New York · Hiking

Old Northville-Placid Trail

Old Northville-Placid TrailPhoto: ke9tv, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
2.7 mi
round trip
608 ft
climb
2,088 ft
high point
Out and back
route

The Old Northville-Placid Trail is a 5.5-mile out-and-back hike in New York's High Peaks Wilderness, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail starts at an elevation of about 2,063 feet and reaches a high point of 2,088 feet, with a total climb of 608 feet over the course of the round trip. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.4 miles in, where the grade reaches 11 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Lake Placid show July highs around 74°F with lows near 54°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The hike takes about two hours. Street Mountain Trail is about 2.3 miles away, and Bear Cub Loop and Scarface Mountain Trail are both within about 4 miles. Wallface, a climbing area, sits about 5 miles off.

Local outfitters

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  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Old Northville-Placid Trail

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. 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

      23° / 6°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      27° / 8°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 16°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

      14 wet

    5. May

      62° / 40°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 49°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 54°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 52°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 45°

      13 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 35°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 14°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Placid 2 S, NY, 7.6 mi away at 1,888 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