NPT Introduction

The Northville-Placid Trail (NPT) is a 133 mile footpath that crosses the heart of the Adirondack wilderness in New York State. It is considered a lowland trail in that it doesn’t cross mountain peaks or follow mountain ridges. The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) was formed in 1922 and it’s first project was the completion of the NPT in 1923. When the trail was cut, there was railroad service to both Northville and Lake Placid. When the railroads ceased operations public transportation to Northville and Lake Placid was by bus, which also ceased operation. Today hikers have to arrange for their own transportation.

The official northern terminus of the trail is at the corner of Averyville Road and Old Military Road in Lake Placid. The official southern terminus of the trail is at Northville, NY at the West end of the bridge over the Sacandaga River at Northville. Most hikers, however, begin their hiking at the Upper Benson trailhead. The first 10.3 miles of the trail, if traveling northbound starting in Northville, NY, is a road walk that generally is not followed by most hikers for safety and aesthetic reasons I would presume. At Upper Benson they will find trailhead parking and a DEC register. The Northville-Placid Trail is intersected by roads in four places making it an ideal section hike: Upper Benson to Piseco (approx. 25.25 miles); Piseco to Wakely Dam (approx. 32.6 miles); Wakely Dam to NY 28N (approx. 27.3 miles) and NY 28N to Lake Placid (approx. 37.7 miles).

It should be noted that additional “road walks” are necessary from the trailhead at NY 8 to the trailhead parking in Piseco by Cold Stream bridge (3 miles); in the section getting to Wakely Dam (.8 miles); from Wakely Dam to the former McCanes resort along Cedar River Rd. (6.6 miles) and along Averyville Rd. to the official northern terminus of the trail in Lake Placid (1.2 miles). Just as with the first 10.3 miles that most hikers skip, many also figure out a way to avoid some of the other road walks as well.

I section hiked, with my son Mike in 2004, from Upper Benson to Piseco (including the 3 mile paved road walk past the Piesco airport and post office) and later from Piseco to Wakely Dam. I then returned to the area on September 21, 2005 and thru-hiked the trail from Lake Placid (at the official start of the NPT at the corner of Averyville Rd. and Old Military Rd.) southbound to Upper Benson. I completed the 18 day hike on October 8, 2005. A book is in the works and should be available late Spring, early Summer, 2006, titled, “Hike Your Own Hike, 18 days on the Northville-Placid Trail, The People, The Places”. Check out the summary of my hike. See you on the trail.... “Tall Tom”