3-Lakes, Charcoal Burners, and Fahnestock Loop via Appalachian Trail

This is a nice "walk in the woods" loop which partially travels over Civil War era railroad beds (hauling iron ore for the mines in the area). Along the way, you'll see several lakes. The terrain varies from quite flat to moderate ups and downs. Park along NY Rte 301 at the point where the Appalachian Trail [AT] heads south from the highway. After a short descent, turn right to stay on the AT (white), which follows the bed of an old mining railroad, although, at 0.7 miles, it angles to the left, leaving this RR bed. At 0.8 miles, turn right onto the 3-Lakes Trail (blue), with periodic glimpses of Hidden Lake to the right. At 1.5 miles, turn right onto the Old Mine Railroad Trail (yellow), which, after crossing a stream on some rocks, turns left (Hidden Lake will be on your right) onto the railroad bed again. At 1.5 miles, turn right onto the Charcoal Burners Trail (red), which, at 2.9 miles, crosses Rte 301. Shortly thereafter, be sure to turn right to stay on the Charcoal Burners Trail until, at 3.8 miles, you turn right onto the Fahnestock Trail (blue), from which there are glimpses of Beaver Pond off to your left. After climbing over a ridgeline, this trail descends to meet the AT (white) at 4.8 miles, where you turn right. The AT continues a descent, reaching Rte 301 at 5.4 miles, where you turn left and walk along the highway (with Canopus Lake on your left) for about 0.1 miles back to your starting point. As a slight variation on this route, you can start on the 3-Lakes Trail instead of the AT. This adds about 0.5 mile to the total, but you get to see more iron-mine stuff along the 3-Lakes Trail.