COLVIN & BLAKE
via the Adirondack Mountain Reserve
These two peaks will give you a new appreciation for the Adirondack 46, particularly once you reach Blake Peak. Tucked deep in the Ausable Lakes Valley, Mount Colvin and Blake Peak offer a rugged hiking experience. Mount Colvin is a great hike on its own, featuring stunning views from its summit. However, Blake Peak is often climbed solely for the 46er checklist, as it offers no summit views and a difficult out-and-back route. These peaks can also be combined with Nippletop and Dial for a longer, more grueling adventure.
What to know
Start:
Adirondack Mountain Reserve
(AMR)/Ausable Club/St. Huberts
Elevation Gain:
4,100 feet
Summit Elevations:
Mount Colvin, 4,057 feet;
Blake Peak, 3,960 feet
Trail Length:
15.6 miles out-and-back
​
Difficulty:
4 out of 7 Difficult
Average Hiking Time:
9–11 hours
View Type:
Colvin offers great panoramic views. Blake has only one partial view on the ascent and none at the summit.
Dog Friendliness:
Dogs are not allowed on AMR property. However, they are permitted if hiking from Elk Lake and back.
Trail Surface:
Well-traveled, with about half of the hike on the AMR Lake Road (gravel) and the other half consisting of rugged High Peaks terrain with rocks, mud, slabs, and scrambles.
​
Water Availability:
Little to no water except at Gill Brook, but none beyond this point.
Maximum Grade:
700 feet: back
of Colvin; 500 feet: ascent to Blake. The ascent back up Colvin from Blake is the most challenging section.
​
Sunrise or Sunset:
Colvin has a decent sunrise or sunset, with good valley lighting.
Special Considerations:
Bring plenty of water as it is really scarce throughout the rest of this hike once you leave the road. The out-and-back from Colvin to Blake is pretty brutal. Expected to be slow and annoying.
Intro
Mount Colvin and Blake Peak hold historical significance in Adirondack exploration. Mount Colvin is named after Verplanck Colvin, the surveyor who dedicated his career to mapping and preserving the Adirondack region. His work led to the establishment of the Adirondack Park. Blake Peak, named after Mills Blake, honors Colvin’s assistant, who played a key role in data collection during the Adirondack Survey. These peaks, closely tied to each other through history, stand as symbols of Colvin and Blake’s commitment to wilderness conservation.
The Hike
The next section leads past various campsites near Gill Brook. About 0.25 miles past the last Indian Head sign, another right-hand trail appears, offering the shortest access to Indian Head. It’s worth stopping on the way back for its breathtaking viewpoint.
Over the next 0.6 miles, the terrain steepens significantly, culminating at the Nippletop/Colvin intersection. A wooden sign marks the split: Nippletop is 1.9 miles left, while Mount Colvin is 1.1 miles right.
From this point, hikers should be prepared for a nearly 5-mile out-and-back with no water and little cell service. This is a great place to rest and refill before continuing.
Ascending Colvin involves climbing 900 feet over 1.1 miles. The climb begins steeply before leveling out, followed by another series of short scrambles, muddy patches, and wooden ladders. Near the summit, a final scramble brings hikers to the Colvin summit marker. This vantage point offers sweeping views of the Great Range, Lower Ausable Lake, Indian Head, and distant peaks like Giant and Nippletop.
From the AMR parking lot, the journey begins with a gentle uphill walk along a gravel road. After 0.5 miles, hikers reach the golf course, turning left at the tennis courts. Soon after, they arrive at the AMR sign-in station and the large wooden gate leading to Lake Road. For many 46ers, this location becomes a familiar starting point for multiple High Peaks adventures.
​
Lake Road extends for 3.5 miles, but for this hike, only 2 miles are necessary. Along the way, hikers pass landmarks such as the H.G. Leach Trail on the left and the Wolfjaws Bridge on the right. Eventually, they cross a wooden bridge and approach the Gothics Trail via Beaver Meadow Falls on the right. The turnoff for the Gill Brook Trail appears shortly after, marked by a wooden sign near a small dam on the left.
​
The next 1-mile stretch follows Gill Brook, winding through a scenic forested corridor. Two paths appear, labeled “scenic” and “easy.” Both lead to the same destination, but the scenic option offers more picturesque surroundings. At the 1-mile mark, hikers reach the Gill Brook Cutoff, where a sign provides multiple directional options. Continuing straight, they soon pass a right-hand turnoff for Indian Head, which they ignore.
On the way back, hikers should consider a detour to Indian Head if time and energy allow. This scenic overlook is well worth the extra effort and provides one of the most iconic views in the Adirondacks.
To continue toward Blake, hikers must descend Colvin’s back side. A small side spur offers another viewpoint before beginning the drop. The descent covers 0.8 miles, requiring careful navigation over ladders and technical rock scrambles. At the bottom, hikers reach a flat col, an ideal resting spot. A sign marks the turn toward Blake Peak, 0.5 miles ahead.
​
The first half of the Blake ascent is relatively moderate, but the second half becomes increasingly steep. One of the few highlights of this section is a single viewpoint along the climb. A hands-on rock scramble follows, with roots and ledges assisting hikers up the final push. Past this point, the summit flattens out.
​
Blake’s summit, marked by a sign reading “Mount Colvin” and “Ridge to Pinnacle,” is widely regarded as one of the most underwhelming in the 46. The best feature is a small rock off to the side where hikers can rest before heading back. With no alternative descent routes, hikers must retrace their steps to Colvin. The climb back up Colvin is one of the most difficult parts of the hike, making for an exhausting return trip.
Trail Summary
-
0.0 miles: Start at the Garden Trailhead
-
0.5 miles: Turn right toward Johns Brook Lodge
-
3.1 miles: Second sign-in junction; continue right toward JBL
-
3.6 miles: Arrive at JBL; turn left after porch
-
3.7 miles: Cross bridge, heading toward Orebed Brook Trail
-
4.0 miles: Turn right onto Orebed Brook Trail
-
6.2 miles: Ascend stairs at Orebed Slide
-
6.6 miles: Range Trail intersection; turn right toward Saddleback
-
7.1 miles: Reach Saddleback summit; return via same route
-
14.2 miles: Return to Garden Trailhead
Alternate Approaches
17.8 miles with 4,300 feet of elevation gain
PINNACLE TRAVERSE:
For those looking for a more adventurous and remote hike, the Pinnacle Traverse offers a unique way to reach Colvin and Blake while continuing on toward Pinnacle Ridge and Elk Lake.
This thru-hike begins at AMR and follows the same route up Colvin and Blake. However, rather than retracing steps, the hike continues along the ridge, covering multiple sub-peaks, including Pinnacle Peak. The traverse provides various unique viewpoints along the ridge, including Lookout Rock and the 72 Steps.
The final descent drops hikers into Elk Lake via a 7.5-mile stretch of lightly traveled trails, eventually leading to Guideboard Brook. After reaching Elk Lake’s private property, hikers follow a designated route back to Elk Lake Road, completing the journey at a separate trailhead.
This route is longer and logistically challenging but offers solitude, new perspectives, and a break from the traditional out-and-back format.
