Klondike Notch Trail

Klondike Notch Trail is an easy-foot hiking route in the Adirondacks that runs through the High Peaks Wilderness area near Lake Placid. It’s designated for hiking (not bicycling or horseback riding) and follows the South Meadow side to the Klondike Notch area before dropping toward the Johns Brook Lodge area.

For a short out-and-back style day, plan around a total hike distance of about 10 miles round trip (with 1 mile of extra approach added in winter when South Meadows Lane is closed).

On the ground route, expect a real climb out of the South Meadow lowlands: the trail generally starts off gentle, then turns into sustained uphill as you work toward Klondike Notch. A common turnaround objective is Klondike Lean-to, roughly 2.7 miles from the South Meadows Road area, followed by another ascent to the height of land just under a mile past the lean-to.

After topping out near Klondike Notch, the route can be continued down the other side toward Johns Brook Lodge in the Johns Brook Valley, passing the trail junction that leads up toward Yard and Big Slide (continue straight rather than taking the left turn if your goal is Johns Brook Lodge).

One practical issue for planning: the start involves South Meadow Brook crossing, and the wooden bridge over South Meadow Brook (near the first quarter-mile) has been washed out at times; depending on water level, you may need to cross the brook or use an alternate approach around the brook area.

If you reach a situation where South Meadow Brook is impassable, the described cutoff uses the Marcy Dam Truck Trail for about 0.4 miles, then turns left onto Mr. Van Ski Trail for about 0.7 miles until it connects back to the Klondike Notch Trail; this detour adds roughly 0.7 miles to the trip each way.

More information: Klondike Notch Trail - Adirondack Explorer, Klondike Notch - Lake Placid, Klondike Notch Trail - ADKHighPeaks