Hough Peak
- Distance~12.5 miRound trip
- Summit4,400 ftElevation
- Ascent3,200 ftTotal gain
Hough Peak is an Adirondack High Peak usually hiked in conjunction with the Dix peaks and Macomb. For a long but rewarding day, you can climb Macomb, South Dix and Grace Peak, bag Hough on your way from South Dix to Dix, the only trailed peak of the bunch, and complete the loop by following the trail down from Dix to the trailhead at Elk Lake. Some say Hough is the most memorable hike of the cluster, given its unique views and the rock scrambling required in some places along the way.
The route
Hiked with Macomb, South Dix and Grace Peak from Elk Lake, Hough is accessible via a herd path leading from South Dix.
After reaching the summit of South Dix, or returning there after summiting Grace Peak, follow a path from the west side of the summit down and then up the hogback between the two peaks. Follow this up a brief ways and you will be at the summit of Hough.
From the summit, you can continue on to Dix, or return to follow a herd path down through the col between Hough and South Dix. The path takes you to the Elk Lake-Dix trail about a mile farther up than where you turned off for Macomb, and you can follow the trail back to the trailhead, retracing your steps most of the way.
The views
The summit is mostly treed, but there are still some decent views from the top.
Often hiked with
Hough is usually part of a longer day with Dix Mountain, South Dix, Macomb Mountain and Grace Peak.
High Peak details
- Difficulty
- Very strenuous
- 46er rank
- #23 of 46
- Range
- Dix Range
- Trail type
- Herd path, no maintained trail
- Trailhead
- Elk Lake
- Distance shown
- Hough only, the loop below is longer
Trailhead and map
To reach the Elk Lake trailhead, follow Route 87 south from Keene and turn off at Exit 29, following Blue Ridge Road to the left toward Newcomb. After 4 miles, Elk Lake Road turns off to the right. Follow this road just over 5 miles to parking on the right, just before the road ends at the lake ahead.
Check before you go: Elk Lake Road crosses private land. The gate at Clear Pond closes to vehicles for part of the year, and hiking through the conservation easement can close during hunting season. When the gate is closed and hiking is open, park at the Upper Elk Lake Road lot, which adds about 4.6 miles round trip. See DEC's backcountry information and Elk Lake Lodge's road and trail closures page for current status.
Trail resources
- Conditions
- Conditions change fast. Check current trail conditions and DEC's High Peaks page before heading out.
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