Adirondack High Peaks Map +
3-Day MacIntyre Range Itinerary
3-day Adirondack High Peaks backpacking itinerary. 15-mile MacIntyre Range loop covering Wright Peak sunrise, Algonquin (NY's #2 at 5,114 ft), and optional Iroquois, three of the 46ers in one weekend from the Adirondack Loj.
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Three of the 46ers in one weekend, from the Adirondack Loj.
For a 3-day backpacking trip in New York's Adirondack High Peaks, base your logistics out of Lake Placid and the Adirondack Loj trailhead. This 15-mile MacIntyre Range loop lets you bag three of the famous 46ers, Wright, Algonquin, and Iroquois, while experiencing a stunning alpine sunrise.
The route covers Wright Peak (4,580 ft) for sunrise, Algonquin Peak (5,114 ft, NY's #2), and the optional Iroquois Peak (4,840 ft): three of the 46ers in two and a half days from a single trailhead, with 4,000+ ft of total elevation gain.
No permits are required for day hiking or backpacking in the High Peaks Wilderness, but a bear-resistant canister is required for any overnight stay. July through September is peak hiking season; late September to early October brings the best foliage and weather of the year.
Parking reservations are required May through October at the Adirondack Loj trailhead ($25 per day, booked through the Adirondack Mountain Club at adk.org). Without a reservation, park at the South Meadow lot (free, adds 1.5 miles each way) or arrive before 7 am on weekdays. Overnight lodging is available at the ADK's High Peaks Information Center (Loj) right at the trailhead.
Hike to Base Camp · 2.5 miles
Depart the Adirondack Loj parking lot by mid-afternoon. Hike up to a designated wilderness site at the base of Wright Peak, pitch your tent, and pack your food securely into a required bear-resistant canister. Cook the first trail dinner and turn in early, the next morning starts before dawn.
The Adirondack Loj at Heart Lake (GPS 44.182891, -73.963788) sits 9 miles south of Lake Placid and serves as the gateway to Wright, Algonquin, Iroquois, Marcy, and many other High Peaks. No permits are required, but the bear canister is not optional for an overnight stay in the High Peaks Wilderness.
- Hike in to base camp below Wright Peak~2.5 mi from the Adirondack Loj · designated wilderness site
- Pack food into a bear-resistant canisterRequired for any overnight stay in the High Peaks Wilderness
- 9 mi south of Lake Placid · GPS 44.182891, -73.963788
- Depart the Adirondack Loj by mid-afternoon so you can pitch camp at the base of Wright Peak with daylight to spare.
- A bear-resistant canister is required for any overnight stay in the High Peaks Wilderness. It is not optional.
- Camp only at designated wilderness sites: no camping within 150 ft of water, trails, or roads, and none above 3,500 ft except at designated sites.
The Three-Peak Ridge Traverse · 8.5–10 miles
Wake up for a 3:30 AM alpine start. Climb to the tundra zone of Wright Peak (4,580 ft) for sunrise, if the sky is clear, the dawn light over the open ridge is the trip's emotional peak. Traverse the open granite slabs to Algonquin Peak (5,114 ft), New York's second-highest mountain.
Add the optional 0.7-mile out-and-back spur to Iroquois Peak (4,840 ft) before descending steeply through the ladders and boulder scrambles of Avalanche Pass to camp near Marcy Brook. Stay strictly on solid rock above the treeline to protect the fragile alpine tundra.
- ~9.6 mi · 2,900 ft gain · Hard · out & back · rated 4.8 (1,840 reviews)
- Wright Peak (4,580 ft) for sunrise3:30 AM alpine start · open tundra zone above the treeline
- Iroquois Peak (4,840 ft), optional spur0.7-mile out-and-back from the ridge
- Camp near Marcy BrookDescend Avalanche Pass · ladders and boulder scrambles
- Start at 3:30 AM to reach the open tundra of Wright Peak for sunrise. On a clear morning it is the emotional high point of the trip.
- Above the treeline, stay strictly on solid rock surfaces to avoid destroying the fragile, slow-growing alpine vegetation. DEC summit stewards are on the alpine summits July through September.
- The descent through Avalanche Pass involves ladders and boulder scrambles before you reach camp near Marcy Brook, so leave time and energy for it.
Return to Trailhead · 3 miles
Enjoy an easy, mostly downhill morning hike along forested trails and stream crossings back to Heart Lake. Plan to be back at the parking lot before noon, with time to head into Lake Placid for a celebratory lunch.
Lake Placid, host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, is your base town and the natural place to wind down. From here you can plan which of the remaining 46ers to bag next, or add a shorter day hike like Cascade Mountain on the way out.
- Hike out to Heart Lake~3 mi · easy, mostly downhill · forested trails and stream crossings
- Celebratory lunch in Lake PlacidBack at the lot before noon · 1932 & 1980 Winter Olympics host town
- The final 3 miles back to Heart Lake are easy and mostly downhill, with forested trails and stream crossings.
- Aim to be back at the parking lot before noon, which leaves time to drive into Lake Placid for a celebratory lunch.
- Maximum group size in the High Peaks Wilderness Area is 8 people, so keep your party within that limit.
Now build your Adirondacks trip.
You've seen all three days. Open the free drag-and-drop planner and tune it for your dates, your pace, and whether you add more of the 46ers around your Lake Placid base.
Essential wilderness regulations & planning.
Protect the alpine tundra
Stay strictly on solid rock surfaces when hiking above the treeline to avoid destroying the fragile, slow-growing alpine vegetation. DEC summit stewards are on the alpine summits July through September to educate hikers and protect the vegetation.
Bear canister & camping rules
A bear canister is required for any overnight stay in the High Peaks Wilderness, and it is not optional. Camp only at designated wilderness sites: no camping within 150 ft of water, trails, or roads, and none above 3,500 ft except at designated sites.
Maximum 8 people per group
Group size in the High Peaks Wilderness Area is capped at 8 people. Plan your party accordingly before you head in.
Go July through September
Peak hiking runs July through September with long days and full trail access. Black flies are brutal in June, so bring head nets and strong repellent. Late September to early October brings peak fall foliage and the best weather of the year, with crowds thinning after Columbus Day weekend.
Trailhead parking reservations
Parking reservations are required May through October at the Adirondack Loj trailhead, $25 per day through the Adirondack Mountain Club (adk.org). Without a reservation, park at the free South Meadow lot (adds 1.5 miles each way) or arrive before 7 am on weekdays.
Getting there needs a car
Lake Placid is about 5 hours from New York City (I-87 north to Route 73) and 2.5 hours from Montreal. The Adirondack Loj is 9 miles south of Lake Placid on Adirondack Loj Road. No public transportation reaches the trailhead, so a car is required.
Everything you'll actually want to know.
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Adirondack High Peaks route.
Trailheads and mileages, the bear-canister and camping rules, parking reservations, the free Cascade shuttle, drive times from NYC and Montreal, and the alpine-start timing you need to bag three 46ers in a weekend.
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