Panther Mountain is a short, but steep, "bang for your buck" hike leading to fabulous views of distant mountains and Panther Pond below.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 0.9 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 475 feet
• Mountain elevation: 2,236 feet

Hiking Panther Mountain

Crossing the road from the parking lot, the trail starts climbing right away with tall pines towering over you. The trail then swings west to reduce the grade a bit and then back to the east to gain a small ridge that brings you to the partially open summit. From the summit area the Seward Range can be seen to the south, and Panther Pond below.

Panther in the winter

In the winter, the parking area is typically open, and many people do snowshoe up. Being a bit steeper, it is also a good idea to be prepared and bring microspikes.

Discover more trails in Tupper Lake

Does Panther Mountain sound amazing, but a little more than you want to tackle right now? No need to stress, with endless mountains, lakes, and waterfalls to visit in the Adirondacks, we are sure we can help you discover a trail that’s just right!

How to get there

From the intersection of Route 3 and Route 30 in Tupper Lake follow Route 3/30 toward Saranac Lake Lake. Continue to where the two routes split and continue on Route 3 toward Saranac Lake. Drive for an additional 1.6 miles to the trailhead on the left. Parking will be on the right next to Panther Pond. The trailhead is across the road.