Access
Trails extend to the summit of the mountain from three directions — north, south and west. All approaches eventually put the hiker on the Balsam Lake Mountain Trail (BLMT), the 1.6-mile (2.6 km) loop route over the summit, which follows the jeep road to the north but is a footpath to its south. Two use the Dry Brook Ridge Trail (DBRT), which it connects to at either end.
The most frequently used approach starts at Mill Brook Road and follows the old jeep road to the fire tower. At 2,580 feet (790 m), the road's intersection with the DBRT is the highest trailhead in the Catskills. From there it is 2.75 miles (4.43 km) and 1,120 feet (340 m) to the summit.
From the south, at the end of Beaver Kill Road, the approach is shorter but steeper. The DBRT leads north 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to the south end of the BLMT. From there it is another 0.85 miles (1.37 km) to the summit, past the lean-to and spring. This route's total distance of 1.75 miles (2.82 km) climbs 1,200 feet (370 m).
In 1998, these approaches were joined by the new Mill Brook Ridge Trail, which allows for an ambitious 6.7-mile (10.8 km) approach from the Alder Lake trailhead to the west north of Turnwood. The trail goes over Mill Brook Ridge's two eastern summits, descends into the col between it and Balsam Lake and then climbs to the BLMT just south of the summit. The total ascent is 1,520 feet (460 m). This trail serves mainly to connect the trail network on the Delaware Hills in the western portion of the Catskill Park with its counterpart in the central Catskills.
Hikers often combine a climb of Balsam Lake with neighboring Graham, reachable by an old road that branches to the west off the DBRT 750 feet (230 m) north of the northern BLMT junction. Sometimes the entire BLMT is used from either north or south to make a loop route of 6 miles (9.7 km) or 4.3 miles (6.9 km) respectively.
DEC regulations forbid camping above 3,500 feet (1,100 m) on the mountain except during winter. There is a lean-to and a spring on a spur trail just below that elevation on the south side. Campers may also use any location more than 150 feet (50 m) from a trail or body of water.
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