Goodman Mountain and Sargent Ponds

There is no inherent connection between the two hikes discussed in this post. Other than both are close to Long Lake and Elle and I walked the trails on successive days in late April 2016.

Goodman Mountain

Goodman Mountain is a small mountain near the southern end of Tupper Lake. Approaching on Route 30 from Long Lake the trailhead is on the right a half mile before you reach the intersection with Route 421. Both the mountain and the trail are named to honor Andrew Goodman. In 1964 Goodman and fellow civil rights workers James Chaney and Michael Schwerner where murdered by members of the Klu Klux Klan while working in Mississippi to register African Americans to vote. Goodman's family had a camp nearby and he was known to have climbed to the top of this mountain to enjoy the great views. The USGS renamed the mountain in 2002 and the new trail was dedicated in 2014.

The route covers just 1.6 miles and about half that distance is on what used to be a paved road (the first half mile is handicapped accessible). From the point where the trail leaves the old road to the top it is generally easy walking with just a couple moderately steep stretches. The trail passes through a very attractive and rapidly maturing second growth forest and the views from the summit are outstanding. This is as nice a short hike as you'll find anywhere in the Adirondacks and it's a great family-friendly route.

Views to the south, southeast and southwest are unobstructed and by seeking out openings in the trees you can see east towards the high peaks and into the wild country west of Tupper Lake. Prominent in the foreground is the sharply contoured summit of Coney Mountain just a couple of miles away. We owe our visit to Goodman Mountain to the extreme popularity of the Coney Mountain trail. We had intended to make the short walk (.75 miles) to the top of Coney. But arriving at the trailhead we found the parking lot full with a half dozen additional cars parked along the road. Coney is a small mountain and that seemed like a bit much. Continuing on and considering our options the sign for the Goodman Mtn. trail soon appeared. Coney has unmatched views but the trail is overused and not particularly attractive. We'll take Goodman any day.

Looking south from Goodman Mountain. Coney Mountain in the foreground and Blue mountain in the distance. 

Sargent Ponds

We planned to hike the Sargent three, 

lower, middle, upper.

But one we'll see another day

or we will miss our supper.

Two trails reach the Sargent Ponds from the north (access from Northpoint Road; intersection with Rte 30 in Deerland south of Long Lake Village). The two trails are connected and the trailheads are separated by just a mile and half of lightly-used rural roadway. Combining the trails with a walk along the road makes for a very pleasant loop hike of just over seven miles.

The second trail (further west) covers 2.2 miles to Lower Sargent Pond. A 1.7 mile connecting trail then takes you to a short spur trail that leads to the shore of upper Sargent Pond. From the intersection the trail returns to the road at the more eastern of the two trailheads.

Sargent Pond Loop. Map image from Google Earth.

Much of the route passes through hardwood forests with the canopy provided almost exclusively by large Yellow Birch (many reaching 30 inches diameter). This species is common in hardwood stands throughout the Adirondacks but the absence of the Birch's close friend the Maple leads me to think that this area was selectively logged. In any case, it's a generally attractive route.

Lower Sargent Pond

Fungus never sleeps. That's something you should keep in mind.

Upper Sargent Pond

Elle and one of the large Yellow Birch that dominate the forests seen along much of the route. This tree has a diameter just  over 30 inches at four feet.