Kraig Adams

High Peaks Wilderness, New York · 2 days · 18 miles · lean-to

Adirondack High Peaks Hiking Guide

In early October 2020 I hiked a loop over Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak, the two highest mountains in New York, with my parents' yellow lab: two days from the Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake, up the Van Hoevenberg Trail to Marcy, down past Lake Tear of the Clouds to a lean-to at Lake Colden, then over Algonquin and back. It's the trip from my film Hiking the Mount Marcy Loop in the Adirondacks. This guide has my GPS files, maps and notes for both days, plus my 2019 traverse from Keene Valley over Marcy and Mount Marshall to Lake Placid, the 2026 High Peaks rules (hard bear canisters, camping, lean-tos, dogs), parking at the Loj and getting there without a car, fall timing, and what I paid.

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The cover of the Adirondack High Peaks Hiking Guide

What's inside

Look inside

At a glance page from the Adirondack High Peaks Hiking Guide
At a glance
A day page page from the Adirondack High Peaks Hiking Guide
A day page
A day map and elevation profile page from the Adirondack High Peaks Hiking Guide
A day map and elevation profile
Permits and rules page from the Adirondack High Peaks Hiking Guide
Permits and rules

The details

Format
A 47-page PDF sized for a phone (A5, prints fine too) and a folder of GPX files, in one zip download.
Edition
2027 season edition, updated October 2026.
Delivery
Instant. After you pay you get a private download link. Bookmark it to download again on any device.
Payment
Secure checkout through Stripe, in your own currency. Tax is included in the price, except in the US and Canada, where any sales tax is added at checkout.
Refunds
Not useful? Email me within 30 days for a refund: kraig@kraigadams.com.
Questions
Email kraig@kraigadams.com.

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$19

Questions

How long is the Mount Marcy and Algonquin loop?
My loop from the Adirondak Loj was 18.3 miles on my GPS, with about 5,760 ft of climbing, over two days in October 2020: up the Van Hoevenberg Trail to Mount Marcy, down past Lake Tear of the Clouds to a lean-to at Lake Colden, then over Algonquin Peak back to the Loj. I called it the 22-mile loop in my film.
Do you need a permit to hike Mount Marcy?
No permit or reservation was needed for the High Peaks Wilderness in 2026, but you sign the trail register. A 2026 state study recommends a daily limit at the Adirondak Loj from summer 2027, possibly with permits, so check DEC before a 2027 trip. Overnight campers in the Eastern High Peaks must carry a hard bear canister from April 1 to November 30, and campfires are banned.
Where do you park for Mount Marcy?
At the Adirondack Mountain Club's lot at the Adirondak Loj, at the end of Adirondack Loj Road near Lake Placid. In 2026 it cost non-members $25 a day or $120 for a multi-day or full-week stay, and it often fills before 6 a.m. on summer weekends.
Can you camp at Lake Colden?
Yes. Lake Colden has lean-tos and designated tent sites, first come, first served, and lean-tos are shared until full, normally 8 people. I slept in the Opalescent Lean-to. You can't camp above 4,000 ft, and between 3,500 and 4,000 ft only at designated sites.
Can I bring my dog to the Adirondack High Peaks?
Yes, on a leash: dogs must be leashed at all times in the Eastern High Peaks, and you must carry proof of a current rabies vaccination. I hiked the loop with my parents' yellow lab in October 2020. Dogs are not allowed on the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (Ausable Club) land, which this loop doesn't use.
When is the best time to hike Mount Marcy?
I went the first week of October 2020, in the fall color, and in early September 2019, when it rained a lot. In 2026 I LOVE NY reported peak color at Lake Placid from September 30 to October 6. October is also hunting season, so wear orange.

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