McColloms Road is not drivable with most vehicles and not recommended for any. With that being said, the Kettle Trail is just as rewarding hiked in parts; make it what you want.

From Slush Pond Road, the trail starts out flat before starting a series of rolling hills through a most beautiful forest of pines. Along these rolling hills, you will have the opportunity to overlook some Adirondack kettle ponds, but to reach them it will take a bit of off-trail travel.

A kettle pond is a glacial pond or a pond created by receding floodwaters, the latter would be more of the case in the Adirondacks. Many kettle ponds get fed by melting snow and heavy rains which collect in depressions in the earth. These ponds have no inlet or outlet, so many have begun to dry up or be covered over with deep peat moss. They are still very much attractive.

This trail is one of the nicest in the area with soft footing, dry conditions and scenic value as it passes through the tall red pine stand. The trail eventually meets up with an old woods road that follows along a property line. Once the trail meets the woods road, you will be on it until you reach McColloms Road.

An Adirondack kettle pond. (Provided photo — Spencer Morrissey)

The field before the woods road is an excellent spot to turn around. If you decide to roll through to McColloms, plan to walk the road for around 2.2 miles back to state Route 30.

HOW TO GET THERE: From the intersection of state Route 3 and Route 86 in Saranac Lake follow Route 86 toward Paul Smiths. Continue for 12.5 miles to Route 30. Take a right onto Route 30 and continue for 3.75 miles to Slush Pond Road on the left; this is a seasonal use, dirt road. Follow Slush Pond Road for 0.6-miles or so to the trailhead on the right. There is room for one car on both sides of the road.

OUT AND BACK (to McColloms Road and back to Slush Pond Road): Up to 7.6 miles

THROUGH HIKE (two cars needed): 6.0 miles