The Bloomingdale Bog is a family friendly place for a hike. (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

I think my dog can sense when I’m taking her for a walk along the Bloomingdale Bog Trail. Most of the time we want a quick, easy trail that gets us outside and is appropriate for all family and friends of various skill levels. Any segment of the flat Bloomingdale Bog trail fits the bill.

Starting at the County Route 55 parking area one mile west of Bloomingdale, we walk around the yellow gated entrance, heading south toward Route 86. Our destination is just the 0.9-mile walk to Two Bridge Brook instead of the complete 3.7-mile hike/bike ride to the end of the trail. It’s a busy trail and wonderful for bird watchers so I keep my dog on her leash. Besides she always chooses the most rank places to wallow.

The autumn leaves are still bright and the tamaracks are in full color. The tamaracks’ golden hue showcases itself as one of the few deciduous conifers preparing to lose its needles for winter. The cold-hardy tree has a few names such as eastern larch and American larch. Whatever you call the tamarack, it is commonly found in wet places making the bog the perfect home. It certainly brings color to the forest.

This section of the Bloomingdale Bog is busy. Bike riders, family pushing strollers, and a few bird watchers all share the trail. We walk along but stop at the many available bog views. My dog continues to pull me along, not wanting me to be too distracted. We finally reach the bridge where she rests in the only patch of mud along the trail. Figures.

To enter the Bloomingdale Bog trail from Route 86, travel on Route 86 for 0.8-mile north from the intersection of Trudeau Road and Route 86 in Saranac Lake. The path follows the abandoned Delaware and Hudson (D&H) Railway lines north eventually crossing County Route 55. Enjoy!

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Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Time guidebook series. For more family-friendly activities go to www.adirondackfamilytime.com.