Gothics is the tenth tallest mountain in New York. This peak is often completed as part of the Gothics, Armstrong, Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain & Lower Wolf Jaw Mountain loops. Alternately, hikers may choose to complete the hike using a there-and-back trail from the Keene Valley trailhead.
Distance: 6.2 miles to the summit, thus 12.4 miles round trip as a there and back hike
Ascent: 3,050 feet
Elevation: 4,734 feet
Primary Trailhead: To reach the trailhead from Lake Placid follow Route 73 toward Keene. Drive through Keene and Keene Valley into Saint Huberts. Parking is across the road from the Roaring Brook Falls Trailhead for Giant Mountain. The approach is on the private property of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) and dogs are prohibited in the game preserve.
Trail Route: From the parking lot you will initially have to follow a dirt road to a paved road. At 1/2 mile from the parking area and just before reaching the main club house, turn left and down between two tennis courts on Lake Road Way to get to the gate into the AMR. The AMR is a private property area with recreational easements, special rules apply to use and those are posted at the gate. At the gate you will need to hike the dirt access road for 2 miles to the Gothics trail on the right. This trail leads through the forest to a bridge over the Ausable River and then to the base of Beaver Meadow Falls.
The trail climbs steeply to the left of the falls via a ladder before easing off to a steady climb with a few steeper sections. After crossing a slide 2 miles from the Lake Road, the climb becomes very steep before four small ladders allow a descent to a junction with the Range Trail. Armstrong is to your right and Gothics to the left. Follow left up the spine of the ridge and enjoy the amazing views as they unfold. Climbing Gothics from the AMR has the advantage of a possible loop trip with a return via Pyramid Peak, which some consider to have the best single view in the mountains. This slightly longer return is found by continuing 200 yards past the summit and going left. The trail descends steeply, climbs to Pyramid and then descends steeply to a junction at 1 mile from the summit of Gothics. Turn left and descend at a more moderate grade past Rainbow Falls to the bridge below the dam at the Lower Ausable Lake. The Lake Road is across the bridge and up 100 yards.
History: Gothics gets its name due to its large rock slides’ resemblance to Gothic architecture.
Location: Gothics is located in the Town of Keene, in Essex County, in the Northern region of New York State.