
From the AMR trailhead, I had to hike along the paved Lake road through a golf course.

The trailhead kiosk. Lake road turns into dirt, but is not drivable.

After a bit of hiking along the road, I reached the turn off for the HG Leach Trail.

This trail initially climbs pretty steeply through deciduous forest.

View back along the HG Leach Trail.

Switchback along the way up.


The viewpoint before dropping down a few hundred feet. Ahead you can see the Dial Mountain ridgeline, starting with Bear Den Mountain.

A view toward the Great Range.

On the way up to Dial Mountain, passing over Bear Den Mountain.



Lots of pretty greenery and a trail that is less rocky than average for the Adirondack High Peaks.

Dial Mountain, a view toward the Great Range on the right and the remaining ridge to Nippletop on the left.

A short descent from Dial Mountain.

Now ascending toward Nippletop.




View back on my way up to Nippletop.

Junction with the Elk Pass Trail. First I took the short spur trail to Nippletop.

Nippletop ahead seen from its false summit.

Nippletop, view back the way I came.

Great Range Traverse from the summit of Nippletop.

Close-up of Mount Colvin and Blake Peak across the valley.

Close-up toward the Dix Range.

Descending via the Elk Pass Trail, the Great Range seen above. It's pretty steep down to Elk Pass.

View back up the rocky, steep descent.

Very pretty pond at Elk Pass.

Boardwalks around the pond at Elk Pass.

Some rocky, flat walking over to the junction with the Mount Colvin Trail.

Junction with the Mount Colvin Trail.

Bouldery and steep hiking up to Mount Colvin.

Lots of Class 2 to be found along the way.


An interesting slab feature on the way up to Mount Colvin, Class 2.

View back down the slab, a nice view as well.

Last bit of Class 2, including a ladder, to get up the rock feature ahead.

Looking down a small ladder.

Summit of Mount Colvin, view toward Nippletop.

View toward the Great Range.

Mount Colvin summit, view down toward Lower Ausable Lake. Sawteeth seen left, Great Range above it.

Lower Ausable Lake.

Onward, descending to the saddle with Blake Peak.

It's pretty steep and rocky on the way down.

A ladder along the way. Blake Peak seen top left.

From the saddle, ascending to Blake Peak.

More steep and rocky hiking.

View Back, Mount Colvin seen through the trees.

Bouldery higher up, too.

View back, the Great Range visible.

Last bit of forest hiking to the summit.

Blake Peak summit somewhere around here.

I backtracked and continued along the Gill Brook Trail, taking a left at this junction to reach the Fish Hawk Cliffs.

While this canyon isn't found on the route described, it was part of my detour to get water within Gill Brook, a lovely find.

Approaching Fish Hawk Cliffs.

Fish Hawk Cliffs. Left is Mount Colvin, right is Sawteeth.

Fish Hawk Cliffs, view north.

Onward along the Indian Head Trail.

A view toward Lower Ausable Lake and the dam I'll be crossing over shortly.

Another shot from along the Indian Head Trail.

Close-up of this gorgeous, iconic spot.

Descending on the Indian Head Trail.

Back at Lake Road, I crossed the dam to head up to Sawteeth.

Dam view toward Mount Colvin.

Sawteeth via Scenic Trail, left.

The Scenic Trail skirts the north side of Lower Ausable Lake.

Sometimes the trail is assisted by a small bridge.

A view toward the lake at the Fish Lake Cliffs.

The Scenic Trail begins ascending away from the lake.

It's a steep trail for its entirety from here.

Lots of little switchbacks make their way around little cliffies.

The trail finds many weaknesses in the steep and cliffy slope and heads to them.

Along the base of this cliff.

A few ladders to assist up little faces.

And plenty of gorgeous mosses.

There's an occasional view, and many lookout points marked with signs.



Steep and overgrown, it's very pretty and feels wild.

Another little ladder with some light exposure.

A taller ladder up a steep face.

Some more light exposure as the trail hugs a cliff.

Gaining elevation as I reach the false summit of Sawteeth, there are some decent views.

View down toward the saddle separating the false summit from the true summit.

Last bit of ascent for the day to gain Sawteeth.

Summit of Sawteeth.

Gorgeous afternoon view from Sawteeth.

Close-up of Gothics ahead.

Descending along the AW Weld Trail, steep at first, then quite tame for its remainder.


Very pretty creek crossing.

Rainbow Falls overlook.

Paralleling a creek for a while until back to the dam.

I followed Lake Road back to the trailhead.

A bridge along the lengthy Lake Road walk.
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