Family friendly, short and highly rewarding. This short loop starts at the ADK Loj at Heart Lake, on the northern side of the high peaks. The summit of Mt Jo (elevation 2877 feet) affords spectacular views of the high peaks, including Algonquin (5114 feet) and Phelps Mountain (4150 ft). You also get a great view of Heart Lake in the valley. The hike is short (0.9 miles) to the summit, but STEEP! It is quite strenuous in the middle part of the climb, because the ascent is relentless. But some would consider the stair-like trail a pleasure. This hike makes an outstanding introductory hike for high peaks exploration, especially with kids who may not be quite ready for the 4000-footers.
The trail starts like this, but don’t be fooled 
before long it looks like this
Start from the “Loj” (the lodge) on an easy trail, and 0.3 miles after starting, look for the sign for the trail to the right. This is where the fun (and elevation gain) begins, and the trail quickly becomes much more difficult. Turn right again for the short trail, then climb the rocky steps up to where the short trail meets the long trail near the summit, 0.4 miles after the initial junction. Go right and about a quarter mile to the summit, and enjoy the fantastic views of the High Peaks Wilderness. Descend via the more gradual (but not exactly easy) long trail.
We took a total of two hours for this hike, including a 20-minute break at the top. The elevation gain was 738 feet, total distance (up and down, starting at our campsite and ending at the ice cream stand) was 2.7 miles.
If you’re looking for a quick, rewarding, workout-inducing hike in the high peaks, Mount Jo is a great choice! Below are some more photos from the hike, followed by a GPS trace of our route.
near the summit 
it flattens out on top 
take the long trail down
Rocky Falls, Adirondacks, New York