Long-DistanceTrail with the Longest History: The Northville-Placid Trail, Unknown to Many
The Northville-Placid Trail, first undertaken by the Adirondack Mountain Club, offers a captivating adventure for summer explorers. This 130-mile trail, completed in 1924, takes hikers on a sojourn through the valleys and high plateaus that surround the Adirondack's highest peaks, providing solitude, remote landscapes, and dozens of quiet lakes.
For those planning a trip on the Northville-Placid Trail, updated resources are now available to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. The Northville-Lake Placid Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) provides official re-route maps for the trail, including the Benson-Godfrey Spur segment, which was re-routed in 2014 to reduce walking on roads and enhance the trail experience.
The re-routing moved portions of the trail away from paved roads such as Route 30 and Upper Benson Road into more natural wooded areas. A new trailhead and parking area on Benson Road (County Highway 6) near Woods Lake were built in 2014, providing better access to trail segments for day hikes or multi-day trips. The Godfrey Road spur trail remains open for foot traffic to the Silver Lake Wilderness area.
Four main trailheads with parking are accessible from north to south: State Route 8, West River Road, Godfrey Road, and Benson Road. These trailheads facilitate easier access to the trail for hikers.
Recent reviews and state conservation publications confirm the trail's improvements and recommend purchasing newer guidebooks, as the trail experiences ongoing modifications since earlier editions like the 2007 guidebook. Navigation skills are essential due to the trail's deep forests and sometimes wet conditions.
The Adirondack Trails: Northville Placid Trail, 4th edition guidebook provides information about the trail, but it was last updated in 2007 and may not cover the new sections of trail that have opened since then. Hikers are advised to use the Northville-Lake Placid Chapter ADK’s 2025 re-route maps, the updated mileage table, and the interactive trail map available on the ADK's website for the most accurate and current planning.
In addition, several write-ups by recent thru-hikers are available online, including a trail profile on The Trek and a write-up on how to thru-hike the trail. The Northville-Placid Trail runs from the village of Northville to the town of Lake Placid, offering a unique and rewarding hiking experience for those seeking adventure in the Adirondack wilderness.
- To enhance their outdoor-living experience, hikers embarking on the Northville-Placid Trail can consider the home-and-garden projects near the updated trailhead and parking area on Benson Road (County Highway 6) near Woods Lake.
- After a day of exploring the wilderness along the Northville-Placid Trail, hikers can appreciate the restorative qualities of its quiet lakes and seclude themselves in a setting that fosters a peaceful lifestyle.
