WALKING WITH NATURE
The Adirondacks are a magnificent and beautiful region with fascinating foliage and wildlife. What better way to take it all in then by being right in the middle of it, hiking through the woods. There are many many trails through out the Adirondacks that very from a short laid back walk to a strenuous uphill battle for the serious hikers. The breath taking view are what making the hike worthwhile.
One thing that makes the Adirondacks so wonderful is the foliage. The Fall foliage peaks in the last two weeks of September. With all the pretty colors doting the hills and mountains of the region it can make for some amazing photos.
Hiking is not also fun to do but also has great health benefits as well. A 30-60 minute walking session 5 days a week can reduce chances of cancer, heart disease, anxiety, type 2 diabetes, and depression. It can also prolong your life even for people suffering from obesity or high blood pressure. Hiking is a great way to strengthen bone health too, especially the hip bone. Getting outside and walking will also lower the harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and raise the useful high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterols.
The average man can walk 82 meters per minute and for women its slightly less at 79 meters per minute. Today most people enjoy hiking as a hobby. In the post-industrial age it is often the most enjoyed form of exercise. If you want to keep track of how much you walk, you can always try a pedometer out, these cool devices keep track of how many miles you walk in a day.
When hiking, remember to try to use the philosophy of Leave No Trace, meaning hiking in a way such that future hikers cannot tell that you have been there. Example, if you drop something, pick it up as to preserve the natural beauty of the land. Hiking with this in mind will lead to keeping the Adirondack region's beauty intact for many more generations to come.
Living in an age of fast cars, boats, planes, and motorcycles, its nice to slow down and just walk around the woods. You don't even need a destination picked out, just see where your feet take you. Maybe they will lead you to what you need, sitting at the edge of a lake watching the sun slowly fall from the sky casting its last raise over the land, giving a perfect scenery.
Below are a few hiking options, be safe and enjoy the trip.
Carpenter Road Recreational Trails (Trifold with Map) ...nydec webpage
The Inman Gulf Hiking & Nature Trails (Rodman - Barnes Corners Trails) (Trifold with Map) ...more details
Independence River Wild Forest - Centennial Recreational Trails (Trifold with Map) ...more details
The Otter Creek Horse Trails (multi-use trails: walk, run, bike, ski and snowmobile on some in the winter months) (Trifold with Map) ...map ...nydec webpage
Beach Mill Recreational Trails (Trifold with Map)
You can load the above maps on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad ...see details
State Land Note: Essentially, any trail on state land is open for hiking, even if another use predominates. Stay safe and stay aware of other uses. ...Learn more about state land tracks in the region
NOTE: When printing Trifolds with Maps, please make sure you turn off "shrink to fit" in the Acrobat print window before clicking the last print button (I will fold better).
