Saturday, October 10, 2020

High Peaks Wilderness trail update

Some recent Adirondack High Peaks trail news from the DEC:

  • PHELPS BROOK FOOTBRIDGE OUT: The high-water crossing footbridge over Phelps Brook on the Van Ho Trail to Mt. Marcy just above Marcy Dam came to the end of its service life and was removed by DEC. When Phelps Brook is running high and the low water crossing is unsafe, hikers can use the newly developed Phelps Brook Lean-to Trail between the South Meadow (aka Marcy Dam Truck) Trail (0.5 mile north of Marcy Dam) and the Van Ho Trail (above the crossing). The trail is marked with red Foot Trail markers.
  • ELK LAKE TRAILS: The two trails on the Elk Lake Conservation Easement Tract which provide access to the Dix Mountain, Marcy Mountain, and the Colvin Range will close to public use on October 16 and will remain closed through Northern Zone Big Game Hunting Season.

Click here for the full Adirondack Outdoor Conditions report for this week.Calling all hikers: We’re curious to know how this Columbus Day weekend is going to go, as it’s usually a busy one even in a “normal year.” Since we’re not able to be everywhere at once, hoping you can help!

Send us your pics from the trails  to melissa@adirondackexplorer.org. What we’re seeing so far this weekend: Numbers of hikers are still strong, despite the closed Canadian border.

Scenes from Saturday
Click here to watch Explorer publisher Tracy Ormsbee look for a parking spot at Adirondak Loj at 5:20 a.m. today (Oct. 10).

Related Stories


Melissa is a journalist with experience as a reporter and editor with the Burlington Free Press, Ithaca Journal and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. She worked as a communications specialist for the Adirondack North Country Association and is currently digital editor for Adirondack Explorer, overseeing both the Explorer's website and its community forum the Adirondack Almanack. She enjoys hiking, camping and other outdoors activities, and spending time with her husband, their twin daughters, and rescue animals -- two dogs and two cats.




3 Responses

  1. Marion O Weaver says:

    I clicked the link for the survey. According to it’s first page, the survey ended in 2019.

  2. Kevin Donovan says:

    Anyone have insight into what parking is like in the Peaks mid week? I have avoided the area during the pandemic but am headed there Wednesday and wonder how early lots will fill to head into the Ausable club area.

    • Hi Kevin, great question. So far this hiking season, parking lots have been filling up as quickly on week days as on weekends it seems, but it remains to be seen if that trend will continue past Columbus Day…you’ll have to let us know what you encounter!

Wait! Before you go:

Catch up on all your Adirondack
news, delivered weekly to your inbox