Sugarloaf Mountain(Blue Ridge Wilderness-Adirondacks)

FINALLY!!  Finally a nice fall day in the forecast to do some exploring in the central Adirondacks.  Headed towards Indian Lake on a crisp early October morning to do a pair of small bushwhack hikes with my buddy Jim. Had to pull off the road on my way to soak in the incredible morning view over Adirondack Lake from Byron Park just east of the hamlet of Indian Lake.

Sugarloaf Mountain sits jut under 2800 feet and is a relatively unknown, nondescript peak save for the incredible amount of open rock on the east side of the peak just below the summit.  We pulled off into a small unmarked parking area on thee west side of Cedar River Road on a spectacularly gorgeous fall monring.

Rising above Cedar River Road west of Indian Lake, Sugarloaf sports a massive cliff that stretches nearly half a mile long and over 300 vertical feet long.  A short but steep bushwhack brought us down to the bottom of these cliffs.

We knew that there was no route up these cliffs(other than with climbing equipment), so we had to skirt the base all the way around to the north to find a route up.  Once on the ridge atop the cliffs we had to push through some spruce to find our way over to the cliff top.  From there the views were truly astounding.  Looking east over the Cedar River towards Brown Pond Mountain with Panther and Buell Mountains beyond, with fall colors really beginning to take off.

Looking south over the Cedar River snaking its way towards the Cedar River Flow.

A zoom view down towards the Cedar River, which was really roaring today, some 850 feet below.

This ledge made the perfect spot to enjoy a snack break, soaking in the views and perfect weather.

Easing our way down to a great view of the rock face just below the summit

We bushwhacked back north off the summit, finding the safest descent, then wandered over to our waiting car. Sugarloaf's ledges from far below at just over 2000 feet elevation.

Crystal clear blue skies and golden foliage-a perfect combination.

A lot of bang for the buck on this beauty, with only about 1.6 miles RT and 800 feet elevation gain.