Big Slide

(Numbers in parentheses such as (ADK #123, McM #456) on these and all other pages of Adirondack Journey, refer to trail numbers assigned by the McMartin and ADK guidebooks.)

One popular guide book says the view from the summit of Big Slide is the single best view in the Adirondacks. We see their point! Big Slide provides the most splendid broadside view to be had of the entire Great Range, which is probably the most famous view in the Adirondacks.

You have two options for routes up Big Slide and one is decidedly better than the other. The route that starts in the very next paragraph is the most used route. It provides a terrific view of the Great Range pretty much unremarkable, but there is a much better choice from Johns Brook Lodge that passes over Yard Mt. on its way to Big Slide. Now you might be thinking that two peaks are more than you want to handle. That would be true except that it is easier and more fun overall to go up Yard Mt. first and then follow the summit trail over to Big Slide, then go back down via the Big Slide Trail, thus completing a loop back to Johns Brook Lodge. If this sounds good to you (and it should!), then just click HERE.

The Big Slide Trail Red (ADK #13, McM #114), begins at its junction with the Johns Brook Trail about 0.3 miles below John Brooks Lodge where it intersects the trail from the Garden to JBL. If you are coming from the other direction; i.e., up the Johns Brook Trail from The Garden trailhead, at 3.1 miles you will come to a tee in the trail. Left goes to the NYSDEC Outpost, right to Johns Brook Lodge. Turn right, walk 0.1 mile and you will come to the sign that marks the start of the Big Slide trail.

While the round trip from the Garden is 11.2 miles and the vertical ascent from the start of the Slide Brook Trail is about 1800 feet, this hike is on good trail seldom as steep as High Peaks trails like to get, except near the last several hundred feet to the summit where it is very steep, but has been made easy by the use of ladders. The route is straightforward over well-traveled, well-maintained trails. We rate the round trip from the Garden to the summit of Big Slide, via The Brothers, as strenuous. A round trip from Johns Brook Lodge would be moderate.

Big Slide USGS Trail Maps

These Maptech© topographical maps are the latest metric maps, as recent or more recent than those you can buy in a store. Print them and use them on your hike. We suggest that if you do use these, that you seal them flat in a plastic food bag for protection against moisture which will cause the ink to run and the paper to very quickly become one large spitball. Be sure to set your printer to "landscape" when printing maps.

Map 1: Big Slide summit
Map 2: The start/finish at The Garden

NOTE:
If you are planning a hike up Big Slide from Johns Brook Lodge you might consider ascending via Yard Mt. (ADK#14, McM #115) and descending from Big Slide.
Both trails provide a nice variety as each is quite unique. Choose the clockwise direction if your starting point is Johns Brook Lodge.

The Big Slide Trail From Johns Brook


1	The start of the red Big Slide Trail (ADK #13, McM #114) begins at the Johns Brook Trail 0.3 miles below Johns Brook Lodge and about 3.2 miles above The Garden. The trail sign you see here points across the Johns Brook Trail to the start of the Big Slide Trail. Behind my friend, the Johns Brook Trail continues on to JBL.	2	The first 15 minutes of the Big Slide Trail from Johns Brook is gentle.
3	Several short expanses of bare rock provide a little diversity early in the hike, but the views are still a long way ahead.	4
5	While rocky in numerous places, the rock is seldom loose.	6	Looking behind us, the broadleaf forest provides little opening above.
7	A fair amount of mature birch implies the area either burned or was harvested a century or so ago.	8	The canopy
9	At a point about 600 vertical feet above Johns Brook and the start of this trail.	10	A sharp left turn here. A sapling thrives at the center of its radius. Hikers have erected an elaborate stone wall around it to protect it.
11	At 2.21 miles from the starting point (see photo & text #1, above) we reach the intersection with with the RED Brothers Trail at about 4000 ft elevation. This would be the preferred route back to the Garden for those who prefer not to retrace their steps and want a shorter route home. From this point Big Slide's summit is only a short walk away, albeit a very steep walk involving ladders.	12	What did we just say about ladders? Nearing the summit, a ladder assists with some of the steep rock.
13	Elaine works in some stretches.	14	Just beyond the ladder we push on very close to the summit, but are not prepared for the unusual view about to appear!
15	Wow! The last cliff on Big Slide set against the Great Range in the distance. Imo, one of the great natural photo opportunities in the Adirondacks.	16	L to R: Lower Wolf Jaws, Upper Wolf Jaws, Dix (far background), Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, and Basin
17	More steep rock. Summit just ahead...we think.	18	Yard Mt. summit
19	Panorama #1 from the summit. East	20	Panorama #2: SE
21	Panorama #3: South	22	Panorama #4: SW with Haystack, Marcy, Colden, etal.
23	Panorama #5: W with Algonquin dead-center	24	Sign on summit that points to the continuation of the trail to Yard Mtn and the Klondike Pass Trail (ADK #12, McM #130)
25	A terrific view: the close-up of Gothics from Big Slide's summit.	26	The Wolf Jaws and Armstrong. In the background the pointy one is Dix. In front of Dix are Dial and Nippletop.