Burnt Mountain Bushwhack (Long Lake)

I've been up Burnt Mountain before, but this trip was memorable. For starters, my brother was visiting from Colorado, and we've been talking about doing this particular hike for years. The weather forecast was not great, but, as we neared the top, the sun poked through the clouds adding drama to the great views. And, just to add icing to the cake, as we neared the top, I stepped out of a tangle of Spruce trees and a Fisher was standing ten yards away on open rock. I've seen Fishers before, but nothing like this; close up, good light, and completely in the open. As I said, it was memorable.

Looking north to Kempshall Mountain with the Sewards and Seymour in the distance. 

Burnt Mountain is at the end of a ridge that comes down from the Fishing Brook Range just east of Long Lake. You reach the mountain by hiking the Northville Lake Placid Trail (NLPT) south from the parking area on Rte. 28n (east of Long Lake Village).

Northeast: Couchsachraga, Panther and Santanoni

There's no trail from the NLPT to top of Burnt Mountain, you'll need to be comfortable with cross-country navigation, over rough terrain, to reach the top. Pick a point where you will leave the NLPT and set off to the east, aiming for the small notch on the south side of the summit. From the likely departure points, it's three quarters of a mile to the notch, and a couple hundred yards of scrambling over steep and thick terrain to the top.

The summit of Burnt Mountain used to be completely open; the soil is very shallow and fires in the late 1800s burned off the top. The forest is re-establishing itself, but plenty of open rock persists and, with a bit of poking around, good views can be had in every direction.

Plan on a seven to eight mile round trip from the parking area. The green line is the NLPT and the orange line is the GPS track showing the route we followed (up and back). As the crow files, it's roughly three quarters of a mile from the NLPT to the top. The terrain is rough, and wet, and the small drainages coming down off the ridge all look alike; so take a map and allow plenty of time. 

A wider look, from the left: Kempshall in the foreground with the Sewards and Seymour in the distance. From the right: Santanoni, Panther and Couchsachraga.

Looking east, Fishing Brook Mountain.

Trees are re-establishing themselves on the summit of Burnt Mountain but, by working your way around the top, it's possible to get clear views in every direction.

Looking south towards the Fishing Brook Range. The Northville Lake Placid Trail crosses this ridge through the notch on the right. That notch is the highest point on that trail at just over 3000 feet.

Filtered sunlight on a nearby ridge.