Out On Trail

Where is the Giant Mountain Wilderness? The Giant Mountain Wilderness is located in Essex County, in northeastern New York. It is part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve and is adjacent to the High Peaks Wilderness. Why visit the Giant Mountain Wilderness? The 23,100-acre Giant Mountain Wilderness is home to two of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks -- Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak. Other notable natural features in the Giant Mountain Wilderness include Giant Washbowl, Giant's Nubble, Hopkins Mountain, and Roaring Brook Falls. What should one expect on the trails in the Giant Mountain Wilderness? The three main routes to the summit of Giant Mountain are the North Trail, the Roaring Brook Trail, and the Zander Scott/Ridge Trail. It is an additional 3-mile round trip between the summit of Giant Mountain and the high point on Rocky Peak Ridge. Alternatively, it is possible to summit Rocky Peak first, via the East Trail, or to take one of several trails to Hopkins Mountain, before joining th...

  Where is the High Peaks Wilderness? The High Peaks Wilderness is located in Franklin, Essex, and Hamilton Counties, in northern New York. Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain are found in the northeastern portion of the High Peaks Wilderness. Why visit the High Peaks Wilderness? As the name would imply, the area is known for its mountainous terrain and is home to most of New York's highest summits. There are many scenic streams and waterfalls, in addition to the panoramic views. What should one expect on the trails in the High Peaks Wilderness? Porter and Cascade are considered two of the easiest of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks to summit. That doesn't mean they should be considered easy hikes. The hike to Porter Mountain, from the Highway 73 trailhead, is 2.8 miles and includes elevation gain of just under 2,000 feet. The trail branches off towards Porter Mountain just before the summit of Cascade Mountain, so it's relatively easy to make the quick side trip and bag both...