Do you know where the Hays Brook trails are? They are a couple miles north of the Paul Smiths Visitors Interpretive Center (everyone calls it “The VIC”) to the right off Rte. 30. Look for a brown and yellow sign, drive in two-tenths of a mile and park. The trails are up the small road you can see heading off the parking lot.

It’s a wonderful place. The trails are designated horse trails - I’ve never seen a horse there though, and there are rarely any signs of them. You can snowmobile, but I never see tracks, mountain bike, ski, and hike to your heart’s content. The trails are fairly easy, too.

I hiked out to one of the three main destinations, Grass Pond lean-to, with my friend Jody on Nov 19th.  We crossed the Osgood River, walked in, and then we were treated to a rainbow after we waited out a passing shower at the very nice lean-to.  

Crossing the Osgood River on the bridge. Look for a trail to the right 100 yards after the bridge to get to Grassy Pond.

The rainbow over Grassy Pond.

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We took a walk around the pond to the left, crossing the outlet where there used to be a number of beaver dams controlling the level of the pond.

View from the outlet toward the pond.

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There used to be at least one beaver lodge on the pond, but not now. However, there are signs of very recent beaver activity on the shore.

Check it out. The beaver must have done that in the last 24 hours!

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With a last look at the pond, we headed back to our car.  

Last look at the pond. The lean-to is out of sight across the pond.

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The hike is about 2 miles one-way, with no big hills. I’ve skied it, mountain biked it, and hiked it. It never fails to be a wonderful outing!

Ready to check out some of the Adirondacks' coolest terrain? Get out your cold weather gear and get ready to hit our trails - and when you head back into town, check out our great places to grab a warm drink and bite to eat.