The French Louie Loop is a moderately trafficked backpacking loop that combines the French Louie Trail, Cedar Lakes Trail, and portions of the historic Northville-Placid Trail.
How to get there
The trailhead is 9 miles northwest of Speculator. Take Route 30 north for 8.2 miles from Speculator, and make a left onto the dirt road, past Mason Lake. The dirt road is 3.2 miles to the junction at Perkins Clearing, which is marked by a DEC sign. Turn right to the end of Sled Harbor, 5.1 miles from Route 30, for parking. From here, a rough road exists that most decide not to drive anymore. It leads 1.2 miles north where the actual trailhead for Pillsbury Mountain is. Mileage below is for starting from Sled Harbor.
By the numbers
- 22.6 mile loop
- 2,550 feet of elevation gain
- 9 lean-tos on or within 0.5 miles of the trail
Hiking and backpacking
As a day trip, a hiker would need a good amount of experience, the right gear, and a high level of fitness. This loop is better done as a 2-3 day backpacking loop, combining a few famous trails in the West Canada Lake Wilderness Area. Starting from the Sled Harbor Parking Area, an old road travels upwards to the Pillsbury Mountain Trailhead. From here, hikers continue to the height of land, and shortly after, you can go left at the junction to complete the route clockwise, or continue straight to do the route counterclockwise. Heading left, you'll continue on the French Louie Trail, passing Pillsbury, Whitney, and Sampson Lakes. A couple miles after passing Sampson Lake, you reach a junction with the Northville-Placid Trail, and continue right as you head past South Lake. After around a half mile, the junction for Mud Lake is reached (on your left). Go right, continuing on the NPT, eventually getting to the southern end of Cedar Lakes. Around 12 miles after taking the right at the Mud Lake junction, you'll reach the blown out dam on the north end of Cedar Lakes. It's here that you'll use the Cedar Lakes Trail to make your way back to Sled Harbor.
Along the entirety of the loop, there are several opportunities to stay in a lean-to or at a designated primitive tent site. Do your best to plan where you'll be trying to stay the night before you go.
