As far as views go, this is one of the best in the area and should not be missed. The waters of Tupper Lake can be seen to the north as well and the wooded hills of the Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest to the west. This is an easy summit hike that is great for kids, and kids at heart.
Located right on the border of Hamilton and Franklin counties, Coney is an outstanding bang-for-your-buck mountain. The trail up Coney Mountain is relatively new, as it was redeveloped to replace an old path that led to the mountain's bald round dome. The new trail gently meanders around the mountain, instead of climbing straight up.
For the adventurous, Coney Mountain can be hiked at night for some spectacular stargazing.
How to get there
From the intersection of Route 30 and 28N in Long Lake, follow Route 30 North, toward Tupper Lake. At the 11.8 mile point, look for the Coney Mountain parking area on the right. The parking area is just off the road, up a little hill. There is not a ton of space in the lot, but the road has wide shoulders that can accommodate overflow.
By the numbers
- Distance: 1 mile one way
- Elevation gain: 560 feet
- Mountain elevation: 2,267 feet
Hiking
The trail for the majority is very rocky and still quite new, so footing is a bit rough in areas. Following the well-marked trail, you will sweep your way around the steep western slopes of the mountain. As the trail steepens a bit, it continues to contour its way around to the northern slopes of the mountain and then meets up with the original trail just below the summit.
The final approach is over slab rock, no scrambling is necessary. The views start to open up with Goodman Mountain, also part of the Tupper Lake Triad, to the north, and Mount Morris to the northeast. It’s a complete panoramic view that will leave you speechless!
Coney Mountain in winter
Coney makes for an excellent snowshoeing trip for the entire family. Be sure to keep Coney Mountain in mind if you have never snowshoed before and want a perfect spot to get started. This is also an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to the sport. With typical heavy snow and ease of access, this is a popular destination in winter. However, expect the chance of heavy winds and cold wind-chills once you are on the mostly tree-less summit.
Due to steepness of the trail, this mountain is not recommended for cross-country skiing.
