New England is fortunate to have exceptional outdoor resources, but if you’ve exhausted our trail network, our neighbors to the west in Upstate New York have plenty to offer.
The High Peaks wilderness is home to the 46 peaks of the Adirondack Mountains, providing sweeping views of Upstate New York. Similarly to New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 footers, conquering all of the High Peaks is a bucket list item for avid hikers.
Lake Placid is a great base camp for hikers with a charming, peaceful downtown. Lake Placid itself is not accessible to non-boaters, but the scenic Mirror Lake in town is a fine substitute; it’s easy to understand how the area got its name. Not a hiker? A paved loop around the lake provides a fine walking trail with plenty of opportunity to admire the beautiful lakeside homes.
Just a few miles outside of town, Heart Lake is a gateway to the High Peaks and offers a range of trail options for all abilities. Mount Jo is a fun day hike for families — a longer, gentler incline trail winds its way around the mountain, and a more direct vertical route provides plenty of opportunity for adventurers to scramble over boulders. Make sure to peek north towards the village of Lake Placid to see the Olympic ski jump complex rising over the valley.
For more nature with a side of Olympic history, head over to the Mt. Van Hoevenberg complex, which played host to sliding sports — bobsled and luge — at the 1980 Winter Games. Marvel at the winding sled track that covers most of the mountain, then make your own way up to the top.
The Mt. Van Hoevenberg East Trail, opened in 2018 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is a 4.7-mile round-trip hiking route designed to demonstrate sustainable trail-building practices in the Adirondack High Peaks region. Constructed using hand tools and local materials, the trail features stone staircases, switchbacks and gradual grades that reduce erosion and improve long-term durability.
It was engineered to last over 100 years with minimal maintenance and is part of the state’s Adventure NY initiative, which aims to enhance public access to outdoor recreation while protecting natural resources. The trail rises to a summit elevation of 2,940 feet and offers panoramic views of surrounding peaks.
Though covering a great deal of ascent, the gradual nature of the trail makes this climb accessible to all ages, with numerous areas to stop for a rest. As a prototype for future trail development, stewards from across the state come to Mt. Van Hoevenberg to study the design to continue promoting sustainability and accessibility.
Keep an eye out for orange salamanders scampering across the trail!
Don’t miss out on the numerous waterfalls that dot the Adirondacks. These towering cascades are both impressive and serene; some are accessible with just a short walk, while others entail a longer commitment, but all are worth the effort.
Learn more about the hiking the High Peaks and Upstate New York wilderness at www.visitadirondacks.com/