- Campsites near the northern terminus? Wannika Falls is the northernmost large campsite on the trail, 6.7 miles from the trailhead. There is a small tentsite just north of the bridge crossing the Chubb River, but it’s not that far from Wannika.
- Best time of year to thru hike? Very debatable and depends on what your experience is and what you’re looking for. Mud and even snow dominate May, blackflies can be really bad May and June. July and August are warm/hot, good swimming weather. September/October tend to be drier trail with pleasant days and cool/cold nights. Not many folks try thru hikes after Thanksgiving, when real snow and cold plus shorter days make things really challenging.
- Recommended itineraries for various # of days (7 day, 10 day, 12 day, 14 day) Know yourself and your abilities, then your schedule. Use the Nat Geo map to lay out an itinerary that works for you. There are ample leantos, campsites, and resupply points that can work with any time frame. In general, 7 days is tough and means lots of 15+ mile days, 10 days gives more time to enjoy the trail and campsites, lots of folks think 12 days is ideal, and 14 days lets you really soak up all the trail has to offer.
- Parking recs at northern and southern termini? Northville has ample and relatively secure parking right at the arch at the southern terminus. Averyville road has a small parking lot that has seen its share of vandalism but is right at the trailhead. The Lake Placid Historical Society has parking but it would be wise to check first and make arrangements.
- Resupply points? Piseco is the first common resupply point and the post office is directly on the trail (and is open despite what Google maps says). Lake Durant campground is the next major point, but reports vary on whether they’ll hold a resupply box. Blue Mountain Lake is not far from Lake Durant and there’s a post office there. Long Lake is the typical last resupply, with town and the post office about 3 miles from the trail. There is a spur trail directly to town, but thru hikers are nearly unanimous that it’s a terrible trail and you’d have to backtrack to finish an official thru hike.
- Showers? There are showers at Lake Durant campground. $2 cash. You can pay at the front entrance kiosk of the park. If you’re coming northbound, this would be after shower house, on your right. Southbound, after the shower house, on your left.
- Shuttles? Available shuttles are hard to find in the southern half, but not impossible.
- Do I need the guidebook? The guidebook is written by a couple who has hiked the NPT at least 25 times, they provide a wealth of knowledge in their comprehensive guide. No guidebook can hope to be up to date on actual trail conditions, but the book has been updated fairly recently.
- Where can I buy the guidebook? Northville 5 and Dime, Lake Placid Bookstore, other regional bookstores may have copies. Amazon had the latest (5th) edition as of January 2026. There are links on the Helpful Publications page
- What constitutes an official thru hike? Completion of the entire trail and road walks from Northville to the Averyville Road trailhead (or vice versa). Convention would assume this is done as a single trip, but completion of the trail in sections within 12 months does qualify for the finisher patch.
- How long will my fuel canister last? The small 100 gram containers last for about 60 minutes and a jetboil stove takes about 1-2 minutes to boil 1/2 liter of water, so a can could last 30 meals. My experience is a small can will last 6-7 days using it to boil water in the morning and at night. Carrying 2 cans should be sufficient for a typical thru hike. Hoss’s in Long Lake usually has them for sale if you get to Long Lake and feel you need one.
- Is the trail well marked? Generally the trail is really well-marked and is getting better. “Well-marked” certainly means different things to different people, and it is definitely a wilderness trail where a certain amount of experience at trail finding is assumed. Areas that are not well-marked are typically on very clear stretches of trail or road where you shouldn’t have trouble.
- Do I need GPS? What are some recs for GPS? GPS is now pretty standard wilderness technology and most cell phones now have at least some usable GPS. Garmin is the clear leader in standalone devices, which do require a subscription plan to use. Many can send and receive texts and location via satellite, but the dense tree coverage on the NPT will interfere and delay messages.
- Cell phone reception? Generally no reception on the trail. The road walk in Piseco is usually ok reception, Tirrell Pond pretty good, Long Lake pretty good. Plumley’s Point leanto is the northernmost place I’ve had any reception.
- What temp rating sleeping bag? This depends very much on your style and when you’re out there. A good 20 degree bag is a solid choice if you don’t know for sure what you need. Quilts can be a great option for the NPT, as a 20 degree quilt can be opened up and comfy at 60 degrees or closed down and keep you warm down to about freezing.
- General gear recommendations? Camp shoes, boots/runners, tent/tarp/hammock? First, some kind of shelter is absolutely necessary in my opinion. Some people wonder about just using the leantos, which you definitely can plan to camp at each night. The problem is your plans don’t always work out, and a full leanto is not out of the question. And if you are hurt or otherwise delayed, you might be forced to camp someplace you didn’t intend to. Boots vs. trail runners is very much an individual choice, as is waterproof vs. not. If you are not experienced enough to know you can work with trail runners, boots provide more stability and durability. Tarps are light and can be set up anywhere, but have less protection than a tent. Hammocks are loved by many, but do require trees to hang from (normally this is a non-issue on the NPT).
- Can I set up my tent in a leanto? Most people agree that you should not set up a tent in a leanto, and it is against DEC regulations. If you feel you need to be in your tent, just set it up outside the leanto.
- Can I just drop used toilet paper like a trail of breadcrumbs? No! What the heck is wrong with you for even thinking that? Do your best to use privies and thunderboxes which are at every leanto and many tent spots, but at least dig a hole 6 inches deep and bury waste and toilet paper.
- Is the trail flat? The trail is rarely flat but there is little elevation gain or loss over its length. The biggest climb is just south of Long Lake, which is about 1,000 feet over the span of a mile or so. It’s a rolling terrain that can be irritating, but there aren’t many stretches where you’re going up or down for more than 15 minutes at a stretch.
- Is it muddy? The distinguishing feature of the NPT is mud. Some years are better than others, but plan on being muddy and accept it as part of the fun.
- Why are bugs? It’s the woods, there are bugs. The most notable being the black fly, which is a trip wrecker from early May to late June. As they wind down, the deer flies gear up and are less numerous but no less of a torment. Mosquitoes are normally present all summer and are particular abundant at wetter spots on the trail. Yellow jackets are a sporadic problem, but be aware if you’re allergic.
- Water abundance? Treatment methods? Water is everywhere, and you could almost certainly hike with a liter or less and never be in trouble. Filters work well as the water is generally clear and deep enough to fill bags easily. Pump filters are one option, but gravity filters are usually faster and require no hands on work after setting up. Chemical tablets are a sensible backup option and are very lightweight. Iodine is a classic but definitely gives water a distinct flaver. Boiling is a last option, and despite being clean and clear, no water should be considered safe to drink without treatment.
- Hotel/lodging recs at north and south ends? In and around Northville, choices are really limited. The Timeless Tavern is right at the start point, it’s modest and clean but some find it pricy for the accommodations. Lake Placid has an abundance of hotels.
- Campsites around Wakely Dam? Here is a map of campsites near Wakely Dam.
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