Round Pond on Christmas Morning, a Short Adirondack Hike

Standing over a pile of empty boxes and wrapping paper, Jess and I looked at each other and we knew what had to happen next.

It was Christmas morning. We just finished unwrapping our toys and couldn’t fight the urge to go play with them. It was like I was 9 again and needed to go run around the backyard with the football that Santa just left for me. Only instead of a football, our toys were snowshoes, and our backyard is the Adirondacks.

With only an hour or so to spare, we set our sights on a quick hike into Round Pond.

Round Pond parking lot sign, the trailhead is to the left of this sign

The pond sits about .6 miles from the trailhead, which can be found right on Rt. 73 near Keene Valley. All that separates it from the road is a small height of land. You can hear the occasional truck in the distance, yet sitting at the pond still gives a sense of isolation.

Relaxing on the shore of Round Pond

I imagine this is more true in winter, when you are less likely to see or hear other hikers… but it is also thanks to the numerous peaks that surround the area. They seem to frame and shelter Round Pond in every direction.

The short hike leading into Round Pond is part of a trail used to access several nearby peaks, including Noonmark Mt and Round Mt… and a little farther out, Dix Mt. We had some time to spare and so we decided to head up the trail toward these peaks. It is a pleasant climb for the first 20 minutes or so, which is about as far as we could go before having to turn around. On the way back down, thanks to the bare trees, we had nice views of the pond.

Round Pond can be seen in the distance on the right

Directions from Lake Placid: Take Rt. 73 south/east toward Keene and Keene Valley. The trailhead is a little ways beyond Keene Valley, so once you pass trough the town keep an eye out for signs. The Round Pond parking area will be on the right, just past Chapel Pond, which is a body of water viewable from the road. The parking area will have a nice and visible “Round Pound” sign in it, however, the actual trailhead is up the road a bit further. While looking at the sign, turn to your left and head up the shoulder of Rt. 73 for a little bit. The trail sign and register will be viewable on your right.

Difficulty: A short, very easy stroll.

Summary: Round Pond is a picturesque and very accessible body of water. It offers mountain views, a couple of designated camping spots, and can be a launching point for longer hikes to peaks such as Noonmark, Round or Dix.

Gear Used

• My old Norwegian Welt EMS Hiking Boots
• La Sportiva Women’s Sandstone GTX Shoe – Jess’ new hiking boots
• Black Diamond Bullet Day Pack – I bought this with trad climbing in mind, but find it to be a nice multi use day pack as well
• REI Peak UL Women’s Trekking Poles – Jess’ hiking poles
• MSR Denali Ascent – Jess has the new EVO version, I have an older version

Related Reading

• Adirondack High Peaks Trail Guide – Amazon.com
• Trails Illustrated, High Peaks Trail Map – Amazon.com

Cliffs along Rt. 73

Trailhead

Animal Tracks

White Birch near the pond

Small Pine near the pond

Round Pond