Fulton Chain Trifecta: Rocky Mountain, Bald Mountain, and Black Bear Mountain
The Fulton Chain Trifecta consists of three mountains near Inlet, New York. These peaks are Rocky Mountain, Bald Mountain, and Black Bear Mountain and they are just east of Old Forge. These are very popular hikes and beginner hikers, families with children, and repeat visitors to the area love these mountains. I am no different!
In the 25-ish years I’ve gone to Inlet for the summer, I can confidently say I have done dozens of hikes up these mountains. All three have different difficulty levels and a little something different to offer which is what makes them so great. Being in such close proximity you can just pick what level of activity you want to do for the day and head over to the trailhead!
Keep reading this post to learn all about hiking these peaks. These are certainly family favorites in the southern Adirondacks region of New York. You can read more about Bald Mountain and Black Bear Mountain in my linked posts as well.
- Fulton Chain Trifecta Hiking Challenge
- Comparison
- Rocky Mountain
- Bald Mountain
- Black Bear Mountain
The Fulton Chain Trifecta Hiking Challenge
This list of three hikes challenges hikers to climb Rocky Mountain, Bald Mountain, and Black Bear Mountain between Old Forge and Inlet, NY in the southern Adirondacks region. There is a patch available for hikers who complete the Fulton Chain Trifecta as well. There is no time limit so you can do these over the course of days to years!
If you hike each of the three peaks in the Fulton Chain Trifecta, you can fill out the Fulton Chain Trifecta Registration Form. When you send the form in, along with $6.00, you can receive a patch. This can be a great motivation for kids to hike all three mountains (once they have the endurance to hike Black Bear) or it can just be fun on your own.
You can also hike each of the three peaks between December 21st and March 20th and send in a second form to receive a separate Fulton Chain Trifecta Winter Patch! The terrain and landscape looks and feels completely different in the winter. I recommend ensuring you have all the gear you need and the skills before embarking on winter hiking adventures.
To learn about other hiking lists in the Northeast, visit my Hiking page.
Comparison of the Peaks
Check out the table below for a quick comparison of these three hikes. All three mountains will be discussed further below with even more info shared in other linked posts for Bald Mountain and Black Bear Mountain.
You can see the table is set up from shortest hike to longest. By coincidence, this is also the order of smallest mountain to tallest. Hopefully this gives you an idea of the skill level needed to tackle this trio!
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN | BALD MOUNTAIN | BLACK BEAR MOUNTAIN | |
| Approx. Hike Length | ~1.0mi | ~2.0mi | ~5.0mi |
| Approx. Elevation Gain | ~449ft | ~400ft | ~801ft |
| Approx. Moving Time | 58min | 1h 10min | 2h 44min |
| Starting Point | Black Bear/Rocky Trailhead | Bald Mountain Trailhead | Black Bear/Rocky Trailhead |
| Summit Elevation | 2,228ft | 2,349ft | 2,454ft |
| Hike Type | Out and Back | Out and Back | Loop or Out and Back |
Note Bald Mountain Trailhead (seen as Rondaxe Fire Tower Trail on a phone map) is 5 miles east of Old Forge. The trailhead for both Rocky Mountain and Black Bear Mountain is a big parking lot 11 miles east of Old Forge. While there are tons of spots in both lots, on busy days they can fill up during peak hours very quickly.
Rocky Mountain: Smallest of the Fulton Chain Trifecta
- Length: ~1.0mi
- Elevation Gain: ~449ft
- Hiking Time: 58 minutes
- Type: Out and Back
Rocky Mountain is the quickest and simplest peak within the Fulton Chain Trifecta. It is an easy climb to reach the top of this mountain but it is a climb nonetheless. Looking at a map you’ll see the trail looks like half of a circle at the end of which you can enjoy the summit views before heading back down.
