6 Kid Friendly Hiking Trails Near Lake George NY

Looking for kid friendly hiking trails near Lake George NY? Here are 6 that we highly recommend (perfect for little legs and fun for the whole family!)

Hudson Pointe Nature Preserve, Queensbury, NY

This is an 83 acre nature preserve along the Hudson River. There are over two miles of marked trails for hiking, walking and mountain biking. In the winter there is snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Dogs are also allowed as long as they are leashed. What is fun about this park is the trails wander along the Hudson River and are marked with signs along the way informing hikers of some of the wildlife they might see as well as other features on the trails. The trails are fairly level with no steep hills.

Hudson River Recreation Area, Lake Luzerne, NY

This 5,500 acre forest preserve features river access for swimming, picnicking, boating, tubing. There are also old tote roads that were once used for logging, but now are used for hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing.

Although the trails are a little rough and could be better marked, the promise of a cool dip in the river will spur most people on. There are several access points to the river, and the river is fairly shallow and slow-moving.

Bear Slides Trail is just past a culvert on Bear Slides Access Road. It is a fairly steep climb through a forested area that follows a stream, but well worth it when you get to the top. There is a series of descending flat rocks that the stream tumbles over, and many people slide on them just like a water slide.

Pack Demonstration Forest, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

This is a 2,500 acre environmental demonstration forest maintained by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. There is a self-guided 1 mile Grandmother’s Tree Nature Trail. The Grandmother’s Tree Nature Trail is one of the few nature trails in the Adirondacks that is accessible to people using wheelchairs. It wanders through a 50-acre natural area that introduces visitors to the ecology of an Adirondack old-growth hemlock-white pine forest and one of New York’s historic trees. It takes about an hour to walk the moderately level trail. There are other numerous trails with mountain views, marshes, and the Hudson River.   It also includes an 85 acre lake. Mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are also allowed. The Pack Demonstration Forest is located at 36 Pack Forest Road, Warrensburg, NY.

Peggy’s Point, Hague, NY

Peggy’s Point is a 1.9 acre parcel donated by Peggy Darrin, a long-time supporter of Lake George Land Conservancy.  Although not a traditional hiking trail, the path wanders along the Lake George shoreline, and is a popular spot for fishing or picnicking. What is really nice about this spot is the Friendship Garden, a 30-foot diameter bed, consisting of flowers provided by the public in honor of or in memory of a special person, place or event . Anyone is welcome to add a flower as long as the guidelines are followed.

Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center

 Although there are several hiking trails, the attraction for this 72-acre facility is the museum. The museum features wildlife exhibits of native mammals and birds and has a children’s activity room. This facility also offers nature programs, butterfly and perennial gardens, birding opportunities, as well as information about honeybees, maple sugaring and woodworking.

There are more than seven hiking trails, and are easy to moderate in difficulty. Some of the features of the connecting trails include the Sugar Trail, which was built to highlight the maple sugaring activities of the farm and provides a view of the Sugar House. Other features are Green Trail that provides a wide variety of birds for birdwatchers and the Federal Hill Cemetery, which contains some of the earliest settlers of Bolton Landing and the original owners of Yonda Farm, Alice and John Scott.

The Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center is located at 5239 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing, NY

Wilton Wildlife Preserve, Gansevoort, NY

Although a bit of a drive (the preserve is located off of Exit 16 of the Northway) a trip to this former Boy Scout Camp is well worth it, particularly since it is one of a few nature preserves in the area with the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. There are over 2,400 acres of protected land that make up the five parcels of the preserve.

The most kid-friendly is the Camp Saratoga parcel, which is the former Boy Scout Camp. There are more than ten miles of trails, which are color coded. The Blue Trail is the most popular and provides glimpses of some of the buildings that used to make up the camp. Among the buildings still standing are the mess hall, some lean-tos, the winter lodge, a totem pole, and the archery range.

The property encompasses a diversity of ecosystems including woodlands, wetlands, open areas, streams, and a pond.  Delegan Pond is a man-made pond and Great blue herons, belted kingfishers, and the occasional beaver can be spotted and observed. The trail surfaces are predominantly forest and field floor with some sandy sections.  The terrain is steep in places, but not overwhelming and in periods of heavy rain there may be muddy or wet spots. This trail is also the main one for viewing the Karner Blue Butterfly, which hatches in early June with a second brood hatching in late July.

So there you have it, some of the most diverse kid-friendly hiking trails in Lake George and surrounding areas. Hopefully one of them will peak your interest and cause you to get out and explore the wonderful area. Happy hiking!