Indian Pass Trail

Indian Pass is an unusual hike. It is long and mostly level. It's an opportunity to open your mind rather than your sweat glands. Neither steep nor intimidating, the Indian Pass Trail has more of a "country stroll" ambience than most any other trail of its length. It's a long easy walk with a trailhead at both ends. When you want to just "be" and you have no desire for a big challenge this is an ideal choice. But even so, when you get into the pass itself (see photo above) you may find as we did that we were in an ancient and primeval place; awe-inspiring, rugged, primitive, and even a bit eerie.

This 10.4 mile trail starts at the Heart Lake (Adirondack Loj) trailhead and ends at the Upper Works trailhead. While one can hike the trail straight through in a day, we found it much better to spend a night tenting along Indian Pass River, and another day on a side hike up to Scott and Wallface Ponds.

Another option, probably the most common, is to use the Indian Pass Trail one leg of a hike to the Lake Colden area. In that case, we would advise that the Avalanche Lake route is more direct and scenic.

The Indian Pass Trail, from Heart Lake (Adirondack Loj) to the Pass itself, is about 6.0 miles. Until the approach to the pass is reached, the walk is easy, pleasant, and as rapid as you want to make it on rolling ground and firm, easy, well-marked trails. Once You're into the pass's approaches the hiking becomes rough and moderately steep for about a half mile. This uphill segment is no significant challenge unless you trip over a root while gazing at the cliffs above.

If you are coming from the south; i.e., walking north from Upper Works to the Indian Pass, the first 2.8 miles of the 4.4 mile trail to the pass is flat and easy. Then, at 2.8 the trail starts gradually uphill into the southern approaches of the pass, becoming more distinctive. It's obvious that the approach from the south, which receives quite a bit more sunlight has a significantly different look to it than the northern approach to Indian Pass. The trees are larger and more abundant. The soil created from a much more prolific yearly cycle of growth has long since covered all but the largest boulders so that the trail is constantly surrounded by a pine needle-strewn, gently contoured landscape. The northern approach to the pass is in stark contrast. Boulders of every size crowd the path and are always within reach. While sun filters in through the pass (see photo at top of page for a perfect example) the mood is one of shade and shadow

Regardless of which direction you are coming from, as you near the vertical ledges of Wallface the trail becomes ever steeper and narrow although the climb is neither long nor difficult. Often you must scramble around and through the rocks. Very rough ground predominates the deeper into the pass you go, but more so to the north of the pass. Some sections are steep but always short, and, in any case, the climb is measured in some hundreds of feet, not thousands. It cannot be compared to any of the 46 High Peaks. Each obstacle can be handled by an average 57 year-old hiker or a novice that just takes his/her time. More than anything else, the stretch through the pass is a nice diversion from all the level hiking.

North to South route from Adirondack Loj to Upper Works via Indian Pass RED (ADK #75, McM #34)

