Indian Ladder Trail

John Boyd Thacher State Park
Albany Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Indian Ladder Trail (Unblazed)
Escarpment Trail: Red blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 0:45 hours
Estimated Distance: 1.1 miles

Pros: Scenic area with good views and interesting geology
Cons: Busy area
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/n8WY2eDdhpL4M6ae9

I camped with my family in Thompson Lake Campground several years prior, and made a trip to Thacher State Park and did many of the hiking trails there, including the Indian Ladder. It was a really nice trip then, and I had reminisced and decided it was time for a trip back. With nice weather in store we decided to spend the day in the area. We went swimming in Thompson's Lake, spent time in the Nature Center, and then strolled around above the cliffs above the escarpment. We also hiked the Indian Ladder Trail and then returned via the Escarpment/Long Path Trails. I got to see the new visitor center they built, which was still under construction during our previous visitor.

The Indian Ladder Trail is about half a mile in length, and goes underneath the cliffs of the escarpment, with fabulous geology in cool rock formations and caves. The waterfall at Mine Lot Falls was totally dry. After exiting and climbing back up the steps, we took the combined Escarpment/Long Path Trail back to the visitor center where we parked. We had a nice barbecue on my portable grill after the hike for dinner before heading back home.

Map of the Route

Overlook with Albany in the Distance

Indian Ladder Trail Marker

Start of the Indian Ladder Trail

Closed Off Cave on the Cliff

Water Flowing from the Porous Rock

Underneath Mine Lot Falls

View from the Top at the Exit of the Indian Ladder Trail

View Above Dried Mine Lot Falls

Escarpment Trail at John Boyd Thacher State Park

Albany Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Escarpment Trail: Pink blaze
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 0:45 Minutes
Estimated Distance: 2.1 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Very easy
Level of Recommendation: Recommended

Points of Interest: Beautiful Views and scenery
Cons: Too many non-natural areas with open fields and parking lots

I had gone the previous day to the Indian Ladder Trail in Thacher State Park, and decided to check out out more trails in the area, and especially wanted to hike some more along the escarpment. I parked at the Pear Orchard again, took the path behind the covered picnic area to the start of the Indian Ladder Trail, but instead took the Escarpment Trail along the edge of the cliff north, going around the horseshoe bend, then around the next bend to the end of the Escarpment Trail at the Hailes Cave area. I was hoping to find or see the Hailes Cave at the end of the trail, but it was no where to be found. (I thought it would be a formation along the end of  the trail.)

At the end of the Escarpment Trail, which is also the end of the Hailes Cave area parking lot, I cut across to the Long Path, which then goes in the woods parallel to the parking lot road and Escarpment Trail. It comes back out of the woods near the park entrance on Route 157. I then cut across the field back to where my car was parked.

View of the Map

View of Eroded Landslide Area Below the Minelot Falls Area

View from the Begininng of the Hike, Facing East

View Towards the City of Albany

View of the Escarpment

View Facing Northeast.

View of the Escarpment

Notch by the Bend of the Horseshoe

Ascending Gap Towards Hailes Cave Area

Large Pines with Sun Dipping Towards the Afternoon Horizon

View of Cliffs at Horseshoe as seen from the Hailes Cave Area

Indian Ladder Trail John Boyd Thacher State Park

Albany Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Indian Ladder Trail: Unblazed
Long Path: Green blaze

Total Time: 0:55 Minutes
Estimated Distance: 1.2 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Amazing Formations and Beautiful Views

The Indian Landder Trail is a famous trail alongside a sheer cliff wall formation and arching cave structures. It is the most popular trail in John Boyd Thacher State Park and is the highlight attraction. The trail itself is very short and only about half a mile in length, but its very scenic and interesting. The Heldenberg formation is a mountain range jutting out near Albany formed of Limestone outcrops most exposed at Thacher State Park. It forms a sheer cliff wall several miles long, with the Indian Ladder Trail traversing part of this in a wide trail with guardrails along most of the way.

I had gone on a camping trip with my family to the area, and we camped out at Thompsons Lake State Campground which is adjacent to Thacher State Park. We parked in the Pear Orchard parking area, going past the playground and following the signs to the Indian Ladder Trail. The trail starts by going through a crevice, and then descinding down steep stairs to the bottom of the cliff wall.

The trail goes past an arching cave, several streams pouring out of the rock wall, and the highlight is Minelot Falls, an incredible waterfall jutting well above the trail with the trail arching underneath it. The summer had been very dry so the falls was a mere trickle, yet was still very impressive. At the end of the trail, it climbs back up steep steps to the top of the escarpment. At the top, I took the Long Path along the edge of the escarpment back to the car.

Map of the Route

Plaque Explaining the Helderberg Escarpment at the Beginning of the Indian Ladder Trail
 

View of Albany in the Distance Prior to Descending on the Indian Ladder Trail

Disjointed Cave Formation Along the Indian Ladder Trail

Close-up of the Cave Formation

Small Cave

Arching Cave Formation

Plaque Explaining the Underground Stream

Underground Stream Emerging

Talus Along the Side of the Trail

Water Dripping Behind the Falls

Me on the Indian Ladder Trail

Me Again

Approaching Mine Lot Falls

Boardwalk Descending to Mine Lot Falls

Looking Up at Minelot Falls

Plaque Explaining Minelot Falls

View from Under the Overhand at Minelot Falls 

Another View Along the Trail