Balfour Lake overlook
The Balfour Lake overlook sits at 2,195 feet along the Roosevelt-Marcy Trail, facing 120 degrees toward the southeast. The land drops 407 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, giving the terrain a steep character close to the viewpoint. Three peaks are visible: Green Mountain to the southeast at 3.4 miles (2,791 ft), Hayes Mountain to the east at 4.7 miles (2,764 ft), and Moxham Mountain to the south at 7.3 miles (2,351 ft). Because the facing is angled 30 degrees off square toward sunrise, the view aligns with morning light; on the June solstice the sun rises at 05:15, on the equinoxes around 06:44-07:00, and on the December solstice at 07:28. Sunset times range from 20:43 in June to 16:22 in December. The nearest towns are Moriah, 28.3 miles east-northeast, Saranac Lake, 32.9 miles north, and Queensbury, 38.6 miles south-southeast, all well outside walking distance.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Green Mountain2,791 ftsoutheast · 3.4 mi
- Hayes Mountain2,764 fteast · 4.7 mi
- Moxham Mountain2,351 ftsouth · 7.3 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunrise — 30° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:00 | 19:08 | 18:30 |
| June solstice | 05:15 | 20:43 | 19:59 |
| September equinox | 06:44 | 18:55 | 18:17 |
| December solstice | 07:28 | 16:22 | 15:35 |
Local time (America/New_York). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
- Moriah28.3 mi east-northeast
- Saranac Lake32.9 mi north
- Queensbury38.6 mi south-southeast
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How high is Balfour Lake overlook?
Balfour Lake overlook sits at about 2,195 feet (669 m).
What can you see from Balfour Lake overlook?
From Balfour Lake overlook: Green Mountain (SE, 3.4 mi); Hayes Mountain (E, 4.7 mi); Moxham Mountain (S, 7.3 mi).
Is Balfour Lake overlook better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise. The land falls away from Balfour Lake overlook toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Balfour Lake overlook?
Moriah, 28 miles ENE of Balfour Lake overlook.
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Lake George · 28 mi
- Crown Point · 29 mi
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Balfour Lake overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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