Since Bob and George Marshall and their guide, Herb Clark, climbed all forty-six of the High Peaks in the 1920s, more than ten thousand hikers have followed in their footsteps.
You can read more about some of the hiking challenges easing pressure on the High Peaks in the latest issue of the Adirondack Explorer. Subscribe here or download the app.
Here is a list of other hiking challenges in the Adirondack Park. Most have websites or Facebook pages that can be found by googling their names. Unless otherwise indicated, finishers qualify for a patch:
LOCAL CHALLENGES
- Cranberry Lake 50: 50-mile hike around Cranberry Lake.
- Tupper Lake Triad: Hike Coney Mountain, Goodman Mountain, and Mount Arab.
- Saranac Lake Six: Climb six peaks near Saranac Lake, ranging in height from 2,452 feet to 3,861 feet.
- High Peaks Wilderness Trails: Hike all 268 miles of trail in the Wilderness Area.
- Moriah Challenge: Four hikes in the Champlain Valley town of Moriah.
- Lake George Twelve: A dozen peaks near Lake George, ranging from 1,586 feet to 2,665 feet.
- Round the Lake: Do twenty hikes, walks, and paddles around Lake George.
- Chester Challenge: Pick six of eight hikes in town of Chester to earn a pin.
- Waterfall Challenge: Visit a variety of waterfalls in Hamilton County.
- Indian Lake Challenge: Do ten hikes in central Adirondacks, ranging from easy to difficult.
- Fulton Chain Trifecta: Bald, Rocky, and Black Bear mountains.
PARKWIDE CHALLENGES
Fire Tower Challenge: Climb at least twenty-three fire-tower peaks in Adirondacks and Catskills.
Kids on the Trail: Complete sixteen short hikes scattered throughout the Park.
Hundred Highest: Climb the hundred highest peaks in the Park. No patch.
Adirondack Twenty-Nine: Shorter peaks with good views in various parts of the Park. No patch.
Trans Adirondack Route: Traverse entire Park on 235-mile north-south route.
Mike, please add the Adirondack Quest to your list of Parkwide Challenges. The Quest, sponsored by the Genesee Valley Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club, has encouraged people since 1993 to visit at least 15 Wilderness areas and 15 Wild Forest areas.While not limited to hiking, it can be completed by hiking. For more information, see http://www.gvc-adk.org/outings/extended/quest .
The Adirondack 29 isn’t a real hiking challenge. It’s a bucket list that some guy came up with and made a Facebook page.
Looking for info on the kids on the trail patch. Thanks!
The next Hiking challenge should be The North Country 14 Mountaineer Climbing Challenge
1. Panther Mountain
2. Jenkins Mountain
3. Cobble Lookout
4. Silver Lake Mountain
5. Lyon Mountain
6. Debar Mountain
7. Kate Mountain
8. Owls Head Mountain
9. Titus Mountain
10. Mt. Pisgah
11. Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain
12. Gore Mountain (New York)
13. Jay Mountain (New York)
14. Snowy Mountain (New York)
and A Short Sleeve Shirt, A Long Sleeve Shirt, Ball Cap Hat, Certificate of Appreation and A Patch all in one Package should be given to the finishers of the North Country 14 Mountaineer Climbing Challenge.