Casey Mountain(Hudson Gorge Primitive Area-Adirondacks)

While driving through the Adirondacks you are almost completely surrounded by mountains...some big, some small.  Some of these mountains can really draw your attention, and even demand a visit.  This has always been the case with 2486 foot Casey Mountain, which hovers dramatically over Route 28 just east of the trailhead for OK Slip Falls. From the road, a set of ledges high up the mountain, seems to invite you.  On this day, we gladly accepted that invite, parking off the shoulder of Old Route 28 and venturing off.

We walked back west on Route 28 for a little over 1/10 of a mile to avoid a small wetland, then headed into the woods.

Upon entering the woods, a steep climb almost immediately ensues.  We decided to make it a bit more interesting, so we headed more directly at the rock ledges, soon arriving in a grassy, rock filled meadow area.

The views from Casey's ledges, just south of the summit, are truly inspiring.  Just SE of the mountain, sit Davis(L) and Ruby(R) Mountains, with Gore peeking out in the distance.

From these ledges, the view west over Route 28 unfolds impressively before you.

The view west up Route 28 leads off to the distant "Little High Peaks" near Indian Lake.

To the south sits a wetland and Prier Pond, with the sharp edged summits of Slide Mountain(L) and Peaked Mountain(R) beyond.

From the top of the ledges looking down towards our cars, just off the road.

After soaking in the ledge views, we continued a short distance up to the true summit, which sits at the far end of a long, open rock, completely treed in.

We decided to take a gentler route back down, heading west off the ridge, then back south towards our cars.  A short, rewarding 1.5 mile hike, with about 500 feet of ascent.