Sawteeth: Scenic Views of Lower Ausable Lake

Sawteeth gets its name from the mountain's rugged ridge line, which resembles the teeth of a handsaw when viewed from certain angles. While the actual summit of my ninth high peak was less then memorable, the the hike via the Scenic Trail offered beautiful lake views.

Like several other High Peaks, the hike to Sawteeth begins from the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) in St. Huberts. The AMR is a private 7,000-acre land that is home to the historic Ausable Club, a private members' club founded in the late 1800s. The public has access to the property through a conservation easement. Advance reservations are required, with only 70 entry reservations available each day.

From the parking lot, it is a 1.2 km walk along the road to the Ausable Club. From there, another 5 km on the club's private Lake Road leads to the base of the mountain before the real hiking begins, making for a very long approach.

The highlight of the hike was the stretch along Lower Ausable Lake. The trail follows the shoreline for about 2 kilometres, providing beautiful views across the calm lake with the surrounding mountains as a backdrop.

As you get closer to the peak, the climb becomes much steeper. Unless you're following a GPS, you'll miss the peak which is just a spot in the middle of the forest with no viewpoint or marker.

I did the hike as a loop, descending via the Weld Trail. While the descent was less scenic than the ascent, it ends with a visit to Rainbow Falls, providing one final viewpoint before the long 6.2 km walk back to the parking lot.

Sawteeth was the quietest hike I've completed in the Adirondacks so far. I only crossed two other hikers on the trail who were completing the hike in the opposite direction.

Hike Details

• Trailhead: Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR)

• Distance: 22 km (13.7 miles)

• Elevation Gain: 1,000 m (3,281 ft)

• Time on Trail: 9h11