CLIMB MT. MARCY 5344
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Date and Time:
Tue, Jun 3, 2025; 8:00 AM
(Eastern)
- Wed, Dec 3, 2025
7:00 PM
(Eastern)
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06/03/2025 8:00 AM
12/03/2025 7:00 PM
America/New_York
CLIMB MT. MARCY 5344
Mt. Marcy, NY state high point at 5344 feet in elevation is a 14 mile, 3500 foot gain hike. Our conservation topics will be in observing the plant life related to altitude, and comparing it with observations made in the past century.
1002 Heart Lake Rd, Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA
Webinar URL:
44.18283300,-73.96392800
Lisa Barboza
lisa.barboza@gmail.com
MM/DD/yyyy
amOUuwqNAzpGSXwtHmnd12740
Organized By: Loma Prieta Peak Climbing
Location: 1002 Heart Lake Rd, Lake Placid, NY 12946, USA
Map | Directions
Event Organizers:
Lisa Barboza
lisa.barboza@gmail.com
(650) 493-8099
James Ramaker
ramaker@vnet.ibm.com
8606331668
Hiking the Van Hoevenberg trail to Marcy
There are multiple trails to Mount Marcy's summit. The route from the High Peak Information Center, the Van Hoevenberg Trail, is the most popular. At 7.4 miles one way, it is the most direct route. Additional trails up Mount Marcy begin at The Garden in Keene Valley, Elk Lake in North Hudson, and Upper Works in Newcomb. We recommend you pick up a map and guidebook for more in-depth details on this and any other approaches to this peak.
This is a 14.8-mile round trip hike with moderate and steep trail sections. Starting at the High Peak Information Center, the first 2.3 miles of the Van Hoevenberg Trail traverse rolling hills as it approaches the former site of Marcy Dam.
Turn left after the remnants of the dam to follow alongside Phelps Brook on a rocky section of trail that becomes steep at times, especially before it reaches Marcy Brook at 4.4 miles. An unmarked path to the right will detour hikers to the top of Indian Falls. The Van Hoevenberg Trail continues straight across Marcy Brook. There are amazing views to be had during the rest of the route, but be aware that temperature, wind, and visibility can change quickly and with little warning on the upper portions of any mountain.
Things ease off for a bit, and several views of Marcy's summit cone reveal themselves before the timberline is reached at 6.8 miles. From here it's a steep climb over the open rock to the top, which is reached at 7.4 miles.
The summit of Mount Marcy is home to New York state’s rarest ecosystem, the alpine zone, and hikers should follow yellow blazes and cairns above treeline, and avoid trampling vegetation by doing the “rock walk”.
Level: Moderate