Northville-Placid Trail: Benson to Piseco

Silver Lake Wilderness and Jessup River Wild Forest, Adirondack Park (Benson Road to Piseco)

The Northville-Placid Trail was cut by the Adirondack Mountain Club in 1922 and runs about 135 miles north through the Adirondack Park from Northville to Lake Placid, according to ADK’s Albany Chapter, which also awards the trail’s completion patch. This page covers the southern wilderness miles, from Benson Road through the Silver Lake Wilderness to the hamlet of Piseco.

Treeline Review calls the trail’s segments short enough for section hiking, and this one makes a good first piece: lakes, boardwalks, a suspension bridge, and terrain that the 44 Lakes regional site calls easier than most of the NPT.

The hike

EMS’s Go East guide, by Joanna MacIntyre, gives the trail’s northbound mile points: Benson at mile 12.32, Whitehouse at 33.83, and Piseco at 43.02. That makes this stretch about 30.7 miles. The trail is marked with blue DEC markers; ADK’s Albany Chapter notes that the original white-diamond NPT markers have been replaced.

Hiking Project lists parking at Benson Road. ADK’s Albany Chapter says the trail runs 7.3 miles through the Silver Lake Wilderness after Benson Road. Treeline’s Kate Riley, who thru-hiked northbound in August 2023, says lean-tos come more often here than on the first section, with marsh boardwalks along the way. She stayed at the Silver Lake Lean-to in a hemlock setting, and found a metal canoe at the Mud Lake Lean-to. Wikipedia lists Silver Lake, Mud Lake, Rock Lake, and Loomis Pond among the wilderness’s popular trout waters.

EMS describes the Silver Lake section’s lean-to and privy, its boardwalks over vleis (open wetlands), and a large suspension bridge over the West Branch of the Sacandaga River, which ADK’s Albany Chapter places at Whitehouse. The 44 Lakes site notes two metal suspension bridges between Northville and Piseco.

Farther north, the trail passes the Hamilton Lake Stream Lean-to; a 2015 Pure Adirondacks trip report describes sharing it with two other hikers during a thunderstorm. EMS lists beaver reroutes between Benson and Whitehouse, and the same 2015 report describes getting lost on a rerouted stretch near Benson, where blue markers gave way to red flags.

The section ends at Piseco, where the NPT follows NY-8 on a road walk and re-enters the woods at Haskell Road. Treeline puts that walk at about 2 miles; nptrail.org says roughly 3. Piseco has a post office that Treeline and ADK both list for mail drops; confirm hours first.

North of Piseco, the trail continues into the West Canada Lake Wilderness to Lake Durant. The northern end is covered in Long Lake to Lake Placid.

Tips

Follow the blue markers carefully near reroutes; a 2015 report describes red flagging that led hikers off course.
Carry a light tent. ADK’s Albany Chapter says lean-tos may be full in summer.
Filter all water, especially below beaver ponds (Treeline).
Bring a head net in May and June, when Treeline says bugs are worst.
Call ahead before mailing food to the Piseco post office.

Camping

The NPT needs no permit (Treeline). DEC’s state land rules allow camping at sites marked “Camp Here” or at least 150 feet from any road, trail, spring, stream, or pond; stays of more than three days in one place, and groups of 10 or more, need a permit from the local forest ranger. Lean-tos can’t be used exclusively and must be shared. Fires are allowed in existing fire pits, using only dead and down wood. DEC requires bear canisters only in the Eastern High Peaks but advises one anywhere in bear country; Treeline reports bears in the Silver Lake Wilderness.

Inside Intel: EMS’s guide recommends the Silver Lake Lean-to for its lake access. Treeline’s Kate Riley stopped at the Mud Lake Lean-to for a lunchtime paddle in the canoe she found there.

Trail facts

Distance: About 30.7 miles (EMS mile points)
Route type: Point to point (section of a 133- to 138-mile trail)
Difficulty: Moderate
Campsites: Silver Lake, Mud Lake, and Hamilton Lake Stream lean-tos; undeveloped sites
Water: Lakes and streams; filter all water
Permits: None; groups of 10 or more and stays over three days need a ranger permit
Bear and food storage: Canister recommended, not required
Trailheads: Benson Road (south) and Piseco/NY-8 (north)
Last verified: October 11, 2026

The Lowdown

Three days through the Silver Lake Wilderness:

Benson Road to Piseco is about 30 miles of wilderness walking before the next mail drop, so every dinner rides in your pack. See the trail meals testers keep reordering.

Read the full guide →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.