Cliff Mountain is the forty-fourth tallest mountain in New York. After being relisted at 3,960 feet, the peak still ranks 46th and is still a required climb for the ADK 46er club. There are no maintained trails to the summit. With no views at the summit, this a popular hike only for aspiring 46ers; however, there are a few scenic views from the “cliffs”.
Distance: 9 miles to the summit, and about 17.9 miles round trip completed in conjunction with Mount Redfield
Ascent: 3,225 feet
Elevation: 3,960 feet
Primary Trailhead: The most scenic route leaves from the High Peaks Information Center parking lot, near Adirondak Loj. There is a parking fee ($10 for full day, $5 after 1 p.m.) to use this large lot. This lot fills quickly so plan an early start to your hike if you hope to nab a coveted parking spot. To reach this lot from Lake Placid on Route 73, turn right on Adirondack Loj Road, and follow it to its end. Pay the fee at the booth, even if no one is inside.
Trail Route: From the Loj follow the hikers approach trail to the High Peaks that leads to Marcy Dam. From Marcy Dam you will need to follow the trail to Avalanche Pass. You will pass by Avalanche Camp, where you begin to climb. Take a left and head toward Lake Arnold. You will climb steeply up the shoulder of Mount Colden and eventually be at Lake Arnold. At Lake Arnold you will stay left and continue to climb to the top of the pass and descend for a bit into the valley. After a sometimes wet hike through the valley over log bridges and around beaver activity you will pass by Feldspar Lean-to. 0.1 miles past the lean-to is a major T-intersection. Left leads up to Four-Corners, south of Mount Marcy. Right leads to Uphill, the start of the herd-path.
Heading right you will have a moderate, but often wet hike to the Uphill Lean-to. The herd-path is directly across the trail from the lean-to, marked by a cairn. This herd-path is also the start of the Cliff Route. The Redfield Route is the main one and continues straight after the Cliff turn-off.
History: According to the 1897 survey of the Adirondacks, the height of Cliff Mountain was over 4,000 feet (1,219 m), so it was included in the 46 High Peaks; the 1953 USGS survey found it and three other peaks to be lower, but the list has not been changed.
Location: Cliff Mountain is located on the boundary of the Town of Newcomb and Town of Keene, in Essex County, in the Northern region of New York State.