Becoming an Adirondack 46er: A Guide to New York’s High Peaks

Who is this article for?:  Anyone wanting to become an Adirondack 46er, or anyone visiting New York looking for a challenging hike!


Quick Links:

How to Become an Adirondack 46er

Adirondack 46er Peaks List

Where to Start: Top 5 Peaks to Climb

Your Rest Stop Between Peaks: Maple Leaf Motel


Welcome to the Adirondack Mountains, home to some of the country's best ice fishing, mountain views, and hikes! If you are a native or an avid hiker, you may have heard of the exclusive club called the Adirondack 46ers. This is a group of determined individuals who have hiked all 46 of the highest peaks in this beautiful mountain range. 


Ready to join? Knowing how to become one, which hikes are on the list, and which ones to start with is how you can begin your quest to become an Adirondack 46er. The next time someone tells you to “take a hike” you’ll know exactly where to go. 

A man with a backpack is climbing a mountain.

Nature's Symphony

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How Do I Become an Adirondack 46er?


If you ask anyone who has ever climbed 46 peaks, they will want proof to show it off, and you should too! Here is what you need to do: 


  1. Ascend all the highest recognized Adirondack peaks*
  2. Register online by completing the application form
  3. Receive your climbing number
  4. Pay the small fee required at registration


*While the list was initially supposed to include peaks at or above 4000 feet high, some exceptions were made due to bad measurements. Couchsachraga, Nye, Cliff, and Blake Peak were all found to be lower than 4000 feet. 


Additionally, MacNaughton Mountain was found to be almost the same height as the requirement. It was excluded and not added to the list even after they found the error. If you really think about it, 43er just doesn't sound right, so you can't blame them. 


Go the Extra Mile, Become a Winter 46er


Do people tend to call you an overachiever? Do you love the cold, harsh elements? 


Well, you are a perfect candidate to become a Winter 46er. If you scale all the high points between December 21st and March 21st, you will be numbered among an even more elite club of hikers who completed the challenge during winter. 


The sense of accomplishment in this feat is what inspires and fuels the determination of every Winter 46er. 

Complete Adirondack 46er Peaks List


Go ahead and copy this to use as a checklist for your challenge. It will be important to keep track of which peaks you have climbed and have yet to climb. 

  1. Marcy
  2. Algonquin
  3. Haystack
  4. Skylight
  5. Whiteface
  6. Dix
  7. Gray
  8. Iroquois
  9. Basin
  10. Gothics
  11. Colden
  12. Giant
  13. Nippletop
  14. Santanoni
  15. Redfield
  16. Wright
  17. Saddleback
  18. Panther
  19. Table Top
  20. Rocky Peak Ridge
  21. Macomb
  22. Armstrong
  23. Hough
  24. Seward
  25. Marshall
  26. Allen
  27. Big Slide
  28. Esther
  29. Upper Wolf Jaw
  30. Lower Wolf Jaw
  31. Street
  32. Phelps
  33. Donaldson
  34. Seymour
  35. Sawteeth
  36. Cascade
  37. South Dix
  38. Porter
  39. Colvin
  40. Emmons
  41. Dial
  42. Grace
  43. Blake
  44. Cliff
  45. Nye
  46. Couchsachraga

Where to Start: Top 5 Peaks to Climb


Cascade Mountain


Are you wanting to start off easy? This is the hike for you. While Cascade Mountain reaches an astonishing 4,098 feet, many hikers can choose to traverse most of the way by the highway.


You can get to Porter Mountain and knock two summits off your list in one day! Just be sure to make the correct turns for the mountain you want to climb and bring a map to stay oriented. Once you finish, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views all around you at the summit.


Algonquin Peak


Looking for more of a challenge? Algonquin Peak is the 2nd highest point in the Adirondacks. It is regarded as one of the more challenging but fulfilling hikes. At just under 8 miles round trip, you’ll need to make sure you are prepared to get a workout in. 


This is especially true if you want to climb Wright Peak simultaneously by taking a short detour along the way. 


Marcy


Marcy Peak is the tallest summit in all the Adirondacks and New York. It is a bucket list item for many and something to be proud of even if it's the only one you finish. Once you get to the top, you can take a picture and say you did it while taking the 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains.


Giant Mountain


This mountain offers many hiking options, including the Ridge Trail, which is just three miles long. However, just because it's shorter doesn't mean it's easier, as a very steep incline will greet you.


This mountain also offers excellent vistas of the Great Range and Lake Champlain so when you are tired and need a break, be sure to take in the beauty around you.


Whiteface Mountain


This mountain is famous for many reasons. It has a rich Olympic history and because of that it is one of the best places to ski in the Adirondacks. Because of its popularity, you can drive most of the way up to enjoy the peak without exhausting yourself too much. 


As a bonus, Maple Leaf Motel is just an hour away from Whiteface Mountain. After any of your hikes, be sure to find us for a relaxing stay after all your hard work. 

Your Rest Stop Between Peaks: Maple Leaf Motel

After a long day of hiking the Adirondack Mountains, you will need a central place to stay to check the next peak off your list. Come stay with us at Maple Leaf Motel! We have comfortable rooms, cozy cabins, and spacious suites, all equipped with comfortable bedding, a TV, and a refrigerator, that are sure to help you relax. 


Located less than a mile from the Schroon Lake Airfield, we are excited to host you and your family as you take in the great outdoors that surround us. Book your stay today!