New York · Cross-country skiing · Near Schroon Lake

Lake Colden Ski Trail

0.2 mi
round trip
82 ft
climb
2,793 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Lake Colden Ski Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in the High Peaks Wilderness of New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is an out-and-back that covers about 0.36 miles, with a total elevation gain of 82 feet, and it sits at an elevation of about 2,760 to 2,790 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 5% grade near the start. Winter is the natural season for this trail. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Placid show January highs around 23°F and lows near 6°F, with February the warmest month at about 27°F. That station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Lake Colden Trail lies just 0.1 mile away, and the Algonquin Trail and Mount Colden Trail are both within half a mile. Avalanche Lake Ski Trail is about 0.7 mile off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Lake Colden Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 0.7 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Paradox Brewery

    Brewery

    On your way back · 17 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rains

    Schroon Lake view

    Viewpoint

    On your way back · 21 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Schroon Lake
  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Lake Colden Ski 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, 12.2 mi away at 1,888 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors