Upper Works to Heart Lake to Algonqin and back..HELP!

[chrlyangel]

Hey all,

Thanks for all your advise in previous threads. The weekend of 25-27th we are going to be hiking the loop from Upper Works road through indian pass to heart lake then up around algonquin to lake colden and then out. I have some questions though if someone has a moment.


1. Is there free weekend parking on Upper Works Road?

2. Do you need to reserve a campsite at Heart Lake or Lake Colden?

3. How many hours would you say it is to Heart Lake from Upper Works Road?

4. Are there trash recepticles at Heart Lake?

5. Do they actually serve breakfast at Adirondack Loj and at what time?

6. Anyone know the trail conditions on this loop?

THANKS EVERYONE! Hope to see you all there! drew and beth.

[Tom McG]

1. Yes
2. Yes Heart Lake, No Colden
3. I’ve done it in about 6 or 7 hours
4. Yes
5. Yes, but only if you stay at the Loj, not in the campground
6.Generally pretty good, very rock on the Calamity Brook Trail and wet around Scotts’ Clearing.
Tom McG

[chrlyangel]

Uh oh....it turns out that Heart Lake is all booked up. Are there additional backcountry spots that allow for overnight camping (or even just pop a tent whereever we like).

And I assume Lake Colden is first come first server for the sites?

[Kevin]

1. Is there free weekend parking on Upper Works Road?

2. Do you need to reserve a campsite at Heart Lake or Lake Colden?

3. How many hours would you say it is to Heart Lake from Upper Works Road?

4. Are there trash recepticles at Heart Lake?

5. Do they actually serve breakfast at Adirondack Loj and at what time?

6. Anyone know the trail conditions on this loop?

1 - Parking is free at upper works.

2 - Heart Lake is ADK Club property, so it costs $$ to stay there. Marcy Dam and Lake Colden are free and are first come first serve (no reservations possible).

3 - Depends on how fast you hike, trail conditions, etc. It's 6-7 miles I think.

4 - Trash is supposed to be carried in/out. I don't think there are recepticals per-se.

5 - Unsure if it's just for those that stay at the loj.

6 - Depends on the weather between now and then. If you want detailed trail info the best thing to do is get your hands on an ADK Guide book for the high peaks region. It includes a map of the area.

[chrlyangel]

What about the Rocky Falls site, since heart lake is all filled up, and are there spots along the train for popping a tent for my wife and I for the night since we don't want to change our route.

Any other good spots close to heart lake?

[Tom McG]

You will have a better chance of finding a spot on a busy weekend and either Scott's Clearing of Rocky Falls then Marcy Dam or Lake Colden. Still you can get lucky.
Tom McG

[chrlyangel]

Hey Tom,

Where's scotts landing? Is that the flat area just to the west of Heart Lake?

[Tom McG]

Sorry, I really have to remember to turn the lights on when I type. I noticed a few typos. Scott’s Clearing is North of Indian Pass; around the spot were Iroquois Pass crosses between Marshall and Iroquois Peaks. There are a number of campsites there and a bit farther North is a Lean-to. The closest campsites to Heart Lake from Indian Pass are around Rocky Falls. I’ve never camped there so I can say how many sites are there. I believe there is a Lean-to just above the falls.
Tom McG

[Dick]

charlyangel, Scott Clearing (not landing) is 3.8 miles SW of Heart Lake on the Indian Pass trail.

Dick

[Kevin]

I've heard the camp sites around Rocky Falls are (especially) heavily used, especially on 4th of July weekend. The entire region is heavily used that weekend. Our plans that weekend are not in the high peaks area, and most of my hiking usually is *hint hint*.

[chrlyangel]

Thanks all

We should be fine then. I think we will bushwack it up to algonquin on day two instead of taking the long way around heart lake if we have to stay that far south at Scotts Clearing. Unless you all think from scotts clearing around heart lake over algonquin to lake colden is just too darn exhausting...

Whatever the case, see ya'll on the trail!

Beth and Drew

[Kevin]

Bushwacking any high peak is exhausting, the spruce gets really thick once above 3500 feet. It could be fun though, assuming you've done that sort of thing before. As far as time, I'd guess going the long way to heart lake and over algonquin will actually save you an hour or two. The trails are much easier to climb than pushing through the deep alpine forest and cliffs that await you on the bushwack.

I'm not trying to sound discouraging, it's just not going to be easy!

One option is to head into the col between Marshall and Iroquios, head up Iroquios instead of Algonquin. I personally liked the views from Iroquios more. Then from there you can head down to Lake Colden, or even head over to Algonquin and back down to Lake Colden (minor back tracking). There may be a faint route up Iroquios from that col, as opposed to a pure bushwack.

[redhawk]

I guess you could say that a walk in the (Adirondack) Park is not a walk in the park.