Catamount Mountain in Taylor Pond Wild Forest, NY

Hike Catamount Mountain Taylor Pond Wild Forest, NY

Class 3 4.3 miles 1600 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Jul 12, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Catamount Mountain is located south of Taylor Pond and is part of the Taylor Pond Wild Forest, a public Forest Preserve. Today, I focused on a few peaks north of the Adirondack High Peaks, with this being my first objective. The summit trail reportedly features a scrambling route and several scenic overlooks. Catamount Mountain is a prominent summit, separated from most other popular peaks. Parking for the trail can be found along Forestdale Road. I hiked past a yellow gate and was immediately greeted by a swarm of black flies. The hike began as a pleasant warm-up along a flat old dirt road, but I rushed to get away from the pests.

Soon after, the trail crosses a small bridge, followed by several stream crossings. It narrows into a rockier trail and makes its way up the south side of Catamount Mountain. There weren't any surprises yet, just a heavily used trail that's eroded in parts, with boulders and tree roots adding the typical Adirondack obstacles.

After about a mile, I got my first glimpse of Catamount Mountain from a wide slab of exposed rock. The trail continues through the forest, and then the scramble begins. I was happy to find a (barely) Class 3 move that required me to wedge myself up a short chimney-like feature. Beyond this, there were some fun Class 2/2+ obstacles on the steep face. Painted blazes and cairns helped keep me on the route and it was a fun endeavor, though it could have been a bit longer. On the way up, there were plenty of opportunities for views to the south.

The scramble was interrupted by a flatter section along the ridge crest, where Catamount Mountain drew closer, and the trail became harder to follow along the bedrock mixed with patches of trees. More scrambling followed from here, mostly on slabs and overall straightforward. The summit of Catamount Mountain has a clearing ringed by trees that obscure the view down to Taylor Pond below, but some directions did offer a view.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Catamount Mountain
3170 ft
1513 rise

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Catamount Mountain Trailhead.
Catamount Mountain Trailhead.
Flat and easy walk for a while.
Flat and easy walk for a while.
Some nice mosses on the trail edges.
Some nice mosses on the trail edges.
Image 3 from gallery
Pretty forest walking adjacent to a creek.
Pretty forest walking adjacent to a creek.
The trail begins ascending steeply on bouldery terrain.
The trail begins ascending steeply on bouldery terrain.
Image 6 from gallery
Image 7 from gallery
A short exposed bedrock section with a view.
A short exposed bedrock section with a view.
Catamount Mountain's slope becomes visible.
Catamount Mountain's slope becomes visible.
Back into the trees and up the first scramble section.
Back into the trees and up the first scramble section.
Class 3 chimney.
Class 3 chimney.
View back down the scramble.
View back down the scramble.
More fun scrambling above.
More fun scrambling above.
Blazes mark the trail well up the scramble.
Blazes mark the trail well up the scramble.
A fun Class 2 slab section.
A fun Class 2 slab section.
The scramble peters out for a bit as the trail approaches the base of Catamount Mountain.
The scramble peters out for a bit as the trail approaches the base of Catamount Mountain.
Forested walking, where it's sometimes difficult to keep to the trail.
Forested walking, where it's sometimes difficult to keep to the trail.
Starting to ascend again.
Starting to ascend again.
View back down at my progress.
View back down at my progress.
Exposed bedrock slab.
Exposed bedrock slab.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
A cool feature between some rocks.
A cool feature between some rocks.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Catamount Mountain summit view.
Catamount Mountain summit view.
Trees obscure the view down to Taylor Pond below.
Trees obscure the view down to Taylor Pond below.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!