10 Magnificent Mountains In New York

The mountains in New York may not be the highest in the country, but they are some of the prettiest. New York has some truly magnificent mountains scattered around the state. From the Catskills to the Adirondacks there are lots of stunning mountains in New York where you can hike, skate, ski, camp and get birds eye views of the legendary New York autumn leaves.

 Central and Upstate New York have most of the mountains on this list but there are also some mountains that shouldn’t be missed near the Hudson Valley. If you want to take a hiking trip that will give you some of the prettiest mountain views you should definitely plan a hiking trip to New York.

10 Magnificent Mountains In New York

There are a lot of mountains in New York so it was difficult to pick just a few. But whether you’re a brand new hiker or an experienced mountain climber or just someone looking for a great weekend getaway these ten mountains in New York won’t disappoint.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Located in: Hudson Highlands State Park

Height: 1,296 feet

Nearby City:  New York

Known For: Sugarloaf Mountain is just an hour outside of NYC but it might as well be a world away. It’s not a tall mountain but the view of the surrounding areas from the summit is still stunning, especially in the fall. Sugarloaf Mountain is an easy hike for people of all hiking abilities but there are some spots that have a rather steep ascent.

The easiest and most popular trail to the summit is the Yellow Trail, which you can pick up from the parking lot. There are other trails that are more difficult if you’re an experienced hiker or just want to hike a less-crowded trail. Try the Sugarloaf Mountain Loop if you want a good trail for running or just want to try something a little harder than you’re used to.

Mount Marcy

Located in: Lake Placid

Height: 5,344 feet

Nearby City:  Keene

Known For: Mount Marcy is the highest peak in New York. It’s located in the stunningly beautiful Lake Placid region where you will find lots of fantastic hiking, biking, and especially winter sports. The 1980 Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid. It’s not a long hike to the summit of Mount Marcy but it can be a tough one. The weather can change very rapidly and it’s always a little cold there. The terrain is kind of rough, and the incline is steep. It’s also very important that you stay on the marked trails when you’re hiking Mount Marcy.

That’s because Mount Marcy is home to some very fragile alpine vegetation that is rare in the US. If hikers are not careful they can kill off these rare plants and destroy the ecosystem of the mountain. The safe trail where hikers can walk without hurting the vegetation is clearly marked so always follow the signs. A hike to the summit and back is about 15 miles.

Mount Skylight

Located in: Lake Placid

Height: 4,925 feet

Nearby City:  Keene

Known For: Another stunning mountain to hike in the Lake Placid area is Mount Skylight. The view from Mount Skylight will give you the chance to look at 30 other mountains and large hills in the area. But, in order to get to the summit of Mount Skylight you will have to put in some effort. The primary trail to the summit is rocky and rough. There are sections that have a very steep incline too.

To get to the base of the mountain to pick up one of the trails to the summit you will need to take Adirondack Loj Road to the parking lot near the MacNoughton Cottage. Because of the high elevation and the changeable weather anyone that is hiking Mount Skylight should be sure to have layers of warm clothing including a windproof and waterproof outer shell. And don’t forget protective eyewear. Skis and snowshoes are allowed, but hikers are cautioned to be careful crossing streams with snowshoes.

Iroquois Peak

Located in: Lake Placid

Height: 4,843 feet

Nearby City:  Newcomb

Known For: Iroquois Peak is another Adirondack mountain that has gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. The summit of Iroquois Peak is bald and shaped almost like a tower. When you get to the top you a get 360 degree view of the entire area for miles. It’s an unforgettable panorama of the beauty of upstate NY. Many hikers like to combine a hike up Iroquois Peak with hikes of nearby Algonquin and Wright Peaks. Iroquois peak is another of the special mountains in the Adirondacks that have rare Alpine vegetation so please always stay on the bare rock or the trails that are marked and never go off them. If you’re off trail  you could damage or kill rare alpine vegetation.

The hike to the summit is about 12 miles. It’s not a terribly difficult hike but some of the incline sections of the trail have loose rocks that can mean you have rock scramble a little to get up and over them. To pick up the trailhead for the Iroquois Peak trail go past the ski jumps and ski are on Route 73 and pull into the parking lot. You can pick up the trailhead from that parking lot.

Whiteface Mountain

Located in: Lake Placid

Height: 4,867 feet

Nearby City:  Wilmington

Known For: You can hike Whiteface Mountain, but it’s best known as one of the best places to ski in the Northeast. There was a US Olympic training facility on Whiteface Mountain and skiing is still one of the most popular activities on the mountain. You can take skiing and snowboarding lessons as well learning skating in the Olympic training facility. From the summit of Whiteface Mountain you will be treated to a full 360 degree view of the Adirondack Mountains. It’s a pretty stunning sight to stand on the snowcapped mountain and see nothing around you but other snowy peaks or to see the forests on the mountains bursting with deep autumn colors in the fall.

