Scarface Mountain Trail

Scarface Mountain Trail is a long-distance out-and-back hike in the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest that climbs from the Ray Brook area up to Scarface Mountain (3,088 ft). Expect a moderate route effort overall, with the steepest climbing toward the end of the ascent.

The hike begins with relatively easier tread for the first stretch, then you reach a railroad crossing before coming to Ray Brook. The Ray Brook crossing is a notable early obstacle on the route, and it’s about 0.5 miles from the trailhead.

After the crossing, the route steepens and the character changes: the upper section gets noticeably harder, with sections that can involve rock scrambling as you push toward the summit.

At the summit, the high point is wooded rather than a broad viewpoint. A short side spur near the upper portion provides the main overlook, with views toward Oseetah Lake and the Saranac Lakes chain.

This climb is commonly tracked as a Saranac Lake 6er peak. It has been subject to closure tied to the Ray Brook bridge; the route was closed beyond the bridge in late 2023, and later reopened after the bridge was replaced (with the bridge work scheduled to start in August 2025).

Typical outing length for the hike up and back down Scarface is about 7.6 miles round-trip, and many hikers budget roughly 4.5 hours for the full round trip. The trail’s difficulty can vary with conditions in the steeper, scrambly upper section.

More information: Scarface Mountain - ADK Trail Tales, Scarface Mountain Trail | Essex County | New York - Hiiker, Scarface Mountain Trail in Ray Brook to reopen this fall after bridge ....