Phelps Mountain
- Distance8.8 miRound trip
- Summit4,161 ftElevation
- Ascent1,982 ftTotal gain
Phelps Mountain is a beautiful and more accessible Adirondack High Peak, #32 of the 46. It is named for Old Man Phelps, and lore about him, real or fabricated, is great material to keep members of your hiking group entertained all the way to the summit.
The route: Adirondack Loj
Begin at Adirondack Loj and follow the directions for Mount Marcy until you reach Marcy Dam.
Continue from Marcy Dam for one mile, turning up the Phelps trail to the left toward Marcy and Phelps. The trail eventually branches into a Y. The left branch heads up to the summit of Phelps, while the right branch continues toward Marcy.
From the Y, it is a quick hike up alternately moderate and steep pitches, over some rock ledges that provide nice lookouts for snack breaks, then continuing at a gentler grade across open rock faces to the summit.
In winter
Given its accessibility and the regular use of its trails, Phelps is also a popular mountain to ski or snowshoe during the winter.
Often hiked with
Phelps is often hiked with TableTop Mountain.
High Peak details
- Difficulty
- Moderate-to-strenuous
- 46er rank
- #32 of 46
- Range
- Marcy area
- Trail type
- Marked trail
- Trailhead
- Adirondack Loj
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
