MOUNT COLDEN
via Adirondack LoJ
Mount Colden is a stunning, standalone peak in the heart of the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness, famous for its unique, slide-scarred slopes. Its location between Algonquin and Marcy offers hikers breathtaking panoramic views, making it a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts seeking a memorable Adirondack experience.
What to know
Start:
Adirondack LoJ at
Heart Lake
Elevation Gain:
3,200 feet
Summit Elevations:
Mount Colden 