Cliff Mountain
- Distance19.4 miRound trip
- Summit3,960 ftElevation
- Ascent3,225 ftTotal gain
Don't be misled by Cliff's low elevation. Ranked #44, this trailless Adirondack High Peak is usually climbed alongside Mount Redfield, with a long, often muddy approach and only mediocre views from the top.
The route: Adirondack Loj
This route starts at Adirondack Loj and climbs Cliff first as part of a loop with Redfield. It is equally possible to do the loop in the opposite direction.
Begin at Adirondack Loj and follow the trail to Avalanche Pass via Marcy Dam. Our Mount Colden guide has directions for this section. Follow them until you reach the Avalanche Lean-to. Following signs for Avalanche Lake, continue through Avalanche Pass until you reach Avalanche Lake.
The trail runs along the shore of Avalanche Lake, then on to Lake Colden. Continue past Lake Colden to the intersection with the red trail, the Marcy Trail, at the end of the lake. Take the Marcy Trail as it crosses over the Opalescent River on a suspension bridge. While this trail is called the Marcy Trail, it is not part of the route in our Mount Marcy guide.
Follow the trail for 1.8 miles from the intersection of the Colden and Marcy trails. A cairn marks the unmaintained trail to Redfield and Cliff, leading off to your right. Continue on the unmarked trail for only a few minutes until you see another cairn marking the turnoff for Cliff. Follow this turnoff for a somewhat challenging 0.8 miles to the summit.
When you return on the unmarked trail from Cliff, take a right to head up Redfield. The trail up Redfield follows a brook, with frequent waterfalls and points to pause and take in the view that slowly opens up behind you. It is a little longer but a little less technical than the path up Cliff. Atop Redfield you will have rewarding views of Skylight, Marcy, Gray and Algonquin, to name a few.
Loop option
After Redfield, follow the trail back down to the intersection with the Marcy Trail. You can follow the trail to the left and retrace your steps, or take a right and make the hike a loop.
If you follow the Marcy Trail to the right, now marked by yellow markers, hike until you reach the intersection on your right for the trail that heads up Skylight and Marcy via Lake Tear of the Clouds. Continue straight along the trail as it rolls up toward Lake Arnold.
At Lake Arnold, continue on, bearing left at the intersection with the Indian Falls trail. From Lake Arnold you will lose 1,200 feet in elevation over 1.5 miles by the time you reach the Avalanche Pass trail. At that intersection take a right (left leads back the way you started on the Avalanche Pass trail to Avalanche Lake), and retrace your steps along this trail to Marcy Dam and on to Adirondack Loj, likely ending with tired legs after nearly 20 miles of hiking.
Often hiked with
It makes sense to hike Cliff and Mount Redfield together, so this guide describes the hike including both mountains.
High Peak details
- Difficulty
- Very strenuous
- 46er rank
- #44 of 46
- Range
- Marcy area
- Trail type
- Herd path, no maintained trail
- Trailhead
- Adirondack Loj
- Distance note
- Round trip for both Cliff and Redfield
Trailhead and map
From Lake Placid, take Route 73 toward Keene and turn right onto Adirondack Loj Road. Follow it to the end. A parking fee is collected at the booth. In summer, the lots often fill before 6am on weekends and 9am on weekdays. If they are full, don't wait for a spot or park in the No Parking stretch of the road. Use the overflow parking at the end of Meadows Lane, which adds about a mile each way. ADK's website has current fees and parking tips.
Trail resources
- Conditions
- Conditions change fast. Check current trail conditions and DEC's High Peaks page before heading out.
From the PureADK shop
