Mount Jo and Heart Lake

Mount Jo is a 2,876-foot summit standing over Heart Lake at the Adirondack Mountain Club's Adirondak Loj, at the end of Adirondack Loj Road south of Lake Placid. The trailhead is about 60 road miles from the cabins, roughly an hour and a half. A climb of about 700 feet, a little over a mile each way, ends on open rock looking across to Algonquin Peak and, on a clear day, Mount Marcy, the two highest summits in New York, with Heart Lake right below your boots.

Mount Jo at a glance

Mount Jo sees about 15,000 hikers a year, which makes it one of the most climbed peaks in the Adirondack Park. The reason shows from the top: its open ledges give one of the best views of the High Peaks for a climb of about 700 feet.

Heart Lake and the Adirondak Loj

Heart Lake, the Loj, Mount Jo and the trailhead lots all sit on land owned by the Adirondack Mountain Club, known as ADK. The club calls the whole property the Heart Lake Program Center, and it is the busiest trailhead in the Adirondacks: about 100,000 people a year pass through, most of them heading up the Van Hoevenberg Trail toward Marcy Dam, Mount Marcy and the MacIntyre Range. The Van Hoevenberg Trail is the shortest route up Marcy, 7.4 miles each way. Mount Jo's trail starts at the opposite end of the parking area, so the Jo crowd and the Marcy crowd split up within a few steps.

Besides the hiker lots, the property holds three things a day visitor will notice:

• The High Peaks Information Center, a year-round visitor center next to the Van Hoevenberg trailhead, with maps, rentals, snacks and staff who know current trail conditions.
• The Adirondak Loj, a log lodge at the end of the road that sleeps up to 38 guests in five private rooms, three bunk rooms and a twelve-bed loft, with a stone fireplace in the living room and breakfast included.
• The Wilderness Campground, with 41 campsites, 16 lean-tos and three private cabins.

Swimming in Heart Lake is for Loj and campground guests when the beach is open, and they sign in and out at the front desk, which also handles canoe, kayak and paddleboard rentals. A day hiker comes for the trails, the information center and the view across the water from the shore.

Henry Van Hoevenberg and the first lodge

The names here come from a love story that has been retold so often its details drift. The parts most accounts share go like this. In 1877 Henry Van Hoevenberg met Josephine Schofield while camping near Upper Ausable Lake. They planned a lodge on the shore of a small lake shaped like a heart, and he named the lake Heart Lake and the little mountain over it Mount Jo, after her. The mountain had gone by the name The Bear. Her father did not want her marrying a man she had met in the mountains. Josephine was last seen on Goat Island, just above Niagara Falls, where her hat and book were found, and she was never seen again. Van Hoevenberg moved to the High Peaks and spent the rest of his life there.

Between 1878 and 1880 he built the Adirondack Lodge on Heart Lake, a huge log building that was considered the largest and finest of its type in the country. He also laid out trails from it into the High Peaks, and the trail to Marcy that starts here still carries his name.

The fire of 1903

The spring of 1903 was probably the worst stretch of forest fires the Adirondacks can remember. After a winter and spring short on snow and rain, fires burned through April and June and destroyed about 600,000 acres of northern New York; one fire near Lake Placid ran eight miles in a little over two hours. On June 3, 1903, with fires raging nearby, Van Hoevenberg climbed the observation tower on top of the lodge, watched the flames come on, and knew the building was lost. The way out was a forced retreat through Indian Pass, and the lodge burned. The Indian Pass Trail, the one that leads to Rocky Falls, still starts beside the lake.

The Lake Placid Club and the odd spelling

The Lake Placid Club, the private club founded by Melvil Dewey, came to own the property. When the club rebuilt the lodge in 1927 it renamed it with the phonetic spelling Dewey championed: Adirondak Loj. The Adirondack Mountain Club, founded in Albany on October 13, 1922 to build and maintain trails in the Forest Preserve, bought the Heart Lake property and the Loj from the Lake Placid Club in 1958, and has run it ever since. The 1927 building is the Loj that stands at the end of the road today.

From the parking lot to the trail junction

The Mount Jo trail begins at the far corner of the snowplow turnaround across from the entrance booth. From there:

1. A level walk of about 300 yards brings you to a wide trail along the shore of Heart Lake.
2. Turn right and go about 60 yards to the trail register, and sign in.
3. The trail climbs for about a quarter mile to the junction of the Short and Long trails. The Short Trail goes right; the Long Trail goes straight.

