Region
Highlights
- Porter Mountain is one of the Adirondack High Peaks in Adirondack Park.
- Somewhat overshadowed by its higher and more popular neighbor, Cascade Mountain, with which it is often climbed, Porter is nevertheless rewarding.
- While it lacks the pseudo-alpine open summit of Cascade, there are nevertheless wide views available from the summit, particularly of the Johns Brook Valley to the east (which Porter blocks from Cascade); it is often less crowded than Cascade.
- A yellow-blazed trail leaves the trail to Cascade about 0.5 mile short of that mountain's summit and leads down into the col between the two peaks about 1 mile to Porter's summit.
- It is also possible to follow this trail from its other terminus, over neighboring Blueberry Mountain from Keene Valley, although that involves a greater vertical ascent and a longer trip.
Routes
/-73.8538745409,44.2123625955,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
50 summits • 5.9 mi • 2,273 ft gain • 4 hr 24 min
/-73.8538745409,44.2123625955,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
44 summits • 5.8 mi • 2,292 ft gain • 4 hr 27 min
/-73.8538745409,44.2123625955,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
39 summits • 6.1 mi • 2,392 ft gain • 5 hr 28 min
/-73.8538745409,44.2123625955,11,0.00,0.00/320x240@2x?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGVha2VyeSIsImEiOiJjampra3Z0bnAxeTVnM3FteHlybHY3b2p1In0.7a5dEa5-995VUv8ceHHNmw)
1 summit • 8.5 mi • 2,249 ft gain • 6 hr 17 min
Latest summits

"Hiked Cascade and Porter with Tom on Thanksgiving Day. The weather was surprisingly mild and the trails were mainly muddy with ice at the higher elevations and in the saddle between the two mountains. We saw a lot of people once we were making our way down, but were lucky to have both summits to ourselves on two mountains that are usually full of people. Two more 46ers down for me. " — Kim-Stilson • Nov 26, 2020
"Went on my annual Thanksgiving Day hike with Kim. We decided to spend the holiday in Lake Placid this year and she had not yet hiked Cascade and Porter. The most popular 46ers maintained that distinction even on the holiday as we saw at least 30 people on our way back down. Luckily, we started pretty early in the morning and only saw two groups on our way up. Summits were mostly socked in unfortunately, but we did catch a break on the summit of Cascade where we were able to see all the way into Lake Placid. Trails were mainly muddy, but we did have to put microspikes on towards the top to contend with ice on the trails. " — LGH-Tom • Nov 26, 2020
"Did a traverse with Kathryn and Tom of Cascade, Porter and Blueberry mountain from RT 73 to the Keene Valley airport. Beautiful weather and great views on our way down from Porter over Blueberry even seeing our air BnB barn on airport road in Keene Valley. Ridge trail certainly doesn’t see a lot of use at Porter end so it’s a bit narrow in spots kind of like a herd path. Kathryn is up to #27 on her 46r quest and Tom got his first repeat peaks.
" — Nimblefoot • Sep 6, 2020

"Jen said a few weeks ago, “I want to do the 46.” Today she completed her first two, Cascade and Porter Mountains. Jen took the lead the entire way (she says I’m too fast 🤔) and kept a great pace, proud of you! Slightly cloudy but still beautiful visible views for miles. 2/46 and well on your way now! Today the American Flag is also carried for Flag Day, a reminder how great our country is and can be further if we are all willing to work as one." — scottturner • Jun 14, 2020

"An amazing Hike! This was our first hike into the 46 peaks. We started our hike up and it started off smooth then got steeper towards the top. When we go more towards the summit we were not expecting there to be snow and ice, which was a nice added challenge. We hiked this mountain with our dog Winston and he was able to go up and down with no issues at all. We got to the summit for amazing views and had a much needed break for some food and water. The whole trip took about 4 hours up and back down. Unfortunately did not realize that cascade mountain was right off the same trail head and were unable to get there this time around, but we will be back to check cascade off the list. " — alexreiff • Mar 1, 2020

"Hiked with 3 friends, all multiple round Forty-Sixers. We had a beautiful late fall day - down to shirt sleeves while hiking, wind at summit not too bad, microspikes were very useful." — PJSelmer • Nov 25, 2019

"We were at the summit of Cascade at sunset, and then hiked over to Porter in the dark. When we got to the summit, we laid down on the rock face and looked up at the night sky, and it was the most amazing starscape. Being out there on a clear night and seeing this un-light polluted view was incredible. The hike back down took a long time in the dark with just our headlamps illuminating a few feet in front of us. We had a bit of a search for food at that late hour. Hot and filthy and starving, we found the one bar serving food (Wiseguys - with karaoke going on as a bonus). Loved sharing this experience with Jeff, Meenu, and Mike." — kvander • Sep 21, 2019

"Started of at the bottom of the mountain with snowshoes, about half way up had to switch over to micro spikes for it got very icy, we summited porter mountain first, it was an overcast day with great views from there, by the time we hiked over to cascade about 35 minutes later the clouds rolled in covering the top of cascade so we had no view." — williamcasey • Mar 29, 2019

"Belle journée ensoleillé avec des bon amis! La rando fut très rapide vu que nous étions assez rapide. Impossible d'aller souper par contre. Aucun besoin de raquette. Probablement la dernière fois de la saison que je les apportes. " — fsoucy76 • Apr 7, 2018

"Deep snow - trail hard packed snow throughout - easy to walk on. Little ice (snow covered). Spikes throughout. Mostlly sunny with low wind apart from above the tree line on Cascade where it was breezy. 29-39 degrees. Saw lots of people coming up and down. Only saw 2 groups doing Porter as well though." — rhinteractive • Apr 2, 2018