New York · Cross-country skiing · Near Schroon Lake

Lake Colden Trail

0.2 mi
round trip
105 ft
climb
2,788 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Lake Colden Trail is a short, low-elevation 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 of about 0.38 miles, with a high point of 2,788 feet and a low of 2,773 feet, so the climb is minimal at just 10 feet of gain. Winter is the natural season for this route. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Placid, which sits about 900 feet lower, show January highs around 23°F with lows near 6°F, and February is similar at 27°F and 8°F. Temperatures on the trail run cooler than those figures. The Lake Colden Ski Trail lies about 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 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