Mud Season Hiking in the Adirondacks

What is mud season in the Adirondacks? It's the time between Winter and Summer when snow and ice have begun to melt and have created muddy, hazardous trail conditions for hikers. Welcome to Spring in the Adirondacks!

With the start of a new spring season of Adirondack hiking and recreation on public lands, hikers are anxious to climb mountains before blackflies and other biting insects become prevalent. Precautions are necessary to ensure safe hiking for not only hikers but also the wildlife and vegetation.

spring hiking during mud season in the Adirondacks

Spring Hiking Regulations

Special regulations apply to higher elevation hiking trails, especially those in the High Peaks Wilderness Area, and hikers are strongly advised to avoid these areas during mud season. As warmer temperatures melt months of accumulated snow and ice, trails can become soft and slick - so extra precaution is needed when planning an early spring hiking expedition. Avoid trails with soft snow cover to limit environmental damage and "post-holing," which can lead to leg and ankle injuries.

Hikers are advised to only use trails at lower elevations during the spring mud season, to avoid damaging natural resources and promote safety by reviewing Adirondack hiking guidelines. Lower trails usually dry soon after snowmelt and are on less erosive soils than the higher peaks. The best thing a hiker can do for the high elevation trails and plant communities is to postpone taking any hikes on trails above 3,000 feet until mid-June when the trails have dried and hardened.

Preparing for Spring Hiking

Spring Weather

In the spring, temperatures and conditions can change suddenly, so be prepared for extreme weather, including snowstorms, thunderstorms, rain, and wind. The National Weather Service in Burlington offers a special weather forecast for elevations over 3,000 feet.

Suggested Adirondack Spring Hiking Gear

Remember when hiking in wet and muddy conditions to wear waterproof footwear and gaiters and walk through - not around - mud and water on trails. This will avoid unnecessary trampling of vegetation and widening of trails through erosion.

Snowshoes
Crampons or Yak Traks
Trekking Poles
Warm clothes (even if the weather is fair)
Comfortable, sturdy shoes or hiking boots
Water
Wool or blend socks
Extra food
Bug spray and sunscreen
Compass/maps for back-country treks
Knife/multipurpose tool
Flashlight
First aid kit
Waterproof matches or a lighter

man hiking in the spring in the Adirondacks

Best Adirondack Spring Hiking Areas

Lower elevation alternatives are available to hike during the spring months while you await the high elevation trails to dry out.

Debar Mountain Wild Forest: Azure Mountain
Giant Mt. Wilderness: Giant's Washbowl and Roaring Brook Falls
High Peaks Wilderness: Ampersand Mountain, Cascade Mountain, Big Slide, the Brothers, and Porter Mountain from Cascade Mountain - avoid all other approaches
Hurricane Primitive Area: The Crows and Hurricane Mountain from Route 9N
McKenzie Mountain Wilderness: Haystack Mountain and McKenzie Mountain
Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area: Pharaoh Mountain
Saranac Lakes Wild Forest: Baker Mountain, Panther Mountain, and Scarface Mountain

Hurricane Mountain during a spring hiking adventure

Adirondack Areas to Avoid Hiking During Mud Season

High elevation trails in the Dix, Giant, and High Peaks Wilderness Areas of the northern Adirondacks are particularly vulnerable during the muddy spring season.

High Peaks Wilderness Area - all trails above 3,000 feet; wet muddy snow conditions often still prevail here until late May or early June

Algonquin
Colden
Feldspar
Gothics
Indian Pass
Lake Arnold Cross-Over
Marcy
Marcy Dam - Avalanche - Lake Colden, which is extremely wet
Phelps Trail above John Brook Lodge
Range Trail
Skylight
Wright
All "trail-less" peaks

Dix Mtn. Wilderness Area - all trails above Elk Lake and Round Pond.

Giant Mtn. Wilderness Area - all trails above Giant's Washbowl, "the Cobbles," and Owls Head.

Check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website contains additional information on Trail conditions in the Adirondacks or you may contact the DEC Forest Rangers at 518- 897-1300.

In case of emergencies, the New York State DEC Forest Rangers' number for District 5, which includes five Adirondack counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, and Warren emergency number is (518) 897-1200. Lewis and St. Lawrence counties are located in District 6 and the emergency number is (315) 785-2239.