Basin Mountain is the ninth tallest mountain in New York. This peak is often completed as part of the Mount Haystack, Basin Mountain, Saddleback Mountain loop (HaBaSa), on of the most challenging multi-peak day hikes in the Adirondacks for the most experienced hikers. Basin is reached by a challenging route with many steep rocks and narrow ledges.
Distance: 7 miles to the summit, thus 14 miles round trip
Ascent: feet
Elevation: 4,827 feet
Primary Trailhead: The shortest and most popular route leaves from the The Garden parking lot in Keene Valley. To reach The Garden parking lot from Lake Placid on Route 73, continue through Keene and into Keene Valley and turn right after the Ausable Inn and continue for 1.6 miles, the last 0.2 mile follows a narrow dirt road. The Garden parking lot (operated by the town of Keene) costs $10 per day ($13 Canadian) from mid-May through the end of October. An attendant is on duty 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Fridays and 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Town employees and DEC rangers monitor the lot during the week. Space in this lot is limited and almost always full early on weekend mornings.
When The Garden lot is full, free overflow parking is available at Marcy Airfield 2.5 miles north of Keene Valley. From the Marcy Airfield lot, hikers can plan to be shuttled to the trailhead via a shuttle bus. There is a $10 round-trip charge to ride the shuttle the 3.5 miles to The Garden trailhead. The shuttle operates from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from late May to mid-October. Depending on the hike you’ve planned and your start time, you could run the risk of completing your hike after the last scheduled bus pickup returning to the Marcy Airfield parking lot. Please plan accordingly.
More information about The Garden parking lot and shuttle information.
Trail Route: Basin sits right in the middle of the Great Range and it is accessible from at least four main trailheads. The main route is to start at the trail junction between Gothics and Saddleback and head west or one can start at the other end and head east.
History: Basin Mountain was named by Verplanck Colvin for several basins formed between knobs on its slopes. A basin is an area of land enclosed by higher land.
Location: Basin Mountain is located in the Town of Keene, in Essex County, in the Northern region of New York State.