Pitchoff Mountain is home to one of the few trails in the entire Sentinel Range Wilderness Area, the impressive wild area to the right of Whiteface Mountain when viewed from Lake Placid. At 3,500 feet in elevation, this is the 80th highest peak in the Adirondacks. Pitchoff is one of the Lake Placid 9er mountains. Hikers should learn about Leave No Trace principles before hiking any trail in the Adirondacks.
Key takeaways
- Distance: 4.4 miles traversing from trailhead to trailhead
- Elevation: 3,497 feet
- Elevation gain: 1,700 feet
- Hike includes trail junctions, steep rock slab, and exposed summits
Hiking Pitchoff
There are two distinct routes to reach Pitchoff's ridge, simply called the West Trail and the East Trail. The more popular West Trail reaches the high point much faster and is the route to Balanced Rocks.
To do the entire traverse, arrange for a second car at the East Trail parking area. Do not attempt to walk back along Route 73, as the shoulder is narrow and traffic along this stretch is quite busy, especially in summer. Also note that parking for the west trailhead is the same as for the popular Cascade Mountain trail.
Starting on the west trail for Pitchoff, the route climbs steadily above Route 73 before leveling off along a lower ridgeline. Look to the right during this level stretch — there are two spots with views of Upper and Lower Cascade lakes. A third overlook is located just above a steep scramble. It provides views of Cascade Slide and Cascade Falls.
After a slight descent, there is a nice view through the canopy of the Balanced Rocks above. After passing through a low area that's usually muddy, the trail swings up and left. It crosses the base of an old slide and continues steeply up, circumnavigating the ledges below Balanced Rocks. Be aware that there are a couple of well-worn herd paths in this area. For safety, do your best to stay on the marked trail by bearing left at these junctions. A steep climb over rocky and eroded terrain ends at the three-way junction with the 0.1 mile spur trail to Balanced Rocks. Turn right to reach the rocks, turn left to continue to the summit in another half mile.
Turn left and continue to the summit of Pitchoff at 3,500 feet, 2 miles from the trailhead. There are no views from the summit, but a handy boulder offers a nice place to relax. From here the hike is a ridge walk that leads to several rocky outcrops and a number of smaller summit knobs.
The rocky north summit is reached at 3.8 miles — it's mostly open and sits at 3,323 feet in elevation. After passing over the final summit in the ridge, the trail begins a steep, 1,400 foot descent to the east trailhead. Along the way, the path goes through an eroded gully and crosses a stream several times before leveling off as it approaches Route 73.
The 1.4 mile hike to the north summit is a great destination from the east trailhead.
Pitchoff in the winter
Bring snowshoes, microspikes, and proper winter gear for hiking through exposed mountain summits where wind can be at high speeds. This trail is not suitable for cross-country skiing. Being prepared is necessary for any winter hike.
Find your perfect trail near Lake Placid
Does Pithcoff sound amazing, but a little more than you want to tackle right now? No need to stress, with over 2000 miles of hiking trails in the Adirondacks we are sure we can find the perfect hike for you.
How to get there
From the intersection of Route 73 and Route 86 in Lake Placid, follow Route 73 toward Keene. Continue on Route 73 for 7.5 miles to the Pitchoff West Trail. For Pitchoff East Trail, continue 2.7 miles further on Route 73. Both trailheads are on the left side of the road, but parking is along the right shoulder. Be careful when crossing this busy road.