Best Hikes

Best Hikes at a Glance

This page lists 15 best hikes from the Summit Seeker trail database. Summit elevations run from 900 ft (Anthony's Nose) to 5,344 ft (Mount Marcy).

15 of the 15 routes have a distance we can quote (6 from a published source, 9 estimated from the mapped track). The shortest is Anthony's Nose at 2.4 mi; the longest is Wittenberg Mountain at 19.5 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 700 ft (Anthony's Nose) to 5,281 ft (Slide Mountain). Together the quoted routes add up to 125.9 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 9 strenuous, 3 moderate, 3 hard.

All 15 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area.

Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.

Route facts

Route notes

• Mount Marcy — 14.8 mi round trip via the Van Hoevenberg Trail from ADK Loj Parking ($), Lake Placid, NY, 3,166 ft of elevation gain, about 6.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Phelps Brook Lean-to (mile 1.8), Ed Hudowalski Lean-to (mile 2.11), Marcy Dam #5 Lean-to (mile 2.11) and Marcy Dam #2 Lean-to (mile 2.27).
• Algonquin Peak — 7.8 mi round trip via the Algonquin Trail from ADK Loj Parking ($), Lake Placid, NY, 3,050 ft of elevation gain, about 4 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Roger's Lookout (mile 0.12), MacIntyre Falls Lookout (mile 2.25) and MacIntyre Falls (mile 2.25).
• Whiteface Mountain — an estimated 10.6 mi round trip via the Wilmington Trail from Reservoir Road Parking, Wilmington, NY, about 2,543 ft of elevation gain, about 5 hr, rated Strenuous. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Mount Colden — an estimated 16.4-mile loop via the Colden Loop via Avalanche Pass from ADK Loj Parking ($), Lake Placid, NY, about 4,834 ft of elevation gain, about 8 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Phelps Brook Lean-to (mile 1.8), Marcy Dam #5 Lean-to (mile 2.11), Marcy Dam #2 Lean-to (mile 2.29) and Ed Hudowalski Lean-to (mile 2.42). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Giant Mountain — an estimated 5.4 mi round trip via the Zander Scott (Ridge) Trail from Route 73 Trailhead (near Chapel Pond), Keene Valley, NY, about 3,122 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Ridge Lookout (mile 0.55) and Giant East Slide Lookout (mile 2.57). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Big Slide Mountain — an estimated 8.9-mile loop via The Brothers Loop from The Garden Parking Lot ($), Keene Valley, NY, about 3,416 ft of elevation gain, about 4.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Howard Lean-to (mile 2.99), Goodwin Lean-To (mile 3.15), Myers Lean-To (mile 3.17) and Big Slide Lookout (mile 5.13). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Slide Mountain — an estimated 14-mile loop via the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Loop from Woodland Valley Campground, Phoenicia, NY, about 5,281 ft of elevation gain, about 7.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Cornell Crack (mile 8.99). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Cascade Mountain — an estimated 4.5 mi round trip from Route 73 Parking Areas, Keene, NY, about 2,030 ft of elevation gain, about 2.5 hr, rated Hard. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Hunter Mountain — 7.2 mi round trip via the Spruceton Trail (Fire Tower) from Spruceton Road Trailhead, West Kill, NY, 2,050 ft of elevation gain, about 3.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes John Robb Lean-To (mile 1.9).
• Wittenberg Mountain — an estimated 19.5 mi round trip via the Wittenberg Trail from Woodland Valley Campground, Phoenicia, NY, about 3,867 ft of elevation gain, about 8.5 hr, rated Strenuous. The route passes Cornell Crack (mile 8.99). Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Overlook Mountain — 4.8 mi round trip from Meads Mountain Rd, Woodstock, NY, 1,370 ft of elevation gain, about 2.5 hr, rated Hard.
• Storm King Mountain — an estimated 2.5-mile loop via the Storm King Loop from Route 9W Parking, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, about 892 ft of elevation gain, about 1.5 hr, rated Moderate. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Bear Mountain — an estimated 3.9-mile loop via the Bear Mountain Loop via AT from Bear Mountain Inn Parking ($), Bear Mountain, NY, about 1,336 ft of elevation gain, about 2 hr, rated Hard. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
• Breakneck Ridge — a 3.25-mile loop via the Breakneck Ridge Loop from Route 9D Parking (or MetroNorth Breakneck Stop), Cold Spring, NY, 1,440 ft of elevation gain, about 3 hr, rated Moderate.
• Anthony's Nose — 2.4 mi round trip via the Camp Smith Trail from Route 9D (near Bear Mtn Bridge), Cortlandt, NY, 700 ft of elevation gain, about 1 hr, rated Moderate.