1	The northern section of RED Indian Pass Trail (ADK #75, McM #34) starts at a sign to your right as you are slowing to pull up to the attendant's booth at Adirondack Loj. You'll see this sign to your right at the edge of the pavement.	2	And here's the booth. Could this be any simpler? So you'll find the start of the Indian Pass Trail just out of this photo in the right foreground. You will follow the trail around the north side of Heart Lake and then it will begin to head SW as it rounds the west side of the lake.	3	The trail skirts the northern and then western shorelines of Heart Lake, then heads SW paralleling the E bank of Indian Pass Brook which remains at a distance.
4	Still near the lakeshore, you pass by this Nye Ski Trail sign. Just before you reach this point you will come to the trail register booth (not shown). You must sign in at the booth.	5	The trail continues to follow the shoreline of the lake until this sign. At this point the trail heads SW.	6	The trail will continue on relatively flat ground for some miles. The forest will be mostly broadleaf and will allow a good deal of sunlight in..
7	At about 2 miles SW from Adirondack Loj and Heart Lake, the trail passes by a side trail that goes to a lean-to and the brook.	8	A sign below the lean-to points to it.	9	The trail continues SW.
10	During the hike we encountered few, if any, wet spots, bogs, or other inconveniences. This trail remains very sedate until we get close to the Iroquois Pass Trail (ADK #72, McM #45) that branches off to the E and connects to Lake Colden.	11	We cross a feeder that flows into Indian Pass Brook.	12	Woodland setting.
13	We have probably now run into Indian Pass Brook for the first time, even though it was always not far NW of us.	14	More Indian Pass Brook.	15	Onward. At this point we should be somewhere around Scott's Clearing. We will not get to see it, perhaps it has become overgrown with trees. Last time I saw it was 1971. (See '71 photos at bottom.)
16	This photo explains a lot. At this junction you can opt to follow the blue trail to Scott and Wallface Ponds, or even continue on to bushwhack MacNaughton Mt.	17	Webmaster chills for a bit.	18	We've now made it to the Iroquois Pass Trail which runs over to Lake Colden. More important, Indian Pass is only a mile away.
19	Once past the Iroquois Pass intersection the trail begins a slight uphill.	20	The trail keeps close to the stream bed. But here we say good-bye to Indian Pass Brook because it flows out of Scott Pond and that is to the NW.	21	It's a cairn, but does it mark a junction or just the trail we're on, but our trail is already marked with DEC trail makers. This may mark a route that follows the brook up to Scott Pond. We didn't linger to find out.
22	So here it is, finally. We start the climb into the actual Indian Pass. I had not actually expected as much of a climb as this will turn out to be.	23	This was a surprise. Sure, we knew that over the millennia rocks broke off of Wallface and filled the fault or whatever caused the "crack" that made Wallface, but we expected less house-sized rubble.	24	The trail remains good despite the boulders and steep incline. It's a bit like being on another planet.
25	Aha! Looks like daylight ahead. Must be the top of the pass.	26	Almost to the top?	27	There is no part of this climb through the pass that is the least bit boring. We all agree that this is definitely worth the trip.
28	Right out of "Lord of the Rings", it is.	29	Rocks!	30	Wallface opens itself extensively to the eye. Lots of peregrine falcons up there.
31	Indian Pass	32	Indian Pass	33	Indian Pass
34	Indian Pass	35	Indian Pass	36	Interesting how the moss glows golden. At this point we are headed down the S side of the pass. The nature of the pass is quite different on the south end. The boulders are larger, the rubble is less, and the forest tends toward conifers instead of deciduous (leafy) trees. It seems to be a quite different climate.
37	We spotted a climber up on Wallface. We couldn't decide if he was there legally or not, on account of climbing not being allowed during peregrine nesting season. Was it nesting season or not?	38	This is our last glimpse of Wallface. From here on, the trail winds downward through pine needles.	39	As we reached the bottom of the south end of the pass, it was clear that the we were in a different environment. Perhaps this land had been logged, though. Maybe that explained the different plant types we found here, but we were too tired to even talk about it.
40	We are not quite at the end here, but the signs tell us Upper Works is near.
The Indian Pass Trail in 1971 Almost 2 generations before the hike recounted above, we'd been hiking in the Adirondacks for more than 10 years already. Always with my friend, Paul Beebe, until this hike.
41	Rocky Falls is about 2.0 miles from Adirondack Loj. Take a short detour to the right for the falls.	42	Views of Indian Pass Brook are intermittent.	43	The old trail crosses a wash at Scott's Clearing. Scott's Clearing is at about 3.8 miles from the Loj.
44	Wallface from Scott's Clearing. Wallface may be the most distinctive and recognizable peak in the Adirondacks. It will sometimes happen that you'll be on the summit of this or that mountain, trying to get your bearings. You scan the horizon and lo' and behold, there's Wallface with its almost vertical cliffs.	Photo courtesy Ralph Ryndak 45	This breached dam is in the vicinity of Scott's Clearing but this photo was taken in 2001.	46	Here is another old breeched dam.
47	Your webmaster in 1971 on Indian Pass Trail at the trail junction to what is called Algonquin Pass by ADK and Iroquois Pass by Barbara McMartin and me. (ADK #72, McM #45). An officer in the USN at the time, I was days away from heading out for Viet Nam. In retrospect, I prefer the Adirondacks.