The Adirondack Mountains are timeless as they are beautiful. They form an unforgettable massif in northeastern Upstate New York and cover some 5,000 square miles. They have been carved by years of glaciation and are home to a myriad of lakes (some of the most famous being Lake Placid, Lake Tear of the Clouds, and Lake George). One can decide if the Adirondacks or the Catskills are better, but they both add very different natural beauty to Upstate New York.
The Adirondack Region has hundreds of mountain summits which, while small by West Coast standards, are impressive. The ranges rise to heights of 5,000 feet or more. The toughest hike in the Adirondacks is reputed to be the Great Range Transverse (or Great Range Trail). Alternatively, there are also easy hikes in the Adirondacks that offer amazing views.
The Great Range Transverse - The Adirondack's Toughest Hike
For those up to the greatest hiking challenge the Adirondacks have on offer, consider hiking the Great Range Transverse. This is an impressive 19.5-mile point-to-point trail with the trail crossing many peaks. This makes the trail an extra-long day hike. The route normally takes around 12.5 hours to complete and is popular for backpacking, camping, and birding. While it's popular, it still offers many opportunities to relax in the solitude of the Adirondacks.
- Length: 31.5 km or 19.5 miles
- Duration: Around 12.5 Hours
The Great Range Transverse is one of the toughest in the USA (or at least in the East) and traverses 12 different mountains. In total hikers need to conquer around 10,000 feet of elevation gain. The trail has many variances with different side trails and entry points, so one doesn't actually need to complete the whole thing in one day if one doesn't want to.
What To Know About Hiking The Great Range Transverse
The best time to set out on the adventure of crossing the Great Range Transverse is March through December (avoid the worst of winter). The trails are reported to be in good condition (apart from some mud between Basin and Saddleback).
The trail is closed to pets, so the pouch will need to stay at home.
- Pets: Prohibited
- Tip: Take Plenty of Water
- Sunrise: Sunrise Is Stunning From Roostercomb
To add an extra treat to the hike, one should get there with an early start (as early as 4.00 am) so that one can make it to the top of Roostercomb and gaze out as the sunrises.
One of the great things about the trail is that it is versatile and one can vary it in many ways. Learn more about the trail on Alltrails.com.
What is really tough about this hike is not so much the 20 or so miles or the 10,000 feet in elevation gain. The most challenging part is the terrain itself - and especially when there is snow or wet conditions (check to see if the trail has snow before going).
Hikers often suggest taking 3 liters of water on the hike, there are streams along the way to fill up but some of these can be dry at times.
Mount Marcy The Highest Mountain In New York
The Great Range Transverse also summits Mount Marcy - the highest point in New York state. Mount Marcy rises to an elevation of 5,344 feet (1,629 m) and is in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks region in the High Peaks Wilderness Area.
- Elevation: 5,344 feet (1,629 m)
- Busy Season: Summer Months
In the summer months, one can expect the section of the trail that crosses Mount Marcy to be very busy with people crowding the summit. As one hikes past the Lake Tear of the Clouds, between Mount Marcy and Mount Skylight, note that it is often considered the highest source of the Hudson River.
The Great Range Transverse makes its way through the Great Range. The Great Range is in the heart of the High Peaks region between Ausable Lakes and the Johns Brook Valley. The range extends for around 12 miles and boasts seven of the forty-six High Peaks.
The peaks are Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, and Haystack. Marcy is in the heart of the High Peaks area but is not normally considered part of the Great Range.