.

Snowshoeing

This hike is a great snowshoe trip for all ages with stamina more than skill. It is not recommended for skiing due to its steep terrain near the top. Parking would be a bit further away extending the hike distance by a bit.

From the gate at the trailhead there will be hiking along an access road to a Boy Scout camp, which has a hiker easement allowing you to pass through. Don’t follow the left fork in the road it leads to the camp; follow the signs for Floodwood Mountain.

The trail leaves the road soon after the fork and begins a moderate climb over rocky terrain to a couple short steeper pitches. This route ends at the highest summit on Floodwood Mountain.

Explore further by looking for a sign on a tree, this points in the right direction to the Southern Summit, a trail that is marked and about 0.25 miles in length. There is a short steep descent over slab rock, then a small rock scramble that leads to this alternate summit. Try them both!