A Two-Day Backpacking Route in the Adirondacks for Newcomers to Elevation

The Adirondacks can look intimidating on a contour map. Trails climb over rocky passes, weather changes quickly, and a “short” hike can feel long with a loaded pack. For a first overnight trip, I’d avoid trying to prove anything on a high summit and choose a route where the main challenge is carrying your gear sensibly.

Pharaoh Lake, in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness near Schroon Lake, is a good option for that kind of introduction. The route offers a proper backcountry overnight, some steady climbing, lakeside campsites, and enough flexibility to shorten the trip if your legs or the weather disagree with your plans.

This isn't a high-altitude trip in the western-Canada sense. The challenge is Adirondack footing: roots, rocks, mud, and repeated small rises that add up over a day.

The route at a glance

Recommended plan: Pharaoh Lake Trailhead to Pharaoh Lake, one night at or near the lake, then return the next day.

Trip length: Two days and one night
Total distance: Plan for roughly 14–18 kilometres return, depending on your campsite and any exploring around the lake
Difficulty: Moderate for a beginner carrying an overnight pack
Best feature: A relatively gentle introduction to backcountry camping without committing to a summit
Main limitations: Campsites are generally first-come, first-served, and trail conditions can make the distance feel longer

Distance figures vary by map, route choice, and which campsite or lean-to you use. Download an official map and check the current trail description before setting out rather than relying on a single number from an old trip report.

Check your campsite and trailhead plan: Before leaving home, confirm the current trailhead access, parking arrangements, campsite rules, and any seasonal closures with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation or the relevant local land manager. These details can change, particularly after storms or road work.

Day one: Walk in slowly and camp well

Start at the Pharaoh Lake trailhead

Begin early enough to allow for a relaxed pace and a late-afternoon campsite search. A morning start also gives you more options if the first suitable site is occupied or if wet ground slows you down.

The approach to Pharaoh Lake is more useful as a pacing lesson than as a fitness test. You’ll encounter a mixture of forest trail, exposed roots, rocks, and damp sections. Keep your first hour deliberately easy. New backpackers often start too quickly because the pack feels manageable at the trailhead, then pay for that pace once the trail begins to undulate.

For a first trip, aim to cover about 6–8 kilometres on day one, allowing several hours rather than racing to a target time. This leaves room for breaks, navigation, water stops, and setting up camp before dark.

Treat the climb as a series of small efforts

The route doesn't require a dramatic mountain ascent, but it isn't flat. Rather than watching the entire climb on your map, focus on short sections between obvious trail features. Keep your breathing controlled, shorten your stride, and use trekking poles if they help with balance on uneven ground.

If you’re stopping every few minutes, your pack may be too heavy, your pace too fast, or both. Take a proper break before you’re exhausted. A five-minute pause to drink and eat is more useful than repeatedly stopping for thirty seconds while trying to push through.

Choose a campsite before you need one

Pharaoh Lake has backcountry campsites and lean-tos in the surrounding area, but availability isn't guaranteed. On busy weekends, you may need to continue along the lake or accept a less scenic site.

Once you’re within reasonable reach of camp, start paying attention to the available options. Don’t pass a legal, suitable site simply because you’re hoping for a better view farther along. A dry, level tent spot with a safe place to cook and store food is a better choice than a picturesque site that leaves you searching at dusk.

When you arrive:

Confirm that the site is designated and suitable for overnight use.
Look for a level tent area that isn't in a depression where water could collect.
Keep your tent, cooking area, and food storage arranged according to current local rules.
Use established paths and tent pads where provided.
Leave room for other campers if the site is shared.

After camp is set up, keep your evening simple. Eat, filter or treat enough water for the night and morning, and make sure your food and scented items are secured before bed. Exploring around the lake is optional; it shouldn't turn day one into an unexpectedly long hike.

Day two: Return with energy in reserve

Take the shorter morning option

The simplest second day is breakfast, camp breakdown, and the same route back to the trailhead. Plan for approximately 6–10 kilometres, depending on where you camp and how much you wander around Pharaoh Lake.

If you arrive at camp early and conditions are good, you can take a short lakeside walk without adding a major loop. For a first overnight, I’d resist adding Pharaoh Mountain or a substantial side trip unless you have checked the route carefully, have plenty of daylight, and feel comfortable with the elevation and footing. A modest trip that goes well teaches more than an ambitious itinerary that leaves everyone depleted.

