Cat and Thomas Mountains Preserve
1850 acres in the Town of Bolton
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**Cat Mountain's yellow trail is under construction! Maintenance
is being conducted on from the base of the trail to Cat's summit to level the
path and reduce water erosion. Some trail re-routing is also in progress.
Please watch for signs and flagging. Thank you for your patience as we
complete these necessary maintenance measures.
Our thanks to Barry Kincaid, of KLC Property Enhancement, for his donation of
services on the trails.
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Rising almost 2,000 feet above sea level and located in the fastest growing town on Lake George, the Cat and Thomas Mountains Preserve directly protects the watershed of Edgecomb Pond, Bolton’s drinking water source, and the headwaters of Finkle Brook. This magnificent stretch of land is one of the largest, intact, ecologically significant landscapes remaining on Lake George and features over seven miles of trails and unsurpassed mountain vistas. The property has been enjoyed recreationally for years by the residents of Lake George and the Lake George Land Conservancy plans to keep it open for public enjoyment for years to come.
The orange trail to Thomas Mountain follows an old logging
road with good footing, winding 716 feet up the mountain to end at a quaint
cabin that provides shelter and space to rest. Branching off from the
orange trail just above the old gravel pit is the new blue trail. A slightly
longer alternative to the logging road, this trail, named the Two Brothers
Trail, climbs through a beech and
maple forest to an elevation of just under 2,000 feet and includes a quick spur
trail that ends with a fantastic view of the Adirondacks to the west. The Two
Brothers Trail meets up with the blue ridge trail; hikers can continue south to Cat
Mountain or a short distance east to the cabin.
The blue ridge trail was re-named the Richard Hayes Phillips Trail in 2012 in
honor of the man who volunteered hundred of hours scouting, cutting, blazing and
maintaining the trails of this preserve. The trail runs 2.3 miles from the
Thomas Mountain cabin to the summit of Cat Mountain at 1,956-feet. Footing is
more difficult than the other trails and hikers trying this section should be
prepared for the longer, more challenging trek.
The yellow trail to Cat Mountain also follows a logging road, cutting south from
the orange trail approximately 0.15 miles past the gravel pit. The logging road
continues for 1.3 miles before turning off of the road to ascend 736 feet to the
summit of Cat. The summit offers a 270° view of Lake George and the Adirondacks.
The second half of the yellow trail is rocky and has less stable footing. In
cases of recent storms or melting snow, the path may be very wet. Proper
footwear and caution should be used.
Intensity: Moderate/Challenging
