The Tupper Lake Triad

Arab, Coney & Goodman Mountains

Spring View from Goodman Mountain Summit

While kayaking on beautiful Lake Durant near Blue Mountain Lake, NY, one June day, my wife Carol Ann asked, "Where does Blue Mountain get its name?" So we visited the nearby Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake to buy a place names book. But there was no such publication.
So... I wrote What's With Those Adirondack Mountain Names?

Arab Mountain Fire Tower

Rising from the northern Adirondacks, Arab, Coney, and Goodman Mountains form the Tupper Lake Triad. This scenic hiking challenge spans 7.6 miles. Organized by the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), the Triad offers a year-round, family-friendly experience. It is suitable for beginners, seasoned hikers, and anyone up for a challenge.

Arab Mountain is the first of the three, known for its natural and cultural history. The name "Arab" is believed to have originated from a misinterpretation of the French word “arable.” The person who named it took “arable” to mean “maple mountain,” referencing the abundance of maple trees on the mountain. The French word for maple is “érable,” while “arable” in French means arid land. Today, Mount Arab features a restored caretaker cabin, a small museum, and a fire tower—once part of a larger network and now one of only two left in Saint Lawrence County. Although no longer used to spot fires, the tower remains an important historic site and a popular place to visit. The station opened in 1912, and the steel fire tower was built in 1918. Mount Arab is included in both the Fire Tower Challenge and the Triad, allowing hikers to complete both at once.

Astrophotographers Capturing the Night Sky Above Coney Mountain’s Summit

Coney Mountain’s story unfolds through its surveyors and sequence of names. First called Monument Mountain and ascended in 1772 during Archibald Campbell’s survey, it was later named Coney by Verplanck Colvin for its cone-like shape. Its open summit draws astrophotographers for sweeping 360-degree views of the night sky.

Completing the Triad, Goodman Mountain now stands as a memorial. It was once called Litchfield. In 2002, it was renamed in honor of Andrew Goodman, a young civil rights worker. His family spent summers in Tupper Lake and often climbed the mountain, following their trail of soup can tops. In 1964, at age 20, Goodman helped register Black voters during Freedom Summer in Mississippi. He, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner were killed there by the Ku Klux Klan. The 1988 film Mississippi Burning, starring Gene Hackman and William Dafoe, tells this story.

In 2014, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the three men, with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sponsoring the bill. She called them “unsung heroes” who gave their lives for freedom and equality, adding, “Voting is one of the most sacred rights we have as Americans.” Today, the trailhead kiosk at Goodman Mountain shares Andrew Goodman’s story and his family's memories.

Tupper Lake Hiking Triad Patches

Upon completion of the Triad, hikers can receive a patch by registering online or by mail for $10. There are patches for summer (March 21 to December 19) and winter (December 20 to March 20). Even dogs can earn a patch.

To register by mail, print the form, include a $10 check or money order to ROOST, and mail both to: Attn: TL Triad, 121 Park Street, Tupper Lake, NY 12986.

The Tupper Lake Triad is more than a physical challenge. It helps hikers connect with local history, enjoy the area’s natural beauty, and learn about the people who molded the region. Completing the Triad is a rewarding and memorable experience.

Author's Note: Thank you to Ashley Garwood, Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake Regional Manager, Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST), for her contribution to this article.