Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

Keene Valley, New York

4.3/5

based on 9 reviews

Save

View all 30 photos

All 30 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

9.71 miles

Elevation Gain

1634 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Lucas Gashi

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs is a 9.7-mile loop in Keene Valley, NY offers up gorgeous views of Indian Head and Ausable Lakes. There are no dogs allowed on this trail.

At 9.7-miles long, this lengthy, but easy loop takes you to two ADK lower peaks. The views from Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs will blow your mind away. I love stopping here every time I make my way to ADK. The colors are absolutely gorgeous in the fall.

From the parking lot, take the lake road 3.3 miles. Once you reach the sign for Indian head and Fish Hawk cliffs, it is only a short climb of 0.7 miles to Indian Head and another 0.2 to Fish Hawk Cliffs.

At Indian Head, take in the views and check out the cliffs. Make your way to Fish Hawk Cliffs, don't forget to look back at Indian Head! The views on Indian Head itself are spectacular. This rock formation has to be seen to be appreciated. The views of the Ausable Lakes from these two spots are outstanding.

After Fish Hawk Cliffs, walk back to Indian Head. Once you reach up top follow the sign for the Gill Brook Trail. The Gill Brook Trail gives you scenic waterfalls and cascades like Artist's Falls to please the eyes and ears. The trail will lead you back to the Lake Road and from there just walk straight to your car.

Download Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Hiking

Lake

Romantic

Scenic

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs Reviews

Explorer

Michael Martineau

Explorer

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

10/10/17

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs is probably THE place to visit during the Adirondacks fall foliage. The view is jaw-dropping, which is why it attracts so many people each year. Definitely take the Gill Brook Trail also. Whether it be on the way up or way down. The route includes some beautiful waterfalls.

5.0

Jennifer Poirier

Wanderer

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

03/14/16

The scenic Trail is So amazing!!!! 🦄🦄

4.0

Allie Arnfield

Wanderer

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

03/07/16

The ausable lakes have a special place in my heart- one of the reasons Indian head and fish hawk cliffs are one of my favorite easier hikes in the ADKs. Although hiking starts on the lake road, it is a beautiful road, and right below the start of the trail there is a cutoff to a waterfall. The trail is relatively easy, following Benny's brook partway up to Indians head, which has a breathtaking view of upper and lower and the surrounding mountains. Fish hawk cliffs is not much of a walk beyond, and equally as pretty.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Nippletop, Indian Head, Gothics

We completed this loop over the course of 3 days in late June, however for those who pack extraordinarily light and/or travel extraordinarily fast, this loop could be completed in 2 days. There are also a plethora of trail intersections to either extend or shorten your loop to different preferences. Also, please note that there are specific regulations for hiking and camping in the High Peaks a...

Gothics Mountain, Pyramid Peak, and Sawteeth Mountain via Beaver Meadow Falls

Gothics Mountain is number 10 in height on the 46ers list, standing at 4,736 feet. Pyramid Peak stands at 4,550 feet, but because of it's location and closeness to Gothics, it is not considered one of the 46ers. Sawteeth is number 35 in height on the 46ers list, standing at 4,100 feet. This is a 15.5 mile round trip loop hike from the St. Huberts parking area. The parking area is located acros...

Noonmark Mountain

This trail actually begins off an easement of private roads at the Ausable Club. From the main road, you will see the Register and signage showing 2.1 miles to Noonmark. Continue on a gravel road until an arrow directs you to take a right into the woods. Follow the Stimson Trail to the summit. The trail varies in steepness but never lets up. Along the way there are several lookouts, with the v...

Mount Colvin and Blake Peak

Mount Colvin and Blake Peak are located along the Colvin Range in the High Peaks Wilderness. Mount Colvin is number 39 on the 46er list, at 4,057 feet. Blake Peak is is number 43 on the list, at 3,960 feet, although new surveying methods discovered this summit just short of 4,000 feet, tradition keeps it on the list and the peak still ranks as one of the 46 high peaks. From Saint Huberts parki...

Climb Chapel Pond Slab

Chapel Pond area is mostly known for its ice climbing on the other side of the pond, but some easier, but runout slab climbing can be had on the eastern side. There is ample parking on both sides of the road in the form of pull offs and the walk to the base of the climbing is only a few hundred yards. The climbing consists of routes from low fifth class up to 5.7. All of the routes are slab ...

Rooster Comb Mountain

Take in two unique views of the Adirondacks on one hike. Rooster Comb offers a great 5.2 mile round trip hike that gives you some unique vantage points. Starting from the parking lot you cross over a nice wooden bridge to the trail registry. Remember to sign in. Next you'll come up on a pond in which you want to keep left and follow along the banks. As you start heading away from the pond the c...

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

Details

Description

Download Outbound mobile app

Features

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Nippletop, Indian Head, Gothics

Gothics Mountain, Pyramid Peak, and Sawteeth Mountain via Beaver Meadow Falls

Noonmark Mountain

Mount Colvin and Blake Peak

Climb Chapel Pond Slab

Rooster Comb Mountain

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps