Mount Jo Loop Trail is a 1.8 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Lake Placid, New York that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from April until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
hiking
nature trips
snowshoeing
bird watching
running
forest
lake
views
wild flowers
wildlife
muddy
rocky
scramble
snow
Mount Jo stands 700 ft. over Heart Lake near ADK Loj south of Lake Placid in the heart of the High Peaks Zone of the Adirondacks. Mt. Jo has two trails that lead to its summit. The summit offers spectacular views of the High Peaks and the MacIntyre range and is a great hike for the kids. This is a very short two mile loop hike that will bring you to the top of a wonderful little peak above Heart Lake with just over 600 feet of climbing. It's a great hike for little kids or an older family member who you would like to get into the outdoors. It's also a good hike if you have time and energy after another shorter 46er hike like Phelps or maybe Tabletop.
A short hike with an amazing view! Micro spikes are a must, as this trail is very icy. We took the shorter trail up to the summit. Maneuvering the rock scramble was extra tricky because of the icy spots. We spent a good half an hour at the top, taking time to enjoy the view of the high peaks. We descended down the longer trail which was very icy - spikes are not optional. Note that there are three sets of ladders to climb to get to the summit. Not bad if you take your time and are careful. Overall, a very worthwhile hike that I’d like to do again in the spring.
Jennifer Hunter recorded Mount Jo Loop Trail
Nice fun engaging short hike. Microspikes were a must.
Based on reading reviews (and people on the Internet talking about how their four-year-olds scampered up and down the mountain), I expected this hike to be easier than it was. The short trail is a grind, but it does move quickly and leads to a nice summit. Lots of clouds on this particular day, but it’s easy to imagine the striking view on a clear day. Surprisingly steep and very icy on the long trail down — microspikes are a must, and tread carefully! (Pro tip: parking is half-price after 1 pm.)
Hiked this trail on New Year's Eve.. A slow and steady snowfall made for a beautiful winter back drop on the summit. It had minor icy conditions, microspikes were a huge help. This is a short hike with an incredible view, no reason not to do it if you're in the area.
Very nice short trail. A little steep in some areas, but in general very manageable. The trail has a lot of ice. We didn't need snowshoes, but spikes are a must the whole way. The views are really nice.
Great trail for beginners. I did this as a winter hike to test my microspikes and get out and hike. It was very enjoyable and the summit offered great views of neighboring mountains. Highly recommended for new hikers or those looking to get out for a quick climb and fresh air.
Laurie R recorded Mount Jo Loop Trail
A few inches of fresh powder on the trails from last night. Used micro spikes as snow depth was minimal. Being the first on the trail after the snow made for pretty pictures and a little tricky at times finding the trail, but no big deal. Took the long trail to avoid icy rock scrambles. Nice short hike with a great view of some big peaks.
Beautiful area! We only had time for a short hike but we always like to have a summit, so Mount Jo was perfect. They do charge $12 to enter the area so that’s a bit of a bummer but the trail was in good shape. It’s not a 360 degree view but it’s still quite pretty. Microspikes are a necessity. Snow shoes were not needed on 11/23 when we went.
Paige T.
Beautiful views, can’t complain with terrain
great trail, good view! the trail is the highlight on this one for me. the view is good.
