Mount Marcy via Van Hoevenberg Trail
14.3 mi
Distance
7 hrs 36 min
Time
terrain
3,175 ft
Elev Gain
Overview
This is a difficult out and back trail to Mount Marcy in High Peaks Wilderness.
This trail goes by High Peaks Information Center, Trail Register, VanHoevenberg/Algonquin, Marcy Dam Pond, Marcy Dam, Marcy Dam Trail Register, VanHoevenberg/AvalanchePass, VanHoevenberg/PhelpsMountain, VanHoevenberg/Tabletop, Indian Falls, Indian Falls Lookout, VanHoevenberg/Crossover, VanHoevenberg/Hopkins, and VanHoevenberg/Phelps.
This is an alternate route for Indian Falls Lookout Loop via Van Hoevenberg Trail.
Rate this Hike
★★★★★
5/3021 overall this was a great hike with my adult kids. We started at 7am, weather was cool low 40s. The hike is easy for the first 3-4 miles then it starts to get steeper with lots of rock scrambling but at time levels out. The last 1.2 miles seems much longer then the sign says. The top was windy with sleet and rain and dipped into the 30s. Cloudy but the visibility was good. Spent 20 mins on top and then headed down. Light rain all the way down which made the rocks a bit slick. Got back around 4:30 and logged between 14.5 and 15 miles. This was my 4th high peak and by far the longest but was not as difficult as I was expecting. First time with hiking polls which I will never hike with out them.
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Caveat here.. this is an amazingly beautiful trail and well worth the camp too.. the top is perfect.. the views are amazing when it’s clear. Weather or not, it’s awesome. However, this is an incredibly busy trail. I had to park a mile down the road to start but I’m on a mission to tackle all 50 highest points in our country.. what happens is the trail is well worn and when Mother Nature calls and rains heavy the trails become tributaries full of mud and often the feel of a cow path.. that’s the human element. Take that away,, and maybe some of the rock scrambling the whole way and it’s awesome.. the upper half of this thing is a wet messs today.. fortunately I’m a hot 🥵 mess 😎😍💪
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Hiked it after a couple of days of pretty solid rain, so the trail was a creek from Marcy Dam all the way to the top summit blocks. I get the impression this is pretty normal. Unfortunately we didn't have the best views that day.
I'm told there are better, prettier hikes in the area, but this is the iconic one so we chose to do it anyway.
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stars
Public Tracks
Mt. Marcy via Von Hoevenberg trail
Dad and I hiked to summit from Adirondack Loj. Stopped at Marcy dam and Indian falls. Lots of rock scrambling at top, short section in alpine zone with no trees at summit. 56F at summit with mostly no wind (a few strong gust as we ate lunch)
High Peaks Wilderness Hike
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/23635480451
High Peaks Wilderness Hike
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/19807169387
Mount Marcy from ADK Loj, w/ Vic
Mount Marcy with vic from adirondack Loj