The two trails rejoin just below the summit, and the last stretch up to the open rock uses wooden stairs and ladders. The usual plan is up one trail and down the other, a loop of about two and a half miles. The order that works best for most groups is the Short Trail up and the Long Trail down: steep rock is easier to climb than to descend, and the gentle grade of the Long Trail is kind to tired knees.

The Short Trail

The Short Trail is the steeper, more direct climb. It gains height quickly over roots, boulders and rock scrambles where you will use your hands, and ADK measures it at 0.9 mile. Mount Jo as a whole suits families and beginners with some hiking experience; a group new to hiking may find the Short Trail too steep and should take the Long Trail both ways.

In wet weather the rock is slick and the roots more so. If the trail is running with water after rain, take the Long Trail both ways; it adds about half a mile to the day and is far easier on the footing.

The Long Trail and its new route

The Long Trail is the gentler ascent, and ADK recommends it for newer hikers and families. It is also the trail that changed most in recent years. The old Long Trail, 1.1 miles long, had eroded badly: one stretch with a spring in it had become a small waterfall, and others had turned into staircases of exposed roots. ADK assessed it in 2020, found it deteriorated beyond repair, and decided to build a new route on better ground.

Crews broke ground in 2021, and the lower part of the new trail, from the split near the trailhead to below the Rock Garden Trail junction, opened in the fall of 2022. ADK announced the whole new Long Trail open in October 2023. It runs 1.5 miles to the summit on an overall grade of about 10 percent, built with turnpiking, drainage and rock staircases, all without motorized equipment.

One tip from ADK: AllTrails, Gaia, Strava and other apps may still show the old route. Follow the new markers and stay on the new tread, which is how the repair work holds.

The view from the summit

The top of Mount Jo is open rock, and on a clear day it lays out the High Peaks in one long line. Heart Lake sits about 700 feet below. Beyond it rise Algonquin Peak, at 5,114 feet the second-highest mountain in New York; Mount Colden, 4,714 feet and the eleventh highest of the 46 High Peaks; and, when the air is clear, Mount Marcy, at 5,344 feet the highest point in the state.

It is a good place to pick out the summits for a later trip, starting with Marcy, 7.4 miles up the Van Hoevenberg Trail from the same parking lot. The Cascade Mountain guide covers the 46 High Peaks and the Forty-Sixers for anyone choosing a next climb.

The summit is exposed, so the wind is stronger and the air colder than at the lake. Bring a layer to put on at the top even in July, and in fall a hat and gloves. Clouds can hide the peaks entirely; if the summit forecast shows them low, save Mount Jo for a clearer morning and do the Heart Lake loop instead.

The Heart Lake loop and Rocky Falls

Around Heart Lake

The loop around Heart Lake is about 1.75 miles round trip with only about 100 feet of climbing. It follows the shore and comes back on the Indian Pass Trail to the back of the Loj, so it is the walk for a slow morning, an evening after dinner in Lake Placid, or anyone in the group who would rather skip the climb. In winter it doubles as a cross-country ski loop.

Rocky Falls

Rocky Falls is a longer, still gentle walk: 4.6 miles round trip and about 400 feet of climbing. Take the Indian Pass Trail from the same corner of the snowplow turnaround. It runs first along the shore of Heart Lake, then southwest over gently rolling ground. At 2.1 miles from the Loj, a spur on the right leads about 100 yards to Indian Pass Brook. If the water is not too high, cross and follow the trail up the far side to a lean-to and the falls; otherwise a somewhat overgrown path on the near bank leads up to them. The falls are small, and the lean-to makes a good lunch stop.

A strong group can do both in one day: Mount Jo in the morning, Rocky Falls after lunch, about seven miles in all. For more waterfalls, the waterfalls guide covers the falls closer to the cabins.

Parking on Adirondack Loj Road

From NY 73, Adirondack Loj Road runs about 5 miles to the lots beside the High Peaks Information Center, which hold up to 250 cars for day and overnight hikers. Stop at the entrance booth and pay; if the booth is empty, pay there anyway. The fee goes to ADK's trail maintenance and backcountry education.

Members can also buy an annual parking pass. Check the current rates on ADK's parking page before you go, since they can change.

