Mount Haystack

The route

This route starts at the Garden trailhead in Keene Valley and travels the Range Trail, summiting Saddleback and Basin before finishing on Haystack. Most hikers return via Shorey's Shortcut to Johns Brook Lodge, making it a loop. The Garden lot is small and fills early, so check current parking and shuttle information before you go.

1. 0 – 3.5 mi

   Garden to Johns Brook Lodge

   The trail begins at the Garden parking area and follows a well-worn path along Johns Brook. The grade is gentle and the forest is beautiful, a forgiving warm-up before the serious climbing ahead. At 3.5 miles you'll arrive at Johns Brook Lodge, a natural first rest stop. Fill up on water here if needed.

2. 3.5 – 7.5 mi

   Johns Brook Lodge to Saddleback Mountain

   From the lodge, pick up the Range Trail heading toward the ridgeline. The trail climbs steadily through the woods before the terrain opens up and gets serious. Saddleback's upper section involves steep, near-vertical rock scrambles that are exposed and require hands-and-feet climbing. This stretch demands attention and dry conditions. Avoid it in early spring, when snow and ice linger on the upper ledges. The summit of Saddleback at roughly 7.5 miles is your first 46er of the day.

3. 7.5 – 8.5 mi

   Saddleback to Basin Mountain

   The Range Trail continues roughly one mile from Saddleback's summit to Basin Mountain, peak number two. The ridge walk between them is one of the finest stretches of trail in the Adirondacks, with open views and a real sense of being above it all. Basin's summit at 4,827 feet marks the high point before the descent toward Haystack.

4. 8.5 – ~10.5 mi

   Basin to the Haystack summit

   From Basin, turn left at the base of the summit rocks and descend gradually to the top of a steep ledge, then drop sharply down a series of ledges for 0.4 miles to the Shorey Short Cut junction. Continue past a designated campsite and begin climbing again to the junction with the yellow-marked Haystack trail. Follow it up to Little Haystack, a convincing but aggravating false summit, then dip into a short col before the final 0.3-mile push along the ridge to Haystack's bare, open top. The views from the summit are among the best in the entire High Peaks.

Make it an overnight

Given the distance and elevation, many hikers choose to stay overnight at one of the lean-tos or designated campsites near Johns Brook Lodge, splitting the mileage across two days. It transforms a brutal day hike into an enjoyable backpacking trip and gives you time to linger on those ridge views.

Other routes

There is also an approach via Shorey's Shortcut directly from the Phelps Trail, which bypasses Saddleback and Basin, but most hikers embrace the three-peak day since all three summits count toward the 46.

Often hiked with

The most popular route to Haystack goes over Saddleback Mountain and Basin Mountain first, connecting all three on the Range Trail.

High Peak details

Difficulty

Very strenuous

46er rank

#3 of 46

Range

Great Range

Trail type

Marked trail

Trailhead

The Garden, Keene Valley

Best season

July through September

Peaks on this route

Saddleback, Basin and Haystack

Trailhead and map

From Lake Placid, drive toward Keene Valley on Route 73. After the post office, look for the DEC sign on the right at Adirondack Street. Turn right, follow the road as it becomes Johns Brook Lane, and continue 1.5 miles to the Garden parking lot. There is a fee to park. The lot is small and fills early, so check current parking and shuttle information before you go.

Trail resources

Conditions

Conditions change fast. Check current trail conditions and DEC's High Peaks page before heading out.