The trail up Rocky Mountain is not a flattened, cleared path through the woods. You will be hiking on rock slabs and stepping over roots for much of this hike. Beware as these can be extremely slippery after a rainstorm comes through or when the autumn leaves begin to fall. Watch out for mud too!
If you take your time on this hike there is nothing to worry about though! Only a half mile to the summit, this is a very doable hike for any beginner hiker or for families with children. It is a great introduction to hiking and will give you an understanding of you and your children’s abilities and interests.
The summit of Rocky Mountain is the smallest of the Fulton Chain Trifecta. That said, it still has an open summit with stunning views of Fourth Lake stretching out below you. This is a great quick climb to fit into your day if you are visiting the area!
If you have the ability to hike a little longer, I highly recommend checking out Bald Mountain. At double the length, but about the same elevation gain, it is my opinion that the views are even better. Plus, the fire tower at the top is a special feature and is even more fantastic to see for sunrise.
Bald Mountain: Best Summit of the Fulton Chain Trifecta
- Length: ~2.0mi
- Elevation Gain: ~400ft
- Hiking Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Type: Out and Back
Bald Mountain, or the Rondaxe Fire Tower hike, is such a fun adventure! I have a full breakdown in my post: Bald Mountain Fire Tower Hike to Climb Rondaxe Fire Tower. It is the perfect, quick day hike giving you maximum views for minimum effort.
This mountain has been a family favorite forever. I hiked it as a kid and now I hike it with my little cousins. A few summers ago we even did our first sunrise summit at the Rondaxe Fire Tower and it was gorgeous.
The trail up is an easy to moderate incline. You can expect different sections of trail as well. Some are full of roots, some are rocky, and some are scrambly. One section has a row of large exposed rocks that we like to tell the kids is a dinosaur’s back they are walking along.
There are more of these rock slabs where the trail opens up so be careful of where you step when it is wet. It is an exposed area which can easily make some hikers nervous. That said, the trail itself is not one I would consider dangerous.
Bald Mountain’s summit is my favorite of the three in the Fulton Chain Trifecta. It is a long clearing on top of the rocks and offers lots of room for groups to spread out and enjoy the summit. That said, this is an extremely popular hike in the summer and midday you can definitely expect the top to be crowded! The tower is not very large so you might be waiting if you wish to climb it.
Black Bear Mountain: Longest of the Fulton Chain Trifecta
- Length: ~5.0mi
- Elevation Gain: ~801ft
- Hiking Time: 2 hours 44 minutes
- Type: Loop or Out and Back
Black Bear Mountain is the most challenging of the three peaks of the Fulton Chain Trifecta but that makes it all the more rewarding. To read a full description of the trails up Black Bear Mountain and what to expect, read my post: Hike Black Bear Mountain in Inlet, NY.
This mountain can be completed as a loop using both the yellow and blue trails or as an out and back by choosing only one color to hike. Together, the trails form a lollipop loop (as discussed in my linked post).
The yellow trail is a little longer but the blue trail is steeper. There is also a technically challenging portion when climbing the blue trail and a rope is provided for extra grip (though not necessary for all hikers). It is good to be aware of your limits and understand what is expected of you.
Both trails can be slippery after it has rained. There are a lot of roots and rocks poking out of the dirt as is commonly seen on trails in the Adirondacks. Overall, this hike isn’t that technically different from the other two, it is just longer.
The summit is vast and provides lots of great views of the landscape below. As I mentioned, this might be one to work up endurance for to challenge your family but it is well worth the adventure! Also, the views are different compared to Rocky Mountain and Bald Mountain as those are pretty similar.
Don’t forget to leave yourself time before or after your hike to visit Old Forge or Inlet! Both mountain towns have great shopping, food and activities for visitors of any age to enjoy. Truly a special area, you’ll want to return time and time again!
Check out my other posts on hiking and travels in New York or the Adirondacks more specifically and if you have any questions feel free to contact me. I hope you are able to enjoy exploring the Fulton Chain Trifecta and surrounding area. Let me know what you think!