The lot rules

• In summer the lots often fill before 6 a.m. on weekends and before 9 a.m. on weekdays.
• When the lots are full, do not wait for a space or circle the lot. Buses and RVs cannot park here.
• Park only in the lots next to the information center. The snowplow turnaround across from the booth is for stops of 15 minutes or less: rentals, questions, purchases and the restrooms.
• Both sides of Adirondack Loj Road between the booth and Meadows Lane are no parking, for emergency access, and cars there are ticketed.
• The overflow is the lot at the end of Meadows Lane or the right side of Adirondack Loj Road from Meadows Lane back toward NY 73. Both add about a mile of walking each way. There is no roadside parking on Meadows Lane itself.

The half-day rate makes an afternoon climb a good plan: arrive after 1 p.m., pay $15, and be on the summit for the late light. In 2026 there is no reservation system for day hikers here.

Changes under discussion

In April 2026 the state Department of Environmental Conservation released a consultant's visitor use report for the High Peaks. For Adirondack Loj Road it proposes holding the Loj and South Meadows trailheads to about 400 visitors a day, with parking kept to the Loj's own spaces instead of the road shoulders, and a permit system as a fallback if that is not enough. The report suggests the summer of 2027 for a start. Nothing is in force yet: DEC took public comment through June 1, 2026, said no changes were expected for the 2026 season, and had announced no decision when we checked in October 2026. Before a trip in 2027, look at ADK's parking page and DEC's High Peaks page.

The High Peaks Information Center

The information center is open all year. Its posted hours in 2026 were 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays; hours can change, so call 518-523-3441, extension 121, if you are counting on it.

• For sale: guidebooks, maps, first-aid kits, insect repellent, batteries and snacks, plus ADK apparel, patches and stickers.
• For rent: bear canisters, trekking poles, trail crampons, and in winter snowshoes and cross-country skis.
• Help: staff answer questions in person, and ADK offers online trip-planning sessions before you come.

The Loj serves family-style dinners year-round by reservation through the front desk, at 518-523-3441, extension 1, within two weeks of the date. In season the Hungry Hiker café at the Loj is open 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Monday; those hours change, so treat it as a bonus rather than the plan for lunch.

Mount Jo in winter

Mount Jo is one of the best short winter climbs in the Adirondacks, and the information center stays open all winter. Snow changes the gear list:

• Snowshoes are a must once there is real snow on the ground. They are enough for the Long Trail.
• The Short Trail can be icy enough that traction spikes help on the steep pitches.
• Snowshoes and trail crampons can be rented at the information center.
• The open summit is colder and windier than the trail, so carry a warm layer, a hat, mittens and something to block the wind.
• The trail is not suited to cross-country skiing.

Rocky Falls is a good snowshoe walk too, with slippery ice near the falls themselves. For skiing and snowshoeing closer to home, see cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The winter driving guide covers the roads in snow; allow extra time on the road, and plan to be off the summit well before the early winter sunset.

Back at the cabins, The Modern Pine and The Aviator each have a Jotul gas stove, and every cabin has a private hot tub, which is the right way to end a winter climb.

Dogs on Mount Jo

If the dog comes along, keep it on a leash, and plan around the Adirondak Loj, which does not allow pets inside. ADK reminds hikers that dogs must be leashed in parts of the High Peaks, including the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness and trails above 4,000 feet, and to check the current rules before a hike. Around the busy trailhead, on a trail with 15,000 hikers a year, the leash is the simple answer anywhere on the property.

• The Long Trail is the better route with a dog. The scrambles on the Short Trail and the ladders near the top may mean lifting a dog over rock.
• Carry plenty of water and a collapsible bowl, and do not count on streams. On hot days start early.
• Pack out the dog's waste.
• Check paws after the rock and, in winter, after the ice.

The cabins take dogs for a pet fee. The listings ask for a house-trained pet under 25 pounds, one pet at The Aviator, no pets on the furniture or beds, and they say a pet may never be left alone in the cabin, so a dog comes along on the day trip or someone stays behind. The dog guide has the full rules and the state leash law, and pet-friendly cabins compares the three for a trip with a dog.

Who the climb suits

Mount Jo is a first mountain for a great many people. ADK's school outreach program takes hundreds of fourth graders up it every fall, and both ADK and the Lake Placid tourism office point families and newer hikers to the Long Trail. Expect uneven footing, exposed roots, rocks and changing weather, and wear sturdy shoes or boots with good soles.

