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An easy out-and-back.
Moxham Mountain in the Adirondacks is a great example of how the lower peaks in a range can often be more fun to hike than the surrounding higher summits.
Moxham is not on the list of Adirondack high peaks so it’s off many hikers’ radars, but it’s a well-known and well-loved mountain.
Moxham provides a wonderfully rewarding, and very do-able, introduction to mountain hiking. Thanks to a friend for putting this mountain on my radar.
AllTrails categorizes this hike as moderate but, for an Adirondack hike, it’s definitely one of the easiest I’ve done to date.
Moxham Mountain Hiking Trail
The trailhead and parking lot is on a quiet dirt road a few miles southwest of Minerva, New York. There’s space for maybe six cars. You can see the exact location of the trailhead at the bottom of this post.
Sign in at the trail register and head uphill for an initial climb that soon settles into an easy walk over a small knob, with wonderful valley views to the right.
Lots of deciduous woods, spruce — and we even found some chaga growing on a birch tree along the way, which I used later to make chaga tea.
There are several spectacular boulders along the route, dropped into position during the great Wisconsin deglaciation some 13,000 years ago.
There are also several wonderful viewing spots along the route, especially once you gain a little elevation. On this day, the clouds were against us — but the views from all over Moxham are tremendous.
Moxham Mountain Summit
A while before you get to the top, you’ll come to a superb ledge from which you can see Moxham’s open, rocky summit in the distance…
From here, it doesn’t take long to make your way to the summit with its amazing views — which were pretty amazing even on this stormy day.
The sheer drop is spectacular. You can see the valley floor below with its forests, swamps, ponds and lakes — and even some well-trod herd paths through the open areas.
Notice the bolts in the open rock face. These were used to secure a wooden signal station built by Verplanck Colvin. (The mountain is known locally as Signal Mountain.)
You can read a very interesting history of Moxham on this thorough Facebook post by John Sasso.
From the summit, head back to the trailhead. On this day, as we hiked, conditions changed considerably, which is something you should always be prepared for on a mountain hike — always pack extra layers, traction, and navigation options as part of your Ten Essentials.
Still, on our way out, we found time to poke around a beaver pond we’d spotted on the way up…
Moxham is a great mountain to take friends and family who are not up for the rigors of a high peak, but still want an absolutely banger outdoor experience.
Similar Hikes
This is an easy hike for the Adirondacks, and it’s a very scenic hike. It’s also one of the best hikes.
For something similar — easy/moderate and super scenic — check out Baxter and Rooster Comb mountains.
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The parent mountain for this hike is Moxham.
If you do this hike, LMK how it went…
Trailhead Info for this Hike
Small lot on 14th Road
Google Maps Location: 43.770748, -74.011579
The map below shows the exact topographic location of the trailhead
Cell Service
None at trailhead. Patchy service up high. My network is Verizon. YMMV.
