- Out and Back
- Out and Back
- Out and Back
About
Lyon Mountain is a fire tower summit located in the northern tip of the Adirondacks.
Key takeaways
- Distance: 7.2 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1990 feet
- Hike includes trail junctions and bridges
Hiking Lyon Mountain
This hike offers an incredible view from the restored 1917 fire tower. This mountain is the place to go for views that reach as far as the Montreal skyline to the north, the Green Mountains of Vermont to the east, and the High Peaks of the Adirondacks to the south. This route has 11 switchbacks through the steepest sections, and two bridges.
Lyon Mountain once had a "company town" of Popeville to house the miners who brought out the best iron ore in the world for over a century. The cables that hold up the Brooklyn, George Washington, and Golden Gate bridges have Lyon Mountain iron at their cores. In the late 1880s, Lyon Mountain was the second-largest community in the Adirondacks.
Lyon Mountain in the winter
This is a popular winter summit, and it is even popular for backcountry skiers. While there's a good chance you won't be breaking trail, please be prepared for all winter conditions.
Birding
An excellent hike in the northeast Adirondacks, Lyon Mountain should not be skipped by birders either. You can find a wide array of warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other songbirds as they hike.
The summit area is of great interest, as it harbors species like Boreal Chickadee, Blackpoll Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, and most importantly, Bicknell’s Thrush. An early start helps increase the odds of finding the sought after Bicknell’s.
How to get there
The driving to get here isn't off a main road, so we suggest you follow your GPS device to the coordinates provided in the directions for this hike.
