Sleeping Beauty Mountain Loop

Sleeping Beauty Mountain Loop is a roughly 4-mile circuit from Dacy Clearing that climbs to an open-rock viewpoint above Lake George, then returns by the Bumps Pond side. Allow about 3.5 hours for the steep climb, uneven ground, and a break at the view. The first half-mile shares a broad old tote road to a junction; take the right branch toward Sleeping Beauty, continue along the upper connector toward Bumps Pond, and return to Dacy on the pond trail. The official map shows the upper connection, but it does not provide a precise track for the short link near the pond, so the route line there is approximate. Treat four miles as a planning estimate and follow the trail on the ground at that turn. DEC lists separate one-way distances from Dacy—2.1 miles to the summit and 1.6 miles to Bumps Pond—while other accounts measure combined loops at about 4.5 to 5.6 miles. Those figures describe separate legs or different loop conventions, not a single settled mileage.

The shared approach is a wide, gently rising tote road, with rocky patches and wet ground. At the first junction, turn right for Sleeping Beauty; the left branch is the direct Bumps Pond approach used on the return. The grade steepens on the mountain trail, where exposed roots, eroded soil, and loose rock make the climb slower than the distance suggests. A small bridge near the start of the climb can be slippery when wet. DEC gives 1,038 feet of ascent from Dacy to the summit, which accounts for most of the effort.

The main payoff is a broad open-rock overlook with Lake George and forested Adirondack ridges spread out below. This is the false summit, close in height to the wooded true summit. The true summit is less than half a mile farther, but it does not have the same open panorama. Stay back from the rock edges. For a photo, include some of the ledge in the foreground so the lake and distant ridges have a clear sense of scale.

After the mountain viewpoint, continue toward Bumps Pond and follow the pond-side trail back to the shared lower approach and Dacy Clearing. This gives the walk a quieter, more wooded second half than retracing the summit climb. The low ground by the pond can be muddy, and the upper junction is less clearly represented in online trail data than the main approach. Keep a map handy and follow the marked tread rather than relying on a GPS line for that short connection.

For a simpler plan, hike to the open-rock viewpoint and return the same way, skipping the pond-side connection. DEC measures the summit route at 2.1 miles one way; another trail account gives 1.8 miles, so expect roughly 3.6 to 4.2 miles round trip depending on where you turn around. This keeps the day focused on the climb and the Lake George view.

Start at the Dacy Clearing Parking Area on Dacy Clearing Road, reached from Shelving Rock Road. Vehicle access is controlled by a seasonal gate. If it is closed, park at Hogtown and walk about 1.5 miles each way along the rough road, adding roughly 3 miles to the outing. Dogs are allowed. DEC requires leashes at trailheads and campsites and during hunting and trapping seasons; keep dogs under control throughout the hike.