Pack before breakfast if you’re slow to get moving

Some beginners spend too long cooking and relaxing in the morning, then feel rushed later. If you know camp breakdown takes you an hour, start early. Pack your sleeping bag and tent while your breakfast water boils, but don’t sacrifice a proper meal or hydration to save ten minutes.

Before leaving, walk the site and check for small items: tent pegs, food wrappers, water-treatment equipment, and clothing hung out to dry. The goal is to leave no trace that you stayed there.

Expect the return to feel different

The same trail can feel harder on day two. Your pack may be lighter, but your feet are less fresh and the uneven ground demands attention. Descending wet rock and roots can be more tiring than climbing them, especially with a full pack.

Keep your pace conservative until you know how your legs feel. If someone develops a hot spot, stop immediately and deal with it. A small blister is manageable; walking on it for another two hours can turn it into the trip’s main problem.

What makes this a good first Adirondack overnight?

It keeps the elevation manageable

You’ll still gain and lose elevation, but the trip doesn't depend on reaching a summit. That matters for new backpackers who are learning how their bodies respond to carrying shelter, food, water, and warm layers.

The route is also a useful test of whether you enjoy overnight travel. You’ll practise navigation, water treatment, campsite selection, cooking, food storage, and morning packing without adding a major peak day to the itinerary.

It offers built-in flexibility

You can turn the trip into a simple overnight out-and-back. You can walk a little farther around the lake if conditions and energy allow, or stop exploring and spend a quiet evening at camp. That flexibility is valuable when the forecast changes or the trail is slower than expected.

It exposes the real beginner challenges

The hardest parts may not be the climb. They may be keeping your feet dry, managing a damp tent, choosing the right clothing layer, or eating enough before you get tired. Those are exactly the lessons that make later, more demanding Adirondack routes safer and more enjoyable.

Planning details that deserve attention

Parking and access

Trailhead parking can fill quickly during summer weekends and autumn foliage season. Arrive early, park only where permitted, and never block gates, turning areas, or access for emergency vehicles. If you’re using a shuttle or leaving a vehicle overnight, confirm that the arrangement is allowed.

Water

Pharaoh Lake and nearby streams may provide water, but clear-looking water isn't automatically safe to drink. Carry enough for the hike in and treat or filter water before drinking. In dry weather, small streams can be less reliable than expected; in wet weather, they can rise and become difficult to cross.

Weather

Check the forecast for the wilderness area, not just the nearest town. Bring a waterproof layer even when the morning is sunny. A warm hat, dry sleep clothing, and an insulating layer are worthwhile because evenings beside a lake can feel cool.

Confirm the rules for your departure date: Check current fire restrictions, camping regulations, group-size limits, water advisories, and any bear or food-storage requirements before your trip. Follow the rules in effect for the specific wilderness area rather than assuming they match regulations in another Adirondack unit or in Canada.

Navigation

Carry a paper map and compass, even if you plan to use a phone. Download maps for offline use, put your phone in a waterproof case, and bring a backup battery. At trail junctions, stop and confirm your direction before continuing. Small navigation errors are easier to correct early.

A sensible gear list

For this route, focus on a comfortable and reliable system rather than ultralight upgrades:

A properly fitted backpack with a rain cover or pack liner
Tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad suitable for the forecast
Trail shoes or boots with dependable grip
Warm and waterproof layers
Food that requires little cooking and packs securely
Water filter or treatment, plus a backup method if practical
Headlamp with spare batteries or a charged backup light
Map, compass, phone, and power bank
First-aid kit with blister care
Trowel and toilet supplies where required
Insect repellent and sun protection
Food-storage equipment that meets current local requirements

Keep your total pack weight modest. Beginners often bring too many clothes, duplicate cookware, and food for an extra day without considering the added effort. Pack for a reasonable delay, but don’t carry an entire duplicate outfit for every possible temperature.

When to choose a different route

Choose another plan if your group is looking for a summit, wants a very short walk to camp, or is travelling during a period of severe weather. You should also reconsider if no one has experience with navigation, water treatment, or overnight camping. A one-night trip close to a permitted trailhead isn't risk-free, but it is easier to manage than a remote route with a large elevation gain.

For most newcomers, the best next step is straightforward: check the current access information, choose a fair-weather window, start early, and set a conservative turnaround plan. Walk at a pace that lets you talk, camp before dark, and treat Pharaoh Lake as a chance to learn the rhythm of an Adirondack overnight—not as an audition for a harder trip.