A few miles southeast of Malone, there is a small, quaint and secluded hamlet resting on a quiet mountainside of northern New York.

It is called Owls Head, and according to Nancy King, the rural town acquired its name exactly how it sounds.

"I was just a little girl in the '40s," King said. "My family moved up here and we noticed right away the shape of an owl's head on the side of the mountain."
Owls Head is situated on mountainous terrain, and overlooking the entire hamlet is an odd-shaped mountaintop.

"Apparently it always looked like an owl's head, but over the last few decades the harsh weather and acid rain has eaten away the mountain. It's deteriorated so much that it really doesn't resemble an owl at all anymore," King said.

Living on Pond Road, just around the corner from King, Peggy Scott also remembers the mountaintop once looking like an owl. Her husband, Perry, who moved to the hamlet in the '90s, simply laughs and balks at the idea of a mountain shaped similar to an owl's head.

"I don't know much about that (referring to the mountaintop's shape)," laughed Perry. "But I do know this is a mighty good little town."

Perry has lived in Montana, Seattle, Los Angeles and Minnesota, but he believes Owls Head is one of the nicest places he has ever lived.

"I like that there's not a whole lot of traffic. No stop lights or stop signs," he said. "And the people are easy to get along with. A lot of good relatives and friends up here."

The Scotts described the excellent snow sledding, skiing, ice fishing and hunting that is readily available throughout the area, but they also complained about the distance of their hamlet from any shopping or metropolitan entertainment.

"There's a lot of traveling involved to do anything," Peggy said.

"We have a grocery store, Stuart's, but it closes up shop in the winter. Then there's Trailside Bar a few miles down the road and Titus Mountain for the sporty folks," Perry added. "Other than that, everything needs to be done in Malone, and that's about 10 or 12 miles away."

Stuart's Country Store in Owls Head has a down-home atmosphere. The store itself is adorned in a warm and appealing decor, reminiscent of days long gone. The inviting front porch has Adirondack chairs and a picnic table, inviting everyone to enjoy a casual conversation while sharing their favorite food and drinks with local friends.

The Trailside Bar and Restaurant is a full service bar and restaurant in Mount View, just down the road from Owls Head. It has excellent meals, all legal beverages, New York State Lottery and Quick Draw, and gas and oil for passing snowmobiles, ATVs and other vehicles.

Trailside, owned by a local, Ron Monette, also offers Adirondack-styled rental cabins, a famous breakfast menu, banquet facilities, and "the friendliest and most helpful staff anywhere."

"We're always sponsoring special events, like poker runs, golf tournaments, horseshoe nights, big buck contests, pool and foosball," Monette said. "We are just spitting distance from all the scenic, historical and recreational attractions. We've got tons of parking for sleds and ATVs, and we offer trail maps with regularly posted road and trail conditions."

Monette said most of his business comes from visitors leaving Titus Mountain Ski Resort, and High Falls - a compact series of waterfalls with spectacular scenes. The Salmon River, located at the base of the falls, also attracts fisherman from across the region.

"It's superb trout fishing both above and below the falls," Monette said.

Three miles south of Owls Head, sits Titus Mountain, a locally renowned recreation attraction.

"Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondacks, Titus Mountain provides skiing and other snow sport fun for the whole family, at affordable prices," states the Ski Resort's Web site.

The mountain offers 27 trails, from the beginner to the expert, and has different terrains for all types of skiing.

"I'm not much of a skier," Perry said. "I've never been up to Titus, but I do meet a lot of the visitors at Trailside. I'm always meeting new people that way."

Another place Perry has never been to around the Owls Head area is Ragged Lake, a federally protected lake and region just a mile north of his house.

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) keeps a close watch on the lake, permitting access to a few select people. The DEC will not allow motorboats upon the lake or tree harvesting from any area surrounding the water.

Mat-a-Mek Corporation, and its subsequent shareholders, own the camps along Ragged Lake and have a no trespassing zone surrounding the 170-acre water and surface area.

Owls Head is a quiet hamlet with many recreational activities. It may not have a federally recognized name, but it's well known to the fisherman, skiers, Adirondack enthusiasts, snowmobilers and regular homebodies of the North Country.

With an elevation level of 1,532 feet, Owls Head stands out physically and emotionally for the residents of Franklin County.

"I just love this town," King said. "I have been here all my life. It's so beautiful and quiet. I wouldn't trade this place for anything."