Cranberry Lake Traverse

This trip includes a virtual orientation session with the guide scheduled for 5:00pm on the evening before the trip commences. The orientation will involve introductions, a briefing on the route, and discussions on packing considerations. Participants will have the opportunity to ask any final questions during this session. It is advised to ensure a good night's rest and enjoy a nourishing meal, as the journey will begin the following day.

We recommend staying at one of Lake Placid’s many hotels or car camping at Cranberry Lake Campground the night before the trip begins.

The journey begins at 8:00 AM from the Cranberry Lake 50 Trailhead (44.22174, -74.82037), where we meet for gear distribution, fresh coffee, and breakfast sandwiches before setting off into the backcountry.

Our first day offers a stunning introduction to the Cranberry Lake region, with scenic stops at Hedgehog Bay and while taking in the vista of Bear Mountain. As we continue, the trail leads us through quiet forests and along pristine waterways before reaching our first campsite at Dog Pond. As dusk settles, we enjoy a hearty meal and relax by the water’s edge while listening for the call of Loons.

With an early start, we embark on a rewarding day of hiking. Our route takes us past Sliding Rock Falls, a natural waterslide that offers a refreshing break for those who wish to take a dip. From there, we continue deeper into the backcountry, navigating through the terrain and remote ponds of the Five Ponds Wilderness. As the day winds down, we reach our second campsite at Cowhorn Pond, where we settle in for the night beneath the vast Adirondack sky.

The final leg of our adventure takes us to the summit of Cat Mountain, the highest point on our route. From the top, we’re rewarded with panoramic views stretching across the Five Ponds Wilderness and beyond. After descending, we hike out to the Cat Mountain Trailhead, where we reflect on our journey before parting ways.

Guide: A professionally licensed hiking guide, with years of experience, that is EMT certified

Gear: Use of all technical backpacking gear including: ultralight tent, top-of-the-line sleeping bag, ultralight sleeping pad, high-quality backpack, bear canister, and trekking poles

Food: Meals for entirety of trip from the start of the first day to lunch on the last day

Risk Management: Peace of mind with added safety precautions such as a Garmin In-Reach Satellite Communicator and first aid kit

Packing List: A detailed packing list of the clothing and personal items needed

Hiking clothes, footwear, and rain gear

Personal items and toiletries

Headlamp flashlight and water bottles

Transportation to and from the Adirondacks

Gratuities

Total Distance: 30.5 miles (49km)

Total Elevation Gain: 2,944ft (879m)

Total Elevation Loss: 2,908ft (886m)

Day One: 10.5 miles - 1,085ft gain / 716ft loss

Day Two: 11.5 miles - 1,151ft gain / 1,235ft loss

Day Three: 8.5 miles - 708ft gain / 957ft loss

Our backpacking trips feature a variety of nourishing meals that provide the essential nutrients with a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Examples of foods you will eat on our trips are rice, pasta, lentils, beans, couscous, dried meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, and granola. We then add spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, fresh and dried fruits, and vegetables to make these ingredients into wonderful trail feasts.

Additionally, we provide a selection of trail mix, bars, and dried fruits for you to snack on between meals.

We are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions as well as make adjustments for food allergies. Please be aware that special dietary requests may come with an additional fee.

Our shelter system for backcountry trips are lightweight, backpacking-specific tents. You are welcome to share a tent with anyone you are traveling with or request your own tent. There will also be an opportunity to sleep in an Adirondack style lean-to shelter on this trip!

Our sleep system on backcountry trip consist of two parts: First is a lightweight, temperature-appropriate, sleeping bag. Second is a closed-cell foam sleeping pad.

Although it is not required, if you have any of your own backpacking specific gear, you are welcome to bring and use it!

The campsites on our trips are handpicked, primitive backcountry sites, carefully selected for their stunning beauty and strategic placement along our route. These sites offer a truly immersive experience, devoid of modern amenities, allowing you to connect with the landscape in its purest form. By embracing the simplicity of these sites, you can fully appreciate and engage with the unspoiled natural surroundings, fostering a deeper connection with wilderness.

On this trip, one of the nights will be spent at a Adirondack style lean-to shelter!

To register for this trip, enter the number of people you are registering, then pay for the number of people in your party. If you are buying spots for people other than yourself, include their names and emails in the checkout form. Please contact us if you have questions prior to registering!

After payment, we will reach out to you via email with more information about the trip, and send you links to complete your registration. If you need help registering or have questions, reach out to us here.

On Day 1, we meet at The Cranberry Lake 50 Trailhead. Please route to the following coordinates for directions (44.22174, -74.82037).

Your guide will reach out to you, via email, a week before the trip’s start date in order to answer any questions you have about the trip or the rendezvous location.

Please reach out to us - here - with any questions prior to your trip.

The journey commences at the Cranberry Lake 50 Trailhead (44.22174, -74.82037) in Cranberry Lake, NY. On the night before the trip begins, we recommend spending the night in one of Lake Placid’s many hotels, or car camping at Cranberry Lake Campground.

The preferred mode of transportation is by driving or renting a car. Parking at this trailhead is free. Alternatively, it is possible to reach Lake Placid, NY by public transit and arrange a taxi to the trailhead; please reach out to us for further details on this option.

Albany and Burlington boast large airports that are approximately three hours away from Cranberry Lake. Additionally, both NYC and Boston Airports are situated roughly six hours away from the destination.

Children must be 12 years of age and accompanied by a parent or court appointed legal guardian to join shared-group experience trips. Additionally, individuals must be 18 years of age to join our trips independent of a parent or legal guardian.

Life can be unpredictable, therefore, we recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment in traveling with us.

There are many ways to obtain travel insurance. Two companies we recommend are Global Rescue and IMG.

We are happy to provided any necessary documentation to help you insure your trip. Please direct all questions about travel insurance to your insurance provider.

The Adirondack climate is strongly continental, with high humidity and precipitation year-round. The Adirondacks typically experience pleasantly warm, rainy weather in the summer (June–August), with temperatures in the range of 66–73 °F (19–23 °C), cooler than the rest of New York State due to the higher elevation. Summer evenings in the Adirondacks are chilly, with temperatures ranging on average between 45–54 °F (7–12 °C). Winters (December–March) are long, cold, and snowy, with temperatures ranging from 18 to 23 °F (−8 to −5 °C). Winter nights are frigid, with temperatures between −2 and 4 °F (−19 and −16 °C). Spring (April–May) and fall (September–November) are short transitional seasons where a variety of weather can be experienced in a single day.