A level walk on a marked trail leads to Good Luck Lake, followed by another level stretch that leads to a final steep ascent of Good Luck Cliffs. This final stretch is one of the toughst hike in the southern Adirondacks.
Key takeaways
- 3.5 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 900 feet
- Hike includes trail junctions
Hiking to Good Luck Lake and Cliffs
The Good Luck Lake Trail is an easy 0.5 miles to the shore. Once you approach the lake, it'll swing right and follow the lake until 1 mile in, where you will turn left. There is a sandy beach around here for swimming, and also a few designted campsites. Once you turn left, a righthand turn towards the cliffs comes after 0.2 miles. Once at the beginning of the cliffs trail, there will be some blue "foot trail" markers through the final, steep, climb to the open ledge area to the top of Good Luck Mountain. Good Luck Mountain can be approached from a different way that doesn't involve the hike paralleling Good Luck Lake.
Good Luck Lake in the winter
The trail to the lake could be skied or snowshoes, but the final stretches up to the cliffs should be not attempted on skis. Be prepared for all winter conditions, and take extra care around frozen bodies of water. The outlet for Good Luck Lake is near the trail, be careful around this area, even if fully frozen over.
Experience more trails in Hamilton County
Do Good Luck Lake and Cliffs sound amazing, but a little more than you want to tackle right now? With hundreds of miles of trails, we can help you find the right hike in the big outdoors.
How to get there
From Piseco, take NY 10 about 11.6 miles south from the junction of NY 8 to the trailhead.
