Adirondack mountains    

The Adirondack Park covers 6 million acres of public and private land and features hundreds of mountains, lakes, ponds, and streams shaped by the ice-age glaciers.

The "high peaks" region near Lake Placid, site of two Winter Olympics, includes the very popular hiking routes up the larger mountains such as Marcy (the highest at 5344 feet) and Algonquin. If you hike up one of these mountains in the summer vacation season you may suspect all Adirondack vacationers have decided to join you; it's not uncommon for hundreds to hike up a popular peak on a given day. So much for wilderness solitude.

Avoiding the crowds

Here are a few suggestions for enjoying the Adirondack wilderness without as much of the congestion of the popular high peaks:

Looking toward Whiteface from Catamount 		Catamount Mountain in the northern Adirondacks is a wonderful hike offering beautiful views and almost guaranteed to be yours alone as it is out of the way and it's somewhat difficult to find the unmarked trailhead. Be prepared to do some scrambling up some occasionally steep stretches of bare rock. Check the guidebooks for directions.

Pitcher plant, Silver Lake Bog 		Silver Lake Bog, also in the northern Adirondacks, is a Nature Conservancy preserve featuring a boardwalk through an otherwise impassable bog. A brochure available at the trailhead provides a self-guided tour through the fascinating bog environment. Continue on the trail to the red pines on the 400 foot bluffs overlooking Silver Lake. It's a great place for a picnic lunch. To get there drive 1 mile west on Union Falls Road after its intersection with Silver Lake Road and turn left onto the dirt road. The trailhead is about 2 tenths mile on the right.
Mount Van Hoevenberg is the site of the Olympic bobsled run. A very nice trail leads from South Meadow road up the southern flank of the mountain. Several cliff-side clearings look over wonderful views of South Meadow and the surrounding high peaks.
Fall view from Mt. Van Hoevenberg

Rocky Peak from Rocky Peak Ridge 		Rocky Peak Ridge can be approached a couple of ways. My favorite is the trail from Route 9 heading west over Bald Peak. It's a strenuous hike with spectacular rugged views and a lot of trailside variety. Make beautiful little Bald Peak your final destination if Rocky Peak Ridge is more than you want to contend with.
Consider hiking in the off season. You can hike (or ski or snowshoe) the most popular routes without encountering anywhere near the summer crush of hikers. The Adirondacks are particularly beautiful in winter. Hike in groups of four or more for safety and arm yourself with the proper knowledge and techniques to enjoy the experience. Winterwise: A Backpacker's Guide by John M. Dunn, M.D. (ISBN 0-935272-46-1) is a a good source of information for safely enjoying the Adirondack winter season.
On top of Ampersand

Biggest "Ooooh!" for the effort

Mount Jo, next to Heart Lake (one of the major trailheads), is a very popular short, somewhat steep, little hike with great views of Algonquin, Indian Pass, and surrounding peaks. Perhaps just as nice is Owl's Head Mountain just outside of Keene with almost instant scenic rewards along the short trail.


View from Mount Jo
Red pine on Owl's Head cliff

A word to newcomers

No matter what your hiking or outdoor experience is, don't be lulled into complacency by the seemingly tame altitudes and distances of the Adirondacks. Severe weather and rugged trails are sometimes more than hikers bargain for. The Adirondacks are often wet, humid, cold, windy, hot, buggy, muddy, slippery, rainy, gray, sunny and sometimes all of these simultaneously! Read and follow the instructions in the guidebooks to avoid becoming one of the annual accident statistics.

Wear hiking boots (not sneakers), bring plenty of water, proper clothing, and food. Don't wear cotton: cotton socks are blister-makers and cotton shirts and pants never dry out once wet (from rain or sweat). Cotton is uncomfortable at best and dangerous at worst (due to hypothermia). Wear wool or synthetics such as polypropylene.

Finally, if you want to fit right in like a veteran Adirondack hiker, have the right attitude. When meeting other hikers during a torrential downpour; with everyone wet, cold, and muddy; give the customary greeting: "Beautiful day isn't it?" And mean it.

Resources

Anyone wanting to learn about basic Adirondack natural history and to take an easy stroll through woods and wetlands should visit one of the Visitor Interpretive Centers run by NY State. Though sometimes crowded, they're a worthwhile and enjoyable introduction to the region. The Paul Smith's center is the easiest to get to, the most comprehensive, and the most visited. If you want a quieter experience, go to the center in Newcomb--there is a very knowledgeable staff there and a beautiful network of easy trails to explore.
Heron Marsh, Paul Smith's V.I.C.

Hiking guidebooks

  • The Guide to Adirondack Trails series, published by the Adirondack Mountain Club, includes volume I, High Peaks Region, ISBN 0-935272-62-3.
  • The "Discover the Adirondacks" series by Barbara McMartin includes Discover the Adirondack High Peaks, Backcountry Publications, ISBN 0-942440-47-1.

Natural history

  • 85 Acres: A Field Guide to the Adirondack Alpine Summits, Nancy Slack and Allison Bell, Adirondack Mountain Club, ISBN 0-935272-68-2.
  • Adirondack Wildguide, Michael DiNunzio, Brodock Press, Inc., ISBN 0-9613403-1-2.

Adirondack history

Adirondack Country by William Chapman White, Syracuse University Press, ISBN 0-8156-0193, is the definitive history of the Adirondacks.

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Last updated 1 Jan 1998