Hannah the hiker

Ampersand Mountain… what a hike.

I’ve done Ampersand twice, and it is a great trail to really test if you’ve got your hiking legs.

The first time I went up was with Max in March 2020. We brought micospikes and warm clothes since there were still some winter conditions. It was icy and steep and pretty tough. The second time I went was in May 2021. This time it was pouring down rain the entire time, super muddy, and a lot more fun. I actually made an audio postcard about that hike for North Country Public Radio. You can listen to that here. I am going to give a bit of an overview of the trail and what to expect out there. Unfortunately, I haven’t gone on Ampersand in nice warm summer weather yet. Maybe I’ll get to that this summer.

Ampersand is one of those special Adirondack trails where there is absolutely no warm up and no switchbacks. It sits at 3,353 feet and doesn’t qualify as a 46er. However, it is one of the Saranac Lake 6! AllTrails says the trail is 5.4 miles but it’s more like 6 with 1,765 feet of elevation gain.

Parking for the trail is right off of Route 3 and there’s a sign in the parking area that says “Ampersand Mountain” so, it’s kinda difficult to miss. This is a very popular trail and parking will fill up quick on the weekends so plan ahead. Either pick a day during the week or when there’s crappy weather. Or, if you’re really a go-getter get there before the 5/6 am crowd.

There is just one trail that takes you to the top. It’s well marked and doesn’t intersect with other trails. This trail just goes straight up through creeks and lots of rocks. There are some small sections with rock scrambling, but nothing too difficult. It was sketchy when I went in springtime with all of the ice but nothing to worry about in the nicer months.

For 2.5/3 miles you are just walking uphill. There’s lots of tree coverage and neat boulders to look at along the way. I’ve found quite a few frogs and salamanders on this trail as well.

Once you have walked uphill for what seems like forever you get to a nice clearing on the rock. The summit has clear views of the High Peaks and lots of space to stretch out and relax. Each time I’ve gone I’ve had the summit to myself (besides with Max) which is really sweet. I love sitting up there and just kind of soaking it all in. It’s really quiet too.

Going back down is pretty smooth and quick. Just follow the same way you took to the top!

Each time I’ve gone on this hike it’s taken about 2.5 hours.

Overall thoughts on the trail

Ampersand is one of those super popular hikes in the Adirondacks, and because of this, the trail has really suffered. Trails were originally made to be about 2 feet wide. In some places, the trail has widened to 25 feet due to people stepping around mud in mud season (it’s best to just walk though it!). This website has a lot of great information about what overuse looks like in the Adirondacks with comparison pictures of Ampersand in the 80s versus 2018. The trail has really suffered since ADK hiking has gained more popularity. While its great people are getting “out there” it’s sad to see how big of an impact that has on the trails. The best way to prevent this is walking through mud when you see it (or really not go hiking at all on trails affected by mud season), build more sustainable trails, and to practice Leave No Trace.

The trail is not ideal for new hikers. It has great views and is a perfect example of type 2 fun, but could be tough for a newbie. It’s steep, lots of rocks and roots, rock scrambling, and kind of just a drag if you aren’t use to hiking in the Adirondacks. But, if you’re in good shape and know the typical ADK trail, you’ll do just fine.

Wear some good hiking boots with ankle support if you don’t have your hiking legs just yet. Those rocks are brutal.

There are some streams to filter water along the way, but bringing 2 32 oz water bottles has worked just fine for me.

This is a fun hike to do with other people since you can all kind of share that misery of the trail.

When Max and I hiked this in March 2020 with warm clothes and microspikes we were suprised with the clothes and gear some people had with them as we passed by. It was warm in the parking lot but once we got to the top we were putting hats and mittens on since the wind is harsh up there. We saw people walking up the trail in shorts and sneakers with just a water bottle in hand. Others had no microspikes and were just trying to walk up ice. I don’t know, to each their own, but I’d be feeling pretty sorry for myself if I got hurt on a trail like that because I couldn’t be bothered to bring the appropriate clothing and gear. So, like always, plan ahead and bring what you need. You don’t want to become a punchline in those ADK hiking groups on facebook.

What I brought (rainy/spring weather)

• Microspikes
• Small day pack
• 2 32 oz water bottles
• Lifestraw
• Small first aid kit
• Merrel Hiking boots
• Wool leggings
• Long sleeve hiking shirt
• Fleece pullover
• Rain jacket
• 2 pairs wool socks (to always have a dry pair)
• Beanie
• Wool mittens
  • Food!
  • Cliff Bar
  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
  • Apple
  • Trail mix