There's a bumper sticker you'll see on half the Subarus in upstate New York: "ADK 46er." It refers to the people who've climbed all 46 Adirondack High Peaks—a bucket list that's been pulling hikers into these mountains since the 1920s. And honestly, once you set foot above treeline up here, you'll understand the obsession.
The Adirondack High Peaks are different from anything else on the East Coast. They're remote. They're wild. The trails are rooty, muddy, and sometimes feel more like streambeds than footpaths. But the payoff—those wide-open alpine summits with views that stretch forever—is absolutely worth every step.
Whether you're just getting started or looking for your next big challenge, here are our favorite hikes in the High Peaks region.
Easy Hikes (The Gateway Peaks)
Cascade Mountain
Distance: 4.8 miles | Elevation Gain: 1,940 ft
Cascade is the most popular High Peak for a reason—it's the perfect introduction. The trail is well-maintained, the climb is steady but never brutal, and the summit is one of the best in the park. You get a massive, open rock face with 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks and Cascade Lake shimmering below. Get there early on weekends, because the trailhead parking lot fills up fast.
Baxter Mountain
Distance: 2.2 miles | Elevation Gain: 730 ft
Technically, Baxter isn't one of the 46 High Peaks (it's only 2,440 ft), but it's one of our favorite quick hikes in Keene Valley. It's short, sweet, and the summit views rival peaks twice its size. This is the hike to send visiting friends to when it's their first time in the area and they only have a couple hours. You'll look out over Keene Valley with the High Peaks lined up behind it like a postcard.
Moderate Hikes (Get Above Treeline)
Algonquin Peak
Distance: 9 miles | Elevation Gain: 2,936 ft
Algonquin is the second-highest peak in New York, and many people prefer it to Marcy. The reason? The alpine zone. Once you break above treeline, you're in a world of low, scrubby vegetation and exposed rock with views in every direction. On a clear day, you can see Mount Marcy to the east, the MacIntyre Range stretching south, and Lake Colden way down below. The trail starts at the Adirondak Loj (yes, they spell it that way) and climbs through gorgeous hardwood forest before hitting the alpine zone.
Giant Mountain
Distance: 6 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,050 ft
Giant earns its name. The climb from Route 73 is relentless—you gain over 3,000 feet in just 3 miles—but the ridge walk at the top is spectacular. You'll pass the Giant Washbowl (a beautiful little pond) on the way up, and the summit views are some of the most dramatic in the park. If you've got extra energy, continue along the ridge to Rocky Peak, which adds about 3 miles but gives you one of the finest ridge walks in the Adirondacks.
Challenging Hikes (The Real Deal)
Gothics via Orebed Brook
Distance: 10 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,200 ft
Gothics is, hands down, the most dramatic peak in the Adirondacks. The mountain gets its name from the Gothic arch-shaped rock slides on its face, and climbing it via Orebed Brook takes you right up those slides. You'll use cables bolted into the rock to haul yourself up near-vertical slabs. It's not technical climbing, but it's exhilarating and not for anyone afraid of heights. The views from the summit—looking down into the Great Range—are jaw-dropping.
Mount Marcy
Distance: 14.8 miles | Elevation Gain: 3,166 ft
The highest point in New York State at 5,344 feet. Marcy is a long day, not because it's technically difficult, but because it's just far. Most people take the Van Hoevenberg Trail, which winds through beautiful forest and past Indian Falls before the final push to the alpine summit. The views from the top are incredible—on a clear day, you can see Vermont, the St. Lawrence lowlands, and seemingly every other High Peak. Start early and bring a headlamp, just in case.
Great Range Traverse
Distance: 18 miles | Elevation Gain: 9,000+ ft
This is the legendary one. The Great Range Traverse takes you over some of the most dramatic terrain in the eastern United States—summiting Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, and Haystack in a single push. It's a dawn-to-dusk (or beyond) suffer-fest that'll test your fitness, your navigation, and your will. But standing on Haystack at sunset, looking back at the ridge you just crossed, is one of those "why I hike" moments. This one requires a car shuttle or a very long road walk.
What to Bring to the High Peaks
The Adirondacks have a few unique challenges that are worth preparing for: - Bug protection: The blackflies in May/June are legendary. Bug nets, DEET, and permethrin-treated clothing are not optional. - Mud season: Spring trails can be knee-deep mud. Gaiters and waterproof boots are essential. Many trails have seasonal closures to protect them—check the DEC website before you go. - Weather layers: Alpine summits can be 20-30 degrees colder than the trailhead, with fierce wind. Bring a windbreaker and a warm layer even on warm days. - Navigation: Some High Peaks trails are poorly marked, especially the "herd paths" to trailless peaks. Bring a map and compass (or a GPS device) and know how to use them. - Trekking poles: Trust us on this one. ADK trails are essentially vertical obstacle courses of roots and rock—your knees will thank you on the descent.
Get Out There
The Adirondack High Peaks are one of the last truly wild places in the eastern U.S. Whether you're bagging your first summit or working on your 46er patch, every trip up here reminds you why you fell in love with hiking in the first place.
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