High Peaks trail conditions

It looks like it will be great hiking weather this weekend. If you’re planning on visiting the High Peaks region, bear in mind that conditions on the reopened trails may be dodgy in places. This might be a good time to visit another part of the Adirondack Park. Remember, we’ve got about 2.6 million acres of public Forest Preserve.

If you insist on going to the High Peaks, I encourage you to check out the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s online updates of trail conditions. It contains useful information about damage and reroutes on specific trails.

Some of the more notable advisories are:

1. The footbridge over Marcy Dam is gone. Hikers on the Van Hoevenberg Trail must rock-hop across Marcy Brook below the dam or take an alternative route to the dam, namely the Marcy Dam Truck Trail.

2. The Van Hoevenberg Trail to Mount Marcy has been rerouted below the Phelps Trail.

3.  The suspension bridge over the Opalescent River on the Calamity Brook Trail is closed.

4. The road to the Garden trailhead is closed to vehicles this weekend. A shuttle bus will take hikers from Marcy Field in Keene to the junction of Market Street and Adirondack Road. From there it’s a 1.25-mile walk to the Garden.

5. Heavy blowdown between Feldspar Lean-to and Lake Arnold.

6. Mud and erosion along the trail from Marcy Dam to Avalanche Lake. Some decking is missing on the “Hitch-Up Matilda” bridges along the lake.

7. Bog bridges along Lake Colden have been displaced.

8. Hikers starting in Upper Works will find all bridges on the Indian Pass Trail gone.

Click here for a map showing which trails are open and which remain closed.

Have a safe weekend.