This trail guide covers Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rocks in the Adirondacks of New York.
Somewhat of a difficult trail, it offers an enchanting walk in the woods with amazing views of the Adirondack High Peaks. Boulder climbs take you up to Pitchoff Mountain, almost 3500 feet above sea level.
Table of Contents
Basic Trail Information for Balanced Rocks and Pitchoff Mountain
- Trail Name: West Trail of Pitchoff Mountain with Balanced Rock detour
- Location: Adirondacks, New York (near Lake Placid)
- Length: 4.4 miles
- Elevation: 3494 feet (at Pitchoff)
- Difficulty: Hard
- Duration: 2-2.5 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1420 feet
- Type of Trail: out and back
- Who I Recommend this to: experienced hikers and relatively fit people
- What season did I go: summer
- Gear Recommendations: trekking poles
- Cell service: poor
- Water availability: none
- Special Requirements: none but parking can be limited
- Must see feature: Balanced Rocks and the amazing views from there of High Peaks and surprisingly, the Olympic ski jump!
Location of Balanced Rocks and Pitchoff Mountain
My Experience on the Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rocks Trail
I’ve never experienced such a treacherous trail as the one to Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rocks. It’s dangerous not because of the steep boulder climb or the sheer drops at the top but because before you even get on trail there is a game of dodging cars on Route 73. Yes, I almost got hit by a car.
If you make it past the speeding vehicles and manage to find the stairs leading to the trail you’ll find an enchanting walk in the woods and views of the Adirondack HIgh Peaks that lure you to hike one of them another day.
As always hiking in the Adirondacks is a new experience for this Western States woman. As someone who comes from the land of peaks above 10,000 ft I thought climbing mountains in New York was going to be easy since many of them barely reach 5000 feet. And, yet, here I am again being proved wrong.
This trail may be enchanting with its forest of hardwoods and conifers, moss, ferns, epic views and boulders but don’t be fooled it’s a tough, almost type 2 fun tough, boulder scramble to the top. Sure you get a few moments of relief when the trail flattens out but most of the way you’re climbing. And I love it!
At about 1.5 miles in there’s a fork in the trail- left goes up to Pitchoff Mountain and right goes to Balanced Rocks. This is when the tough decisions are made but luckily it’s the consensus of most hikers here to go left. Pitchoff Mountain may be the peak but the views up there are lacking a bit. But one’s gotta peak after doing all the work, right? Left turn it is.
About a ½ mile up, just before you peak, there is an awesome view of Cascade Mountain. At this time I question my decision to hike Pitchoff because Cascade is higher and maybe a better view. Too late to feel hiker remorse.
After taking in the view and getting to the uneventful top I turn around, head down the mountain, back to the fork, around the mountain to Balanced Rocks. Now THIS is a view!
The Adirondacks are vast, 6 million acres vast. And from Balanced Rocks it feels like you see all of it!
Be sure to catch my video of Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rocks where I point out the many peaks visible from the top.
And if you’re interested check out some other peaks I’ve done in and around the Adirondacks of New York like Ampersand Mountain in the Fall and Azure Mountain in early Spring.
Happy Trails!
Helpful Takeaways
Suggested gear and information for this hike that I found very helpful and made the hike a much more pleasant experience.
- Take trekking poles. The route down is pretty step and trekking poles will help with easing pressure off your knees as well as balance
- Get there early. The parking lot fills up, then parking along the road can get full too.
- Watch out for vehicles on NY-73. The trailhead is located on a curve in the road. If you watch my video, I stupidly almost get hit by a car.)
Resources for this Trail
- Hiking the Adirondack 46 High Peaks– guide to everything hikers need to know about summiting each of the 46 high peaks of the Adirondack Mountains
- Big Views and Tricky Maneuvers on Pitchoff Mountain by Adirondack Life
- PeakFinder App– the app I used in my video to see names of surrounding peaks
- Please Leave No Trace when enjoying the outdoors
What To Do In the Area Before or After Your Hike
- Bring lunch. Hang out for a bit at the top and enjoy lunch.
- Visit Lake Placid where the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games took place. Known also to be a quaint alpine village there’s great food, shopping and beautiful sites to see.
FAQs for Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rock
It can be classified as difficult because of the boulder climbs yet no ropes or special equipment is needed. If you are able bodied for high steps the trail is about 2 miles to the top, not long but definitely a climb.
Parking spots are along route 73 are available for free first come first served. Once the lot fills, there is parallel parking available along the same highway. Please take caution here, the vehicles are fast moving.
From the western entrance, Pitchoff Mountain is about 2 miles to the top. If you make the side trip to Balanced Rocks the complete out and back hike will be about 4.5 miles.
Watch My Hike of Pitchoff Mountain and Balanced Rocks Trail on YouTube
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Hi, I’m Allie, obsessed hiker, explorer of our world and reinventor of my life in my 50s.
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