New York · Hiking

Dexter Lake Trail

7.0 mi
round trip
1,288 ft
climb
1,871 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Dexter Lake Trail is a 14.1-mile out-and-back hike in New York's Ferris Lake Wild Forest, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail starts at about 1,723 feet and climbs to a high point of 1,871 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,288 feet over the round trip. The route is rated hard, and the steepest stretch comes at about 5 miles in, where the grade reaches 20%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gloversville put July highs around 77°F with lows near 56°F, and the station sits roughly 400 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The trip takes about 5.5 hours. Long Lake Trail and Avery Road Trail are both within about 2 miles, and Good Luck Mountain and State Brook offer climbing a little farther out.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Dexter Lake Trail

    Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      24° / 7°

    2. Feb

      27° / 8°

    3. Mar

      35° / 16°

    4. Apr

      48° / 29°

    5. May

      63° / 42°

    6. Jun

      72° / 52°

    7. Jul

      77° / 56°

    8. Aug

      73° / 54°

    9. Sep

      67° / 46°

    10. Oct

      53° / 36°

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

    12. Dec

      30° / 16°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gloversville 7nw (Peck Lake), NY, 12.6 mi away at 1,455 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors