Hike to Mount Baker in Saranac Lake

Mount Baker (also referred to as Baker Mountain) stands at 2,457 feet and sits in the village of Saranac Lake and is part of the Saranac Lake 6ers Challenge. This is a moderate out and back 1.8 mile hike with an elevation gain of around 900 feet. It is the easiest of the 6ers and makes for a great family hike.

The trail starts out at the north end of Moody Pond, on Forest Hill Avenue in the Village of Saranac Lake, in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness. The trailhead is about 0.5 miles down the road on the left. It is a pretty popular hike so you will probably see cars parked on the side of the road.

From the trailhead, you will follow the red foot trail to the summit. The hike is steep and begins climbing immediately from the trail head. There are some switchbacks towards the beginning of the hike as you make your way through the wooded forest. The trail then begins to climb more steeply along bare rock sections, eroded roots and pines. At approximately 0.6 miles the trail splits, to the right follows along some nice ledges with nice lookouts over Saranac Lake and is a little more steep than if you stay left. I recommend staying right! Both trails finish at the wooded summit at 0.9 miles, where you will find two separate survey markers. Just below the summit to the right is a nice clearing with some of the best views of McKenzie Mountain, the high peaks, Saranac Lake village and Lake Flower.

After taking in the views from the summit, you will follow the same red foot trail back down. You can make this a loop at the top and follow the trail to the right now and down the less steep path, or descend down along the ledges until the trail meets back up at 0.3 miles from the summit. From here, follow the trail back the remaining 0.6 miles to the trailhead.