West Kill Mountain

Located in: Catskill State Park

Height: 3,881

Nearby City:  Lanesville

Known For: West Kill Mountain is next to the Hudson River watershed and several other important waterways. When you pick up the main trail to the summit you’ll go right by the beautiful Diamond Notch Falls. And further up towards the summit you’ll find Buck Ridge Lookout where you can see miles of the stunning Catskill State Park forests and there are some pretty amazing water views also. There is a trail that loops around the summit and from there you can pick up some trails to other nearby peaks if you want to add more mileage to your hike. But the full loop is about seven miles around with only a couple of fairly steep areas to worry about. West Kill is one of the easier mountains in New York to hike and you definitely can’t beat the views.

Cornell Mountain

Located in: Catskill Mountains

Height: 3,853 feet

Nearby City:  Phoenicia

Known For: Cornell Mountain is one of the most popular mountains in New York for hiking. It’s part of a trio of mountains that includes the Wittenberg and Slide mountains. All three sit next to each other and have trails that connect. Some hikers even hike the summits of all three mountains in one day.

If you’re starting your hike on Cornell Mountain you’ll be starting on the Burroughs Range Trail which you can pick up at the parking lot. The Burroughs Range Trail is the primary trail for hiking the trio of mountains. As you get near the summit of Cornell Mountain the trail becomes the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail because it will take you across all three mountains. The loop of all three summits is about a 14 mile trek, but if you just hike Cornell Mountain by itself it’s about a nine mile hike.

Algonquin Peak

Located in: Lake Placid

Height: 5,115 feet

Nearby City:  North Elba

Known For:  Algonquin Peak is the second tallest mountain in New York. It’s part of the series of peaks that ring the Lake Placid region. Legend says that the Algonquin Peak was named because it was the dividing border between the lands of the Algonquin Native Americans and the Iroquois Native Americans. Like the other mountains in Lake Placid Algonquin Peak has a sub-artic climate and has protected alpine vegetation. Above the tree line the summit is rock. The summit also has outstanding views of the other mountains in the area.

The most popular way to hike to the summit of Algonquin Peak is to take the Van Hoevenberg Trail for about a mile until it connects to the MacIntyre Range Trail. Experienced mountain hikers who want a challenge can try approaching the summit from the southeast using the treacherous Boundary Trail. But only experienced hikers used to hiking in cold temperatures, snow, and ice should attempt to make that hike.

Balsam Mountain

Located in: Catskill Mountains

Height: 3,609 feet

Nearby City:  Oliverea

Known For: Balsam Mountain is one of the more remote mountains in New York. It’s definitely one of the most remote Catskill mountains. Getting there can be a bit of a challenge but if you want to see some spectacular views and beautiful forests that are off the beaten path hiking Balsam Mountain is the hike for you.

The primary trail on Balsam Mountain is the Pine-Hill Trail and this trail is how all hikers access the other trails on the mountain. No matter what your hiking ability you will start on the Pine-Hill Trail. But once you’re into the forests at the base of Balsam Mountain you can choose from other trails like the Seager-Big Indian Trail or the Oliverea Mapledale Trail depending on your skill level and how fast you want to reach the summit.

Gothics Mountain

Located in: Lake Placid

Height: 4,734 feet

Nearby City:  Keene

Known For: Gothics Mountain is the most uniquely named mountain in New York. The name comes from the many fallen rocks on the mountain which have landed in positions that make it look like the mountain has Gothic architecture. Rocks slides are common on the mountain so hikers need to always be alert and prepared for rock slides. This is a tough mountain to hike and it’s not recommended for anyone that doesn’t have significant hiking and mountain experience. No dogs or children are allowed on the mountain.

If you have what it takes to hike Gothics mountain you will need to start at the St. Huberts Parking Area on the Adirondack Mountain Reserve. The trail from the parking lot will take you to Beaver Meadow Falls. Then the trail will ladder until it reaches the Range Trail. From there it will be a series of ladders and climbs to the summit. The view from the summit of Gothics is extraordinary, but hikers definitely have to work to get there.

10 Tallest Mountains In New York

• Mount Marcy     
• Algonquin Peak
• Mount Haystack
• Mount Skylight 
• Whiteface Mountain
• Iroquois Peak
• Basin Mountain
• Gray Peak          
• Dix Mountain   
• Gothics

Highest Point In New York

Mount Marcy-5344 feet

Summary of 10 Magnificent Mountains In New York