The day after Christmas we took a walk up to Round Pond with our friends the Haags. It was by far the easiest little excursion we’ve done, in spite of it being just a little icy. We had two novices with us, and an 8-year old, and we all made it easily.
The trail is the same one that eventually takes you to Dix Mountain, one of the 46 high peaks, and it’s also the access point for Noonmark Mountain. The parking area is clearly labeled “Round Pond” though, and is right on the main highway, Rte 73. If you’re coming into the area from the Northway (Exit 30) it’ll be on your left exactly 3 miles past the intersection with Rte 9. From Keene Valley (eat breakfast at the Noonmark Diner before you go) it’s just a touch over a mile past Chapel Pond on the right.
The well marked trail (blue markers) takes off at a fairly steep climb off the road, but not to worry, it moderates pretty quickly after the first 2-tenths of a mile. After that, it’s a steady but easily manageable uphill climb until just before you get to the pond. The entire distance from the road to the pond is a half mile. With beginners, plan on taking an hour and a half including a generous time to look around and rest at the pond.
(Really, it was so easy one of our party did it in Chuck Taylors in the snow. We don’t recommend it, because his feet were really cold and wet by the time we came back. But the point is, he proved it’s doable.)
The trail circles the northern bank of the pond (which really is round), with several spots that provide beautiful views across the water (or ice as the case may be).
L-R: Silas, Caspar, Andy, and Regina (Dennis is behind the camera)
If you’re looking for a real beginner’s walk that still has enough of a climb to make you feel like you’re in the mountains, this is your trail.
[Seasonal note: This year (2011-12) up to now has been a very light snow year. When we went there were perhaps 2 inches of snow on the ground, but the rocks were still plenty icy. It's about the most snow and ice we'd want to tackle without some minimal winter gear (crampons). This trail isn't steep enough to require them in the light winter conditions we enjoyed, but with more snow and ice be advised that trail conditions will rapidly deteriorate. And some who are less sure of foot may be well-advised to wear crampons at the first sign of ice.]
View at Round Pond (along the north bank)
