NPT (Northville-Placid Trail)

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The Northville-Placid Trail was established by the Adirondack Mountain Club in 1922 and is maintained by the NY DEC. The trail starts in Northville and ends in Lake Placid. The southern two-thirds of the trail gradually ascends to a central plateau, past Long Lake, the largest body of water along the route. The Northern third of the trail winds through valleys between the beautiful High Peaks until you arrive at the end in Lake Placid. The trail is heavily marked with blue trail markers that say NPT Trail. You can find more information about the NPT here

• NPT Section 1: Northville to Benson
• NPT Section 2: Benson to Whitehouse
• NPT Section 3: Whitehouse to Piseco
• NPT Section 4: Piseco to West Canada Lakes
• NPT Section 5: West Canada Lakes to Wakely Dam
• NPT Section 6: Wakely Dam to Lake Durant
• NPT Section 7: Lake Durant to Long Lake
• NPT Section 8: Long Lake to Shattuck Clearing
• NPT Section 9: Shattuck Clearing to Duck Hole
• NPT Section 10: Duck Hole to Lake Placid

There is a ford over the West Carry Creek. It's a good idea to call a ranger when it's been raining or there's been a lot of snow melt to check the depth, as it can be hard to cross if the levels are high.

The trail officially starts at a parking lot on Main Street in Northville. There are plenty of local eateries and shops for any last minute items you may have forgotten. There's a trail register for you to sign and important safety information provided on a bulletin board.

After about a 3.5 mile road hike to get you started, you get to another parking area with its own register at Collins-Gifford Valley Rd. The next parking area is at Benson Rd. and there's a beautiful camping area on Woods Lake. From here, you'll pass many lakes and streams and multiple designated camping spots.

The trail then heads north till you get to Piseco Lake where it comes out to Route 8. You'll follow Haskell Road for a ways before heading back into the woods. Along the road you'll pass a post office if you want to mail yourself additional supplies ahead for pickup. Check the post office hours though so you don't have to wait around.

You'll be going through the Jessup River Wild Forest and then the West Canada Lake wilderness area and straight up through the Moose River Plains wild forest. When you get to the West Canada lake wilderness area you'll start to find many lean-tos that are in great shape. When you come out to Route 30 you'll be at the Lake Durant Campground; here you can have a hot shower and get some fresh water if the campground is open. If its not, there is another store just down the road a couple miles.

The next road you'll come to is route 28N. After you cross 28N you'll be going along Long Lake for awhile. It is gorgeous and there are lean-tos all over the place in this neck of the woods, which make for great camping or nice picnic spots.

Good luck and happy hiking!

There are many wildflowers and all kinds of wildlife along the way.

The Northville-Placid Trail was established by the Adirondack Mountain Club in 1922.