Needing to get out again, this time I chose the fairly easy Inman Pond Trail and Inman Pond Trail Spur to Inman Pond in the Adirondacks near Lake George, NY. I chose to do this pond this time because my trip funds didn’t allow me to make it to Lost Pond further north AND have enough fuel to make it to work till payday.
Am I disappointed, yeah a little, I was looking forward to going to Lost Pond. However, I think this was still a wise choice and I’m glad I had to change my original plans for this trip.
As per the hike in, I believe this is a diamond in the rough. It doesn’t seem to be a very popular hiking destination despite the amazing views from around the pond. On my way in I only came across 3-4 groups of hikers on their way out and about as many the next day on their way in. None of the groups looked like they were camping, all looked like out and back day hikers. Inman Pond is a hidden gem waiting for you to discover. On this trip, I did not venture to the overlook. I will plan to get there earlier in the day to allow myself more time to explore the area.
Getting there
From my house near Albany NY, it’s a pretty easy drive on the highway to the Lake George area. I simply followed my GPS set to Google maps which took me up 87N to exit 20 then some back roads from there to the trailhead parking area. The drive was pretty straight forward and the trailhead easy to find. Once parked and I was ready to go, the trail head was only a few paces down the road from my vehicle.
The Trail
The trail is very well marked and groomed. From the trailhead it’s a fairly flat first 1/2 mile on Inman Pond Trail to your intersection of Inman Pond Trail Spur. The spur is a right turn at a small foot bridge which starts taking you up in elevation at a pretty good rate.
I had to stop about half way up the spur trail to hydrate and grab a quick snack before continuing. This allowed me to catch my breath enough to not die. Your next intersection is approximately 1/2 mile from where you turned off the main trail.
At this point you hit a “Y” intersection. To the left the trail takes you to the big bolder that gives spectacular views over the pond. To the right takes you along side the pond where 2 DEC campsites are located. I stopped and setup camp at the first site.
Inman Pond Trail is marked by blue NYS DEC trail marker disks. Not that I actually paid attention to it, but you should be able to see the next disk from the one your at. The trail varies from 3-4 people wide down to 2 people wide. There are a number of spots leading up to the foot bridge that are very muddy and could be challenging to negotiate for some, especially in the first 1/4 mile.
Inman Pond Trail Spur is marked by red trail marker disks. This part of the trail is without doubt, where I felt the elevation gain on this trip. The trail itself is rocky and with the recent monsoon like rains we’ve had, muddy in several spots.
The Pond
Inman Pond is a roughly 5 acre pond that is home to 3 known fish species, trout, bass, and brown bullhead. I did attempt to fish for some trout but failed to pull any in. I think the last few days of rain may have played a part in that. I will let the natural beauty of the pond speak for itself, I don’t know if I could do it justice.
Camping
Camping is abundant around the pond if you follow DEC guidelines. There are also 2 known and marked DEC campsites along the northern shore of the pond. Use of these sites is preferred if they’re available. Sites do not require a reservation, but are first come first serve. Just look for the YELLOW Camp Here marker disk.
The site I was at was quite large. Large enough in my opinion to easily accommodate a group of 6-8 people. Next time I might try to camp up on the bolder and get even better views than I had this time. I thought I was alone while I was out there, but to my surprise, I heard quite the ruckus from across the pond and ended up having some fairly loud neighbors for a few hours before they settled in for the night. I chose not to have a fire despite there being plenty of would I could have scavenged from the area. I opted to use my butane stove for all my cooking needs and let whomever came in next have they wood for their enjoyment.
Going Home
The hike back wasn’t bad, it was the reverse of getting there, except it was all downhill. There’s not really much to say here, I never want to end my camping trips. But alas, all good things must come to an end eventually.
Once I got back to my Durango and into cell coverage again, I fired up iHeartRadio to listen to some great music on the drive home. I couldn’t help but to laugh as the first song started to play, it was Lindsey Sterling’s “Something Wild.” How ironic was it that as I head home to civilization is the first song I hear about leaving that place to go to the woods… Return I will, soon, but not soon enough, I will be back in the wilds.
Final Thoughts
Inman Pond is without doubt a hidden gem waiting to be found. I’m glad I had to switch up my plans and change my destination. The hike I would consider easy to moderate. It was an enjoyable hike in that probably took me longer because I had to stop and take pictures rather than stopping to catch my breath. Overall it is a pleasant 1-1.5 mile hike from the trailhead to the pond and campsite. I know that the DEC signs say it only 1 mile, but I do not know what their points of reference are for their measured distance. This is definitely a place I will be visiting again. Next time I will look to the southern shore and see if I can camp on the overlook boulder.
The Wandering Leatherneck 