LESS-TRAVELLED HIKING IN NORTHERN LAKE GEORGE

If you’re looking for a little bit of hidden understated beauty along the shores of Lake George, the Gull Bay Preserve might be your next favorite spot. It’s not Black Mountain, Buck Mountain, Cat Mountain, or any other majorly popular hike along the lake and it doesn’t have the same sweeping views that those hikes do, but it also doesn’t have the crowds.

I have been to the Gull Bay Preserve probably 10 times in the past 8 weeks or so and have never once seen another person in the preserve. I’ve seen Great Blue Herons, beavers, foxes, and plenty of lush greenery, but never another person.

I’m lucky enough to live only two miles from the Preserve right now, so Josh and I often head out in the mornings before work or after work for a little sunset hike. The Gull Bay Preserve is pretty low-effort, high reward since the trails aren’t too challenging. It’s a great place to hike around with kids, dogs, or camera gear.

When you arrive in the Gull Bay Preserve, you have a few hiking options. The most obviously scenic hike is up to the viewpoint (clearly marked) and that is only 0.2 miles up (0.4 round trip.) The view is gorgeous up there with a big bald rock and a little picnic table tucked away if you want to bring a lunch!

If you’ve come a bit of a ways to get to the preserve, you’ll probably want to go a bit further than just the view point. My recommendation is to continue on the orange trail and from there you can continue to the red and yellow trails for a big loop around the heron rookery. I’d factor in a few (3 or 4) hours if you want to do the larger loop.

There is more trail information on the Lake George Land Conservancy website and photos of the Gull Bay Preserve from my hikes there below: