Algonquin Peak

Algonquin Peak is in the MacIntyre Range in the town of North Elba, in Essex County, New York. It is the second highest mountain in New York,[2] and one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks in Adirondack Park. Its name comes from its reputedly being on the Algonquian side of a nearby informal boundary between the Algonquian and their Iroquois neighbors.

Algonquin Peak
Algonquin Peak seen from road to Adirondak Loj
Highest point
Elevation5,114 ft (1,559 m)
Prominence2,100 ft (640 m) [1]
ListingAdirondack High Peaks 2nd
Coordinates44°08′37″N 73°59′12″W 
Geography
Algonquin Peak
Parent rangeMacIntyre Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Keene Valley
Climbing
First ascent1837 by Ebenezer Emmons and party
Easiest routeHike from the Adirondak Loj

Algonquin is popular with hikers, accessible from the popular Adirondak Loj trailhead near Heart Lake outside Lake Placid for a day trip. While the climb is shorter than that of nearby Mount Marcy, it is steeper, requiring almost as much vertical ascent in a considerably shorter distance.

The usual route is via the blue-blazed Van Hoevenberg Trail 1.0 mile (1.6 km) to its junction with the yellow-blazed MacIntyre Range Trail and following that the remaining 3.3 miles (5 km) to the summit, during which the route gets progressively steeper and rockier, going over many steep rock chutes called "slides".

Hikers at summit

The mountain's summit is an alpine zone above tree line, and views of the surrounding high peaks are available in all directions. However, the large numbers of hikers on the summit have in the past caused damage to the fragile plant life, and strict regulations have been put in place both at the trailhead and on the summit (all hikers must sign in; no dogs are allowed without a leash) to protect it. On busy days a Summit Steward both reminds hikers of these rules and educates them about the ecosystem.

Less frequently, the mountain is approached from the southeast via the steep, narrow, 2.1-mile (3.4 km) Boundary Trail from Lake Colden. This trail is also dangerous because of the poor markings and steep, slippery slides that streams have formed on.

Notes
  1. Key col elevation between 910 and 920 meters.
  2. Goodwin, Tony, and David Thomas-Train, Editors. High Peaks Trails, 14th Edition. Lake George, NY: Adirondack Mountain Club, 2012. p.254
  • Waterfall on the trail to Algonquin Peak
View from Algonquin Peak: (left to right) Pitchoff, Cascade, Porter, Big Slide, Yard, Phelps, Giant, Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, Nippletop and Dix, Hough, Marcy, Gray, Skylight, and Colden (foreground)
  • "Algonquin Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  • "Algonquin Peak, New York". Peakbagger.com. 2004-11-01. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  • "Algonquin Peak". SummitPost.org. February 7, 2005. Retrieved 2008-04-23.
  • Algonquin Peak hike and trip report. September 2015.
  • Hiking Algonquin Peak. PureAdirondacks.com
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