Region
Highlights
- In 1839 Esther McComb, a 15 year old schoolgirl set out to climb Whiteface Mt., but accidentally became the first person to climb Mt. Esther. There is a plaque on the summit in her honor. Esther is often climbed in conjunction with Whiteface, even though it is listed as an unmaintained trail.
Routes
/-73.8896628689982,44.3871382062325,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
37 summits • 10.6 mi • 3,622 ft gain • 7 hr 44 min
/-73.8896628689982,44.3871382062325,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
25 summits • 12.3 mi • 3,928 ft gain
/-73.8896628689982,44.3871382062325,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
7 summits • 9.7 mi • 3,502 ft gain • 7 hr 58 min
/-73.8896628689982,44.3871382062325,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
3 summits • 6.6 mi • 2,542 ft gain • 6 hr 0 min
/-73.8896628689982,44.3871382062325,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 12.8 mi • 3,244 ft gain • 7 hr 20 min
/-73.8896628689982,44.3871382062325,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 13.3 mi • 3,457 ft gain • 8 hr 38 min
Latest summits

"Hitting the trails again in the beautiful Adirondacks on my first solo day since 2019. Today's adventure consisted of Marble, Whiteface, Lookout and Esther Mountains. For some w46er credit, #23-#24 of 46. Trails had lots of soft packed snow, especially in the higher elevations, temps around freezing and barely a breeze, Thought Esther would never end, and Marble is steep both ways lol, Weather was amazing considering the recent forecast. Home safe makes for a perfect climb. Do what inspires you!" — ramjet1963 • Mar 10, 2023

"We hiked over Lookout Mt. headed for the summit of Esther. Trail was in great shape . Summited at 9:25 am. No view of Whiteface from Esther due to cloud cover. On to Whiteface." — garyogden • Jan 21, 2023
"An Esther and Whiteface hike with friends. It was Denise's and Marielle's ADK46r and NE111 finish on Whiteface for them. The weather wasn't the greatest. We had limited views when the cloud cover drifted the right way. We were socked in on Esther. " — newenglandwarrior • Jul 9, 2021

"Great hike with Dan DeMarsh, Tommy Russell, and Scott Wells. 20s to start about the same all day. Spikes to Esther and Whiteface just fine. Today I Hok skied the toll road from the turn. It wasn’t as epic as I was hoping but still fun and would come back to skin with my AT gear. Great views all day, a tad windy on Whiteface, maybe 30-35 gusts which made the cirque traverse a ‘don't look down’ for me. About 6.5 hours " — davelaurenty • Jan 9, 2021

"Parked right at trailhead, first 0.5hr in dark. Straight up to Whiteface (alone on summit, observatory closed due to COVID), then doubled back for Esther, and descended to trailhead. Very muddy, and icy for last 0.5mile to Whiteface. Left knee troubles made for tedious ascent of Esther." — hunterjfrost • Oct 18, 2020

"Snow!!!!! Had a meeting of both seasons today. Set out for Whiteface and Esther Mountain. Started as a late Fall day and turned to full blown winter a half mile from the junction and white out conditions. Made it to Esther and was greeted by a mouse that crawled on my boot before scurrying off with a nut, we named it Esther of course. Returned to the junction where Jen made the call to head back and we didn’t make the venture to Whiteface. 100% fine as she is just getting peaks under her belt and experience for not having hiked much. A confidence builder in varying conditions and another high peak bringing her to 4/46 is always a success. Will return on a clearer day. Nice job! " — scottturner • Oct 8, 2020

"Today was the day I became an ADK 46er. With a dear friends and future 46ers, we climbed from the SUNY Atmospheric Center to the summit of Esther, where I gazed at the finish line only a mere couple of miles away. Upon reaching the Wilmington turn on the auto road, met up with my friend and 46er and hiked the last few tenths of a mile to the summit of Whiteface and the end of my ADK 46er journey where I spent over an hour reminiscing and soaking in the beauty of the Adirondacks in front of me." — JMindlin12463 • Aug 1, 2020

"Great day for my second round of Whiteface and Esther all its surrounding Mountains, Got to meet up with a new bunch of friends today doing what we love and experiencing another fellow hikers 46er finish as well as his 54th birthday atop of Whiteface summit, A victory celebration followed with sandwiches, beer and brownies,, Trails where dry for most of the trails ,No bugs, cloudy with sunny periods made for an interesting day with limited views, Love the Adventures and all the Friendships made along the many Trails that make up the ADK!" — ramjet1963 • Sep 21, 2019

"High Peak #18/46, and the first for two of our friends from the Brockville Hiking Club :-) Weather started off nice and we got good views from Marbe, then the clouds rolled in. However, Lookout and Esther don't have much in the way of views anyway so that just made it more interesting!" — RangersApprentice • Sep 7, 2019

"Beautiful day. Even with the rain on the way back down from Esther. Also came across a YouTube vblogger so that was pretty epic.
I’m on my way to becoming a 46er! With that amazing help from Shane and Paul! " — Littlefoot • Sep 7, 2019