The cabins host groups of four with children 10 and up. For a family with older children or teenagers, Mount Jo makes a good first High Peaks view before anyone tries Cascade, and the family cabins page explains which cabin fits. Mount Jo also counts toward the Lake Placid 9er, a challenge of nine smaller peaks around the village, described in the Cascade guide.

A morning from the cabins

The High Peaks Information Center is about 60 road miles from the cabins, about an hour and a half. Take the county roads to NY 30 and follow it south to Paul Smiths, then NY 86 through Saranac Lake toward Lake Placid. Before the village, Old Military Road cuts across to NY 73. Turn east on 73, and Adirondack Loj Road is the first right after the Olympic ski jumps. Saranac Lake, about 43 road miles from the cabins, is the last town on the route for fuel, coffee and lunch supplies, and Lake Placid village, about 52, is a short detour; at the trailhead, the information center sells snacks.

There is no cell service at the Loj, so download a trail map and the drive back before you leave the cabins.

On summer weekends the lots can fill before 6 a.m., which would mean leaving the cabins around 4 a.m. The easier weekend plan is the afternoon one: leave after lunch, park after 1 p.m. at the half-day rate, and climb for the late light. In foliage season the weekday plan is the one that works; the fall foliage guide has the timing.

What to bring

• Sturdy shoes or boots with good grip for roots and rock.
• Water and snacks, more than you think for a short hike.
• An extra warm layer and a rain shell for the open summit.
• The Ten Essentials, including a map, a headlamp and a small first-aid kit.
• Bug spray in early summer: black flies are out from mid-May to late June, and the bug guide has what works.
• Trash bags: pack out everything, including food scraps.

Stay on the trail even where it is muddy; stepping around the mud widens the trail. ADK asks every hiker to follow the seven Leave No Trace principles, and the information center staff will talk through a plan. In an emergency call 911 or the DEC Forest Ranger dispatch at 833-NYS-RANGERS (833-697-7264). With no cell service at the Loj, tell someone at home your plan before you leave the cabins. The packing guide covers clothing for each season.

Pairing Mount Jo with the rest of the day

Mount Jo leaves most of the day free. Lake Placid's Main Street, Mirror Lake and Whiteface are in the Lake Placid and Whiteface day trip, and the ski jumps you pass on NY 73 are part of the Olympic sites. For a bigger summit, Cascade Mountain starts on NY 73 about 4.5 miles past the Loj Road turn. On the way home, Saranac Lake is a good stop for an early dinner; the Saranac Lake guide has the restaurants, and the Saranac Lake 6er lists six more peaks closer to the cabins. For days without the long drive, hiking near Malone covers the trails closer to the cabins, some of them ten minutes away. When you are ready to book, the cabins page has all three.

Questions

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources in October 2026. Hours, fees and schedules change; confirm before you go.

1. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/hiking-mount-jo-the-perfect-first-adirondack-summit/
2. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/?p=8932
3. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/hiker-parking-at-heart-lake/
4. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/high-peaks-information-center/
5. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/adirondak-loj/
6. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/explore/lodging/adirondak-loj/
7. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/about-adk/
8. Adirondack Mountain Club adk.org/hiking-with-dogs-in-the-adirondacks-tips-for-a-safe-trail-adve
9. Lake Placid tourism (ROOST) lakeplacid.com/hiking/mt-jo
10. Lake Placid tourism (ROOST) lakeplacid.com/hiking/rocky-falls
11. Lake Placid tourism (ROOST) lakeplacid.com/do/activities/heart-lake-loop
12. Lake Placid tourism (ROOST) lakeplacid.com/story/2010/11/mt-jo-sephine
13. Lake Placid tourism (ROOST) lakeplacid.com/story/2016/02/love-mount-jo
14. Lake Placid tourism (ROOST) lakeplacid.com/hiking/mount-colden
15. wiki.historicsaranaclake.org wiki.historicsaranaclake.org/index.php/Forest_Fires
16. visitadirondacks.com visitadirondacks.com/recreation/adirondack-high-peaks-wilderness-area
17. wcax.com wcax.com/2026/04/17/parking-bans-trail-changes-proposed-busy-adirondac
18. epqs.nationalmap.gov epqs.nationalmap.gov/v1/json?x=-73.967248&y=44.189424&wkid=4326&units=
19. northeastexplorer.com northeastexplorer.com/adirondacks-catskills-hiker-limits-parking/
20. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2026/4/dec-releases-visitor-use-managem
21. americanheritage.com americanheritage.com/melvil-dewey