A new ski trail has opened in New York’s Essex Chain Lakes Complex.

The Upper Hudson Ski Loop Trail is a 4.2-mile “lollipop loop trail” that parallels the Goodnow River to the Hudson River. The trail heads north along the Hudson for a short distance before looping back and reconnecting with itself 0.5 mile from the trailhead. The trail is considered intermediate in level of difficulty as it rises and drops with a few hundred feet of elevation between the lowest point and the highest point.

A small parking area (N 43.91499°, W 74.18550° (NAD83/WGS84)) marked with a “State Land Parking Area” sign is located on the left side of the Goodnow Road just before it crosses the bridge over the Goodnow River. The parking areas can hold three vehicles, so visitors are asked to car pool whenever possible. Vehicles that park on nearby lands posted by the Goodnow Flow Association are trespassing and may be towed.

Crews from the Student Conservation Association Adirondack Program cut blowdown, cleared brush and cleaned up the trail this past season. Trailhead register, signs and trail markers were recently installed by DEC personnel.

More information on the Essex Chain Lake Complex is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/91888.html.

Ski Trail Map (2)