Mount Haystack

Mount Haystack is a mountain in the Great Range of the Adirondack Mountains of New York. With an elevation of 4,960 feet (1,510 m), it is the third-highest mountain in New York and one of the 46 High Peaks in Adirondack Park. It is located in the town of Keene in Essex County. The first recorded ascent of the mountain was made by mountain guide Orson Schofield Phelps in 1849, accompanied by Almeron Oliver and George Etsy. Phelps gave the mountain its current name based on its appearance to a haystack, and later cut the first trail to the summit in 1873. The summit is an alpine zone above the treeline, which offers a view of nearby Mount Marcy and Panther Gorge.

Two trails can be used to access the summit of Haystack. The mountain can be approached from the north by following the Johns Brook Trail from the Garden parking area in Keene Valley to the Phelps Trail, passing the DEC Interior Outpost and Johns Brook Lodge, and then following the State Range Trail from a junction between the two. The northern trail to Haystack branches from the State Range Trail 0.6 miles (0.97 km) from the summit. The distance from Keene Valley to the DEC Interior Outpost is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) and Haystack is an additional 5.8 miles (9.3 km), for a total distance of 9.3 miles (15.0 km). It can also be approached from the south, starting at the privately owned Ausable Club. This approach involves steep, rough terrain, and is not recommended for backpackers due to the risk of falls. This route is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Upper Ausable Lake to the summit, with an elevation gain of 3,070 feet (940 m).

Ascents of Haystack are sometimes combined with several other peaks, including Marcy, Basin, Saddleback, or the Great Range.

Gallery

• Little Haystack (left) and Mount Haystack (center), from Mount Marcy
  Little Haystack (left) and Mount Haystack (center), from Mount Marcy

References

Bibliography

• Carson, Russell M. L. (1927). Peaks and People of the Adirondacks. Garden City: Doubleday. p. 102. ISBN 9781404751200. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
• Goodwin, Tony, ed. (2021). Adirondack trails. High peaks region (15th ed.). Adirondack Mountain Club. ISBN 9780998637181.
• Waterman, Laura (2003). Forest and crag : a history of hiking, trail blazing, and adventure in the Northeast mountains (First ed.). Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club Books. p. 210. ISBN 0910146756.

External links

• Backcountry information for Adirondack Park at dec.ny.gov
• Mount Haystack hiking guide at lakeplacid.com
• Mount Haystack geography at peakbagger.com
• Mount Haystack description at summitpost.org