The High Peaks Region in the Adirondacks is filled with tons of hikes that will lead you to beautiful overlooks, cliffs, and waterways. Despite its name, there is a wide range of hikes, from easy to extreme, that you can find within the area. Mt. Jo is no exception!
It is a great hike for beginners and offers a great view of the High Peaks without a terribly difficult trek. The trail also takes you by Heart Lake where you can relax and enjoy the crystal blue water before starting your hike.
This guide aims to provide comprehensive information, along with photos, to help you plan your hike on Mt. Jo. It will include a trail map, directions for getting to the trail, which way to hike, and how to be prepared.
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Mountain Facts
Mt. Jo is located next to Heart Lake and the Adirondack Loj just on the cusp of the High Peaks Wilderness. The mountain stands 700 ft over Heart Lake.
The Mountain gets its name from Henery VanHovenberg, who named it after his ex-fiance Josephine Schofield. This was the same man who came to the Adirondacks for the first time in 1877 and became engaged to Josephine on the summit of Mt. Marcy. He spotted a small lake, which was Heart Lake, and decided to build a cabin to live in. This is the current Adirondack Loj.
Gianna looking out to Heart Lake
The trail is extremely popular, serving over 15,000 hikers per year. It is a great hike for beginners and younger children to experience the awesomeness of hiking toward a view of the High Peaks! During peak seasons, summer and fall, it is very important to plan your hike to Mt. Jo in advance to ensure you can find parking and climb the summit with the equipment you need.
In 2021, volunteers in the ADK community rallied support and broke ground on providing service to the trails on Mt. Jo. A $50,000 grant allowed staff and volunteers to improve conditions on the “Long trail” to make it more accessible for all Adirondack hikers.
Read: Hiking the Indian Head Trail – Adirondacks Hiking Guide
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Best Time to Hike Mt Jo
Summer and Fall
Mt. Jo can often become extremely busy depending on the season.
The Summer and Fall prove to be the busiest time for this hike. However, these are the two prettiest times to view Heart Lake and the surrounding view from the summit. During these seasons it is often difficult to find parking for the trailhead. This can force people to tack on an extra 3-4 miles onto their hike up Mt. Jo. Make sure to read more to learn how to best prepare for your Mt. Jo hike if visiting during this time
The weather conditions during the summer and fall are relatively dry. A pair of hiking shoes or low-profile hiking boots will suffice for this trek. Depending on whether you choose to take the short trail or the long trail, you can expect tree stumps and big rocks to crowd the hiking path. Be prepared for uneven terrain.
Winter and Spring at Mt. Jo
A great time to visit Mt. Jo without the crowds and chaos is during the winter and spring. When hiking during this time, it is important to always check weather conditions as rain and snow can sometimes make the hike difficult or inaccessible for some.Â
If you choose to hike Mt. Jo in the winter, make sure you bring snowshoes. This trail can be a great introduction for beginner snowshoers.Â
Keep in mind that snowshoes can easily get you to the top of the summit via the long trail, but snow spikes may be required to traverse the short trail, which is much steeper.
If you need to grab snowshoes for your hike up Mt. Jo, you can do so by stopping by the High Peaks information center where they are available for rent. To reach this website, click here.
Read: Hiking the Indian Head Trail – Adirondacks Hiking Guide
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Getting to Mt Jo
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No matter where you are coming from, you will start your hike up Mt. Jo from the Adirondak Loj & Heart Lake visitor center located in North Elba, NY.
Mt. Jo From Lake Placid
If you plan on coming from Lake Placid to hike, which is the most popular route, start on Route 73, heading east. Then, turn right onto Adirondack Loj. This turn will be the first right after seeing the Olympic Ski Jumps. The parking lots are located about 5 miles from the start of Adirondack Loj Road.
Parking
Approaching the Heart Lake Program center, you will reach a toll booth before gaining access to the parking lot for the Mt. Jo trailhead. The cost for entry into the parking lot is $18 per day per car.Â
If you are planning to hike in the afternoon, the Adirondack Mountain Club charges $10 any time after 1 pm. However, be cautious about parking in the afternoon as there will likely be no more parking.
The parking lot gives you access to many different hiking trails including Mt. Skylight, Mt. Marcy, Algonquin, Wright, Phelps, and more.
Right next to the parking lot is the High Peaks Information Center. Here you can obtain maps and guides for any hike that you plan to do, including Mt. Jo. You can also get souvenirs if you want to remember your hike in a special way.Â
For more information about the High Peaks Information Center, click here.
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Our 2.5 mi hike to the Mt. Jo trailhead
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Avoid this Mistake
Mt. Jo Trail Map
During our trip to the Adirondacks, we decided to sleep in a get a little extra rest before heading to Mt. Jo. What we made up in rest, we lost in extra miles. Even around 10 am, when we arrived at the trailhead, we had to park 2.5 miles away from the start of the trail. This turned our 2.5-mile hike into a 7-mile hike.Â
If you don’t want to triple your mileage for hiking Mt. Jo, be sure to get to the parking area ideally before 7 am to secure your parking spot. The longer you wait, the further away you will have to park to hike this trail.
Beginning Your Hike up Mt. Jo
The first thing to do when starting your hike is to hit the porta-potties before the trail. This is also your landmark for beginning the trail. Because of the immense amount of people hiking Mt. Jo every day, don’t expect privacy for a bathroom break. There aren’t any primitive toilets along the trail, either.
The first leg of the hike includes a 0.1-mile walk to Rogers Lookout at Heart Lake. Here, you can get up close and personal with the lake and hang out around the sand to take in the view of the water. Take a quick drink, a picture or two, and continue along the Mt. Jo trail.
Gianna snaps a photo of Heart Lake
After visiting Roger’s Lookout, there will be a trail fork located 0.2mi past Heart Lake. This is where you can decide whether you want to hike the Short Trail or the Long Trail. Read more to find out what each route has to offer.
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Read: Hiking the Indian Head Trail – Adirondacks Hiking Guide
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Choosing your Route up Mt. Jo
There are two ways to reach the summit of Mt. Jo.Â
The Short Trail can be access by veering right at the trail fork. Although this part of the trail is only 0.5mi long, don’t be underestimated by its difficulty. The short trail is very steep and crowded with boulders.
The short trail will have you almost-scrambling your way up a narrow passage of rocks up 500 ft of elevation. Althoguh it will surely make you sweat, I prefer this way up so that you can have a more gentle decline on your way down by taking the long trail.
The Long Trail stretches the 500 ft of elevation gain out over a longer distance, 1.2 mi, instead of the 0.5 mi short trail. To hike the Long Trail, stay to the left when approaching the trail map. Taking the Long Trail will provide you with a much easier route to summit Mt. Jo. I recommend taking this trail out and back if you struggle with steep inclines or declines, or just want to add a little more milage to your hike.
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Short trail or long trail?
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My recommendation is to hike the Short Trail to the top and take the Long Trail down. This allows you to climb up a steep incline and work for your view but allows you to have a gentle decline that is easy on the knees. Doing both trails also lets you see what all of Mt. Jo has to offer instead of just taking one route out-and-back.
Overlook Locations on Mt Jo
Most people will hike to the summit and be satisfied with the great view that gives you a sliver of Heart Lake and the surrounding peaks. However, there’s a less visited view (like the one in my featured photo!) that gives you the full view of Heart Lake.
As you approach the summit you will find 2 sets of staircases that lead you to the top. The first set, which is stretched out along an outcropping of exposed rock should be followed before continuing up to the summit. Â
A couple of yards away from the summit, you will see another set of stairs that help you climb a series of steep rocks. I recommend first climbing to the top to reach the summit.Â
Pro Tip:Â After climbing the ladders to the summit you can go back down to reach the second (and better in my opinion) viewpoint from Mt. Jo. To get there, head back down the ladders immediately bank a right through the trees, and follow the trail down toward an outcropping of rock about 0.1 mi from the ladder.
Ladders lead to the top of Mt. Jo
In this view, you can escape the trees that block the view from the summit, and get a better eye on Heart Lake.
Conclusion
Pat yourself on the back for completing Mt. Jo. This trail gives you a beautiful view of Heart Lake and the surrounding High Peaks without the difficulty of a 46’er.
I hope that this guide served you well. After reading, you should be fully prepared and have the knowledge to enjoy your time on Mt. Jo.
If you have any suggestions or would like to share your experience hiking Mt. Jo, I would love to hear from you! You can comment in the comment section below. Make sure to check out my other travel guides for inspiration on your next destination!
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