A trail up a popular peak in New York’s Saranac Lake region recently reopened, and just in time for hikers to enjoy the fall foliage.
Officials with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation recently announced the Scarface Mountain Trail in Saranac Lakes Wild Forest has been reopened after the bridge over Ray Brook was replaced.
The bridge crossing was closed in late 2023 over concerns of structural integrity.
The bridge is located about a half mile from the trailhead. The trail was closed at the bridge and beyond.
Scarface is one of the six peaks included in the Saranac Lake 6er hiking challenge.
Although the summit of Scarface is wooded, a short side trail provides hikers with views overlooking Oseetah Lake and the Saranac Lakes chain.
The hike up and back down Scarface is 7.6 miles roundtrip. The summit stands at 3,088 feet, and the climb up has an elevation gain of 1,500 feet.
The early part of the hike up is fairly tame, but it gets quite steep toward the end of the trail and requires some rock scrambling.
