Algonquin Peak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Algonquin Peak | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 5,114 feet (1,559 metres) |
| Location | New York |
| Range | Adirondacks |
| Prominence | 2,097 ft (639 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Keene Valley |
| First ascent | 1837 by Ebenzer Emmons and party |
| Easiest route | hike from the Adirondak Loj |
Algonquin Peak is in the Macintyre Range in the town of North Hudson, in Essex County, New York. It is the second highest mountain in New York, and one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks in Adirondack State Park. Its name comes from its reputedly being on the Algonquin side of a nearby informal boundary between the Algonquin and their Iroquois neighbors.
Algonquin is popular with hikers, who almost always start at the popular Adirondak Loj trailhead near Heart Lake outside of Lake Placid for a day trip that, while shorter than that to nearby Mount Marcy, is steeper, requiring almost as much vertical ascent in a considerably shorter distance. Ambitious ones, particularly those aspiring to join the Adirondack 46ers, add Wright Peak to the itinerary as a side trip and sometimes even continue on to Iroquois Peak, both also High Peaks in their own right.
The usual route for this adventure is to follow the blue-blazed Van Hoevenberg Trail .9 miles to its junction with the yellow-blazed MacIntyre Range Trail and follow that the remaining 3.1 miles to the summit, during which the route gets progressively steeper and rockier.
Even those who just hike Algonquin find the experience rewarding. The mountain's summit is an alpine zone above tree-line, and thus stunning views 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 that calls this area home, and strict regulations have been put in place both at the trailhead and on the summit (all hikers must sign in and carry a permit; no dogs are allowed without a leash) to protect it. On busy days a volunteer Summit Steward both reminds hikers of these rules and educates them about the ecosystem.
Less frequently, the mountain is approached from Avalanche Lake to its south.
- Maps and aerial photos
- WikiSatellite view at WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image from TerraServer-USA
- Surrounding area map from Google Maps
- Location in the United States from the Census Bureau
| The High Peaks of New York's Adirondack Mountains | |
| Northern Adirondacks: | Esther • Whiteface |
| Eastern Adirondacks: | Giant • Rocky Peak |
| Colvin Ridge: | Blake • Colvin • Dial • Nippletop |
| Dix Range: | Dix • East Dix • South Dix • Hough • Macomb |
| Northern High Peaks: | Big Slide • Cascade • Phelps • Porter • Tabletop |
| Marcy Group: | Allen • Cliff • Colden • Gray • Haystack • Marcy • Redfield • Skylight |
| Other Great Range: | Armstrong • Basin • Gothics • Saddleback • Sawteeth • Lower Wolfjaw • Upper Wolfjaw |
| McIntyre Mountains: | Algonquin • Iroquois • Marshall • Wright |
| Santanoni Range: | Couchsachraga • Panther • Santanoni |
| Seward Mountains: | Donaldson • Emmons • Seward • Seymour |
| Street Range: | (MacNaughton) • Nye • Street |