4 - 8 Hour Hikes | Lake Placid, Adirondacks

Don’t end your hike with a parking ticket

To avoid congestion and potentially dangerous situations, parking on the shoulder of Route 73 between Chapel Pond and the Rooster Comb trailhead is off limits. Parking on the shoulder of the road near the Cascade Mountain trailhead is also off limits. Shuttles are available. read more

Open summits, breathtaking views, and long, steep climbs — a full day or half day hike in the High Peaks is a great way to spend your vacation in the Adirondacks. These hikes usually take 4 - 8 hours and are best for adults and older children as they are longer and typically more challenging hikes, which might not be suitable for the littlest of hikers. We suggest 1 - 2 hour or 2 - 4 hour hikes for kids under 10.

A popular hike is Giant Mountain, with its trailhead located right off Route 73 just outside of Keene. Whiteface Mountain, our fifth higheset mountain, has a few trailheads to start from and is a hike not to be missed. Browse our other half day and full day hikes below and find one perfect to complete your trip to Lake Placid.

If you're looking for a more challenging hike, consider a full day hike in the Adirondacks and satisfy your wilderness needs.

Be prepared

We love our mountains, and you should too! Please help us protect them by enjoying them responsibly. Before heading out, review Leave No Trace principles, make sure you're prepared for the journey ahead, and familiarize yourself with regulations and weather in the mountains.

The Department of Environmental Conservation is a great resource for more outdoor recreation related information.

Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

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Algonquin

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Jay Mountain

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Algonquin Peak

Adirondak Loj Rd, Lake Placid

(518) 523-2445

Hiking The lowdown The shortest route to Algonquin Peak's open summit is from the Adirondak Loj parking area. Don't be fooled by the relatively low milage of this trail -- the last mile or so of the hike is a relentlessly steep climb on open rock. It...

Avalanche Lake

Heart Lake, Lake Placid

(518) 523-2445

Avalanche Pass is usually approached from the Adirondack Loj. But it can also be approached from the Upper Works, and when the two are combined make for an excellent through hike. Hiking Below both routes are described for those who want to hike the...

McKenzie Mountain

Route 86, Ray Brook

(518) 891-1990

Hiking McKenzie Mountain is a 3,861-foot (1,177 m) mountain in western Essex County in the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness area which spans an area of 36,200 acres. It is visible from many locations in Saranac Lake and was formerly known as Saddleback...

The view from the summit of Lower Wolfjaw.

Lower Wolfjaw Mountain

Route 73, Keene Valley

(518) 523-2445

Hiking Lower Wolf Jaw is the first High Peak along the Great Range Trail and has five distinct approaches to its summit. LWJ can also be climbed via Bennies Brook Slide which has become a popular route as well. The views are pretty good even though...

Macomb Mountain

Elk Lake Rd, North Hudson

(518) 523-2445

Macomb is one of the most exciting climbs in the Dix Range and is often climbed by itself, but it can also be combined with other parts of the range for a longer outing. The Dix Range also includes South Dix (Carson Peak), Hough Peak, and Grace Peak...

Gothics

Route 73, Keene Valley

(518) 523-2445

Gothics is truly one of the greatest peaks in the NE, hands down. The views are outstanding, the climbs are packed with memories and the routes are so rugged and demanding, that you can't help but have a great time. This bald summit offers 360 degree...

Great Falls Loop

Ausable Road, Lake Placid

(518) 523-2445

Hiking This hike full of waterfalls includes two great falls, the impressive Beaver Meadows and the grand Rainbow Falls, which is fifteen stories of waterfall which cascades into a deep, short, gorge. There's also other, smaller, falls. However...

Lake Arnold

Heart Lake, Lake Placid

(518) 523-2445

Lake Arnold is a small body of water located at almost 3800' in elevation, making it one of the highest bodies of water in the Adirondack Park. If one were so inclined they could possibly throw a rock to the opposite end. The hike follows along the...

Big Slide

Garden Trailhead, Keene Valley

(518) 523-2445

The lowdown This is a moderately difficult hike over open rock and steep terrain, but the views of the Great Range, especially from The Brothers, can't be beat. Parking is limited at the popular Garden parking area, which fills early in the summer, so...

Pitchoff Mountain

Route 73, Keene

(518) 523-2445

Hiking Note: The parking area for Pitchoff often fills quickly, especially in the summer. Consider choosing a less popular, and less crowded, trail. Pitchoff Mountain is home to one of the only trails in the entire Sentinel Range, the impressive...

Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge has amazing views along the ridge hike.

Weston, Lost Pond, Nun-da-ga-o

Route 73, Keene

(518) 523-2445

Hiking Get a lot of varied terrain with Weston Mountain, Lost Pond, and Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge. Nun-Da-Ga-O Ridge is a classic hike over a ridge with continual overlooks and one not to be missed. While the trail is a bit obscure in areas, this offers some...

South Dix (Carson Peak)

Route 73, Keene

(518) 523-2445

South Dix is in the process of being renamed Carson Peak, in commemoration of Russell M.L. Carson, a charter member and past president of the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the author of Peaks and People of the Adirondacks, the first authoritative...