A view from Prospect Mountain, looking down into Lake George Village, at the southern end of Lake George.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway will close for the 2020 season at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11th.
Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway climbs 5.5-miles from the entry gate to a parking lot just below the summit. There are three separate overlooks along the parkway – the Narrows, Lake George, and Eagle’s Eye – from which to enjoy the scenery of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George. More adventurous visitors can hike to the summit on a 1.5-mile trail, which climbs 1,630 feet from its trailhead on Smith Street in the village of Lake George.
Prior to the seasonal closure, DEC helped to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at this site by implementing several precautions, including closing the roadway to the summit of Prospect Mountain to public vehicle traffic and not operating the shuttle from the parking lot to the summit. Visitors can park in the parking lot 155 feet below the summit and walk the 0.2-mile paved path to the top. Picnicking is prohibited and the public restrooms remain closed. View scopes at the pull-offs and on the summit have been temporarily removed.
Use of the parkway has been free this year as DEC encourages New Yorkers to Play Smart, Play Safe, Play Local and enjoy the outdoors responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, use of the parkway costs $10 for a car, $5 for a motorcycle, and $50 for a commercial bus.
If you’ve never been up Prospect Mountain, it offers beautiful views of Lake George, and is worth the trip.