The highest peak of the State of New-York is Mount Marcy ( 5,344 feet | 1,629 m ) The 9 mile trail is a very rewarding and fun one that can be done in less than 7 hours by advanced hikers or 9 hours for hikers looking for a great view and a day in the great outdoor.
Where to start the hike and how to get there : The trail to the summit of Mount Marcy is easy to find. It starts at the Adirondak Loj & Heart Lake Program Center . https://goo.gl/maps/UuXxApNj7TcZZTsT9 The issue we faced, like most of the hikers, is that the parking lot it usually filled at 6 am. If this happens you need to park your car on the road leading to the Program Center – for the first mile there are some ”no parking signs” on both side of the road and a ticket of nearly 250$. The cars pile up quickly and you can end all the way to 2.5 miles out of the Program Center – this makes a good difference to the hike duration adding an additional hour to the total hike.
Best time to start the Mount Marcy Trail : The earlier the better, also depending on the time of the year, you need to be careful due to the fact the hike is difficult in darkness. In summer, starting around 9 am makes a lot of sense while in Autumn, like we did, earlier is better. Keep in mind that the path was very icy as we came close to the summit, it’s better to do the hike when freezing temperatures can be avoided.
What to bring : The most important item for this trek is some waterproof / Goretex shoes. The trail is very wet and often you walk in streams and puddles. You’ll need to jump from rocks to rocks and there is a risk of getting pretty wet. Make sure you bring a lot of snacks and several liters of water.
It’s one of the great hikes of the North-East and enjoy.
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