Elevation

4,961 ft / 1,512 m

#4 in New York

#33,482 in United States

Prominence

827 ft / 252 m

#123 in New York

#3,422 in United States

Summits

196 summits

#58 in New York

#151 in United States

Top climbing months

July   22%

September  20%

August   20%

Most climbed route

from the Gardens to Johns Brook Lodge

18.2 mi • 5,678 ft gain

Highlights

  • Mount Haystack is in the Great Range of the Adirondack High Peaks in the Adirondack Mountains of New York.
  • 3rd highest peak in New York, after Mount Marcy and Algonquin Peak.
  • Named based on the resemblance of its rounded, conical peak to a haystack. Offers incredible views from its bare, alpine summit.
  • Not climbed by many outside of those pursuing the Adirondack 46ers challenge due to its remote position from the nearest trailhead and the steep and challenging approaches from either direction.
  • Most frequent approach if Haystack is the main goal is to follow the Johns Brook Trail from the popular Garden parking area in Keene Valley to the Phelps Trail and then use Shorey's Short Cut to get over to the Range Trail.
  • Possible to combine this with an attempt on Marcy itself, but that makes for a long day and the approach from Panther Gorge is even steeper than that from the north.
  • Some hikers come along the entire Great Range itself, making the peak their last stop before Marcy itself, or combine it with neighboring Basin and Saddleback. This is known as the "Great Range Traverse"
  • One of the most famous elements of Haystack is the infamous "Devil's Half Mile". This stretch, which is technically 3/4 of a mile, is the extremely steep last stretch of the trail. The reward is what many peak connoisseurs choose as the finest summit in the Adirondacks.
  • Haystack is consistently listed #1 on View Ratings for the Adirondacks.
16 summits • 18.2 mi • 5,678 ft gain • 15 hr 13 min
1 summit • 23.2 mi • 4,602 ft gain • 13 hr 41 min
1 summit • 23.5 mi • 7,783 ft gain • 14 hr 57 min
1 summit • 24.2 mi • 6,743 ft gain • 13 hr 36 min

Awards

Challenges