Courtesy of Jay Christopher
Adirondack High Peaks for beginners
Hiking a High Peaks is a physically challenging trip that requires not only stamina but some basic wilderness experience.
There's really no beginner level High Peak, which generally means a mountain more than 4,000 feet in the Adirondacks, but there are a few that are better than others to start on.
After you've finished hiking a number of smaller peaks as a means of gaining experience, try out one of these hikes. You won't be disappointed.
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Kittenmittons23 via flickr
Phelps Mountain
This High Peak is named for legendary Adirondack guide Orson "Old Mountain" Phelps, who cut the first trail up Mount Marcy in the 1800s. So it seems like an appropriate trail for people beginning to hike High Peaks. Overall, the trip to the 4,161-foot summit is 8.8-miles roundtrip. This High Peak is considered the easiest to hike of the mountains accessible from the Marcy Dam area.
Trailhead: End of Adirondack Loj Road in Lake Placid. The parking is on Adirondack Mountain Club property, which requires a fee.
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Joel via flickr
Giant Mountain
This is a very challenging 7.2-mile round-trip hike from the Roaring Brook Falls trailhead. What makes it a good hike for beginners is that the hiking distance is shorter than many other High Peaks trails, and it's well-marked and easy to find. Like many other High Peaks that are easy to reach, it can get crowded. Try hiking on a weekday. The views are spectacular and include the Dix Mountain Range.
Trailhead: The Roaring Brook Falls trailhead is located on state Route 73 about 3 miles south of Keene Valley.
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Kirby Clement via flickr
Dial Mountain
This 7.6-mile round-trip to the summit of Dial Mountain is probably less known that some of the other popular High Peaks, such as Giant Mountain and Cascade. However, because it's less well known, you're more likely to have the summit to yourself. In addition to getting views from the summit of Dial, the hike includes climbing over the west shoulder of Noonmark and Bear Den Mountain. Both offer vistas.
Trailhead: Lake Road on Ausable Club Property. The parking lot is across the road from the Roaring Brook Falls trailhead.
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Porter and Cascade
Cascade Mountain is considered the easiest High Peak because of the short hike to the 4,098-foot summit of 2.4 miles (one way). However, because the trailhead is easy to find and close to Lake Placid, it does get overcrowded. So it's best to hike this mountain during weekdays when there are fewer people. The views from the bald top are amazing. In addition, one can hike to the summit of Porter Mountain by taking a trail located 2.1 miles up the Cascade and Porter trailhead.
Trailhead: The trailhead is located about 7.5 miles from Lake Placid on state Route 73. Parking is limited and can be a problem at times.
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David via flickr
Wright Peak
Part of the Algonquin Range that includes Algonquin and Iroquois Peaks, Wright is a popular mountain to hike from the Adirondack Mountain Club's High Peaks Information Center. The hike is 7.2 miles round trip. From the bald summit, there are great views in many directions, including when looking toward Mount Colden.
Trailhead: End of Adirondack Loj Road in Lake Placid. The parking is on Adirondack Mountain Club property, which requires a fee.
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Kittenmittons23 via flickr
Esther and Whiteface
Many of the High Peaks can be grouped together and hiked during the same trip. Esther and Whiteface fall into this category. Whiteface is the most developed High Peak by far, and one can drive to the summit. However, there are also a couple hiking trails that ascend it. The hike to the top of Whiteface from the Wilmington Reservoir trailhead is 10.4 miles roundtrip. Esther is 6.8 miles round trip when hiked by itself, but can be combined with the trip up Whiteface.
Trailhead: The trailhead is located on the left and about a mile up the road when heading up Route 431 from Wilmington. Route 431 turns into Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway, which goes to the summit of Whiteface Mountain.
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Video by Cody Soule
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