Hike Berry Pond

Berry Pond Trail is a roughly 2.5-mile hike in the hills above Lake George, leading to a lovely woodland pond

Berry Pond
2.5 miles (5 miles round trip)
Lake George Wild Forest
Lake George, Warren County
Hiking, Snowshoeing
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Hike Berry Pond

Berry Pond Trail is a roughly 2.5-mile hike in the hills above Lake George, leading to a lovely woodland pond. The pond is part of the Lake George Wild Forest. Trailhead parking and the hiking trail begin at the Lake George Recreation Center on Transfer Road off Route 9N, just west of the Adirondack Northway Exit 21. The trail runs through the Town of Lake George trail system before entering the Forest Preserve. The trail follows a mix of foot trails and old roads. Berry Pond is a vibrant woodland pond that is home to an active beaver community, and the sparsely-used trail around its edge is sure to be full of discoveries.

Berry Pond was a conservation project of the Lake George Land Conservancy.

The trail starts at the parking lot to the left of the trail kiosk. The trail is marked by small blue Lake George Land Conservancy markers, the organization that protected the tract and transferred it to the state in 2015. Soon the trail runs to the left of a small rocky brook amidst a young pine forest. After passing a lean-to, the trail hooks right sharply, still following blue markers. From here, the trail widens and begins to climb steeply. The trail is in poor condition in some areas where runoff has caused some erosion.

After cresting a small ridge, the trail reaches the Forest Preserve land. At about the 1.3 mile point, the trail to Berry Pond switches onto a logging road. Soon there is a trail junction. The orange trail markers lead to Berry Pond, while a spur trail with blue trail markers leads to a small overlook with views of Lake George. The road rises through sunny, fern-covered patches before veering southwest where it forks. Continue to follow the orange trail for a short distance.

Beautiful Berry Pond

After the split, a small trail leads into the woods on the right side. The entrance is easy to miss, but the trail is well-marked. From here, a narrow dirt trail begins to curl around the pond immediately. Pointy, beaver-chewed stumps and downed trees start to crop up around the trail to remind visitors that the area is beaver territory. Through the trees to the left, the shimmering water’s open views also often provide a glimpse of the many dams across the pond.

The trail is somewhat overgrown but still easy to navigate for those able to make the trek. The loop through the quaint and lush forest is only 0.75 miles, and so the trail begins to swing around the back of the pond fairly quickly. From the other side, the small hill that the blue trail leads to is visible across the water. The openings on the pond’s edge make for a wonderful spot to sit and enjoy this view above the water lilies and wetland plants. The route continues around the pond until it meets up with the gravel road to the left and follows the same path out to the parking area.