To Thomas Mountain Summit (1.4 miles*)
Park at the Valley Woods Rd. parking lot and follow the blue trail, which is a dirt road, for 0.7 miles until you reach the intersection with the yellow trail. Turn right on the yellow trail (also a dirt road), for another 0.7 miles to end at an overlook with a 180-degree view of Lake George.
To Cat Mt from Thomas Mt (2 miles*)
Continue on the yellow trail for 2.0 miles to the Cat Mt. summit. Footing is more difficult than the other trails and hikers should be prepared for the longer, more challenging trek.
Or, for an easier route to Cat Mt. from the Valley Woods Rd. parking area, follow the blue trail all the way. About two-thirds of the trail follows a logging road, with the last third on a more rugged and rocky woods trail. The summit of Cat Mt. offers a stunning 270-degree view of Lake George and the Adirondacks.
To Cat Mt. from Edgecomb Pond Trailhead (1.9 miles*)
For a more direct hike to Cat Mt., park at the Edgecomb Pond Rd. parking lot and follow the red trail on a dirt road past the pond for 0.7 miles (making a sharp right just past a gate) to the intersection with the blue trail. Turn left (south) and follow the blue trail for a 0.7-mile climb until you reach a T intersection. Turn left (south) and follow the blue trail for 0.4 miles to Cat Mt.
(*mileage is one-way)
Please follow DEC guidelines when visiting the Preserve.
Hunting is permitted according to New York State regulations. Please use caution when hiking during hunting seasons – wear bright colors and hike in groups. Hunters – please be aware of hikers and hunt away from trails. Please follow NYS DEC’s Hunting Safety Rules
Cat and Thomas is owned by New York State. To report any problems or acquire any permits, please contact DEC Forest Ranger Rick Schroeder at 518-335-3888 or the DEC Regional Office at 518-897-1300. For emergencies, call 518-891-0235.
This 1,909-acre parcel was acquired by the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) in 2003 and sold to the state in 2013. It is now part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Its preservation is a major accomplishment in protecting the Lake George watershed, as one of the lake’s larger tributaries, Finkle Brook, flows through the preserve and forms Edgecomb Pond, the drinking water source for Bolton Landing.
In addition to preserving Edgecomb Pond, the Cat and Thomas Mountains Preserve protects the largest tract of contiguous land remaining in Bolton, yet another step in safeguarding the majestic viewshed of Lake George.
Just a five-minute drive from quaint Bolton Landing, the trails to the summits of Cat and Thomas provide a rewarding introduction to hiking the Adirondack trails. All of the preserve’s trails have worthwhile views of Lake George’s south and central basins and the southwestern Adirondacks.
Hunting and trapping is allowed at the preserve; appropriate state licenses are required. Hikers should be aware of hunting seasons and wear bright colors and hike in groups to minimize risk.
Mountain biking is allowed on all of the trails. Recommended biking routes would be the orange trail, the yellow trail (to intersection with red) and red trail, from its intersection with yellow to Edgecomb Pond.
The Lake George Land Conservancy maintains the trails of the Cat and Thomas Mts Preserve through DEC’s volunteer stewardship agreement.
FOLLOW US
Protecting the land that protects the lake since 1988. The Lake George Land Conservancy is an accredited not-for-profit land trust dedicated to working with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historical and recreational resources of the Lake George Region.
