The Empire State
New York
The Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the longest hiking trail in the world starting in your backyard.
New York at a Glance
Adirondack High Peaks
The Adirondacks contain 46 peaks above 4,000 ft, all accessible via trails within Adirondack Park, the largest publicly protected area in the lower 48
Adirondack Park
Adirondack Park at 6 million acres is larger than Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Olympic National Parks combined
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands region where the St. Lawrence meets Lake Ontario contains over 1,800 islands, many accessible only by kayak or canoe
Wolf Reintroduction
The Adirondacks are considered potential habitat for wolf reintroduction, with ongoing debates about bringing wolves back to New York's wilderness
Long Trail Connection
Finger Lakes Trail runs 962 miles across New York, connecting to the Appalachian Trail in the Catskills
Catskill Wilderness
The Catskills contain 98 peaks over 3,500 ft and 300 miles of trails through hemlock gorges and blueberry ridge tops
When to Visit
June through October for most hiking. The Adirondacks have brutal blackfly season in May and early June. Fall color peaks mid-October in the High Peaks. Winter brings excellent ski touring and snowshoeing.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Lake Placid
Adirondack resort town near the High Peaks Wilderness, with direct access to Mount Marcy and dozens of other 4,000-footers.
Saranac Lake
Gateway to the central Adirondacks, with canoe routes connecting dozens of wilderness lakes and ponds through Adirondack Park.
Woodstock
Catskills arts town near the Catskill Center's trail network and the Slide Mountain Wilderness, the most rugged section of the Catskills.
Did You Know?
The Adirondack Park's 'forever wild' provision in the New York State Constitution (1894) is one of the strongest wilderness protections in the world.
Allegheny National Forest extends from Pennsylvania into a small corner of New York near the Kinzua Bridge.
Mount Marcy, New York's highest peak, is the source of the Hudson River, which flows 315 miles south to New York City.
The 46 Adirondack High Peaks 'peak-baggers' club (the 46ers) was founded in 1936 and now has over 10,000 members who have completed the full list.
Lake Placid in the Adirondacks hosted the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, making it one of only three cities to host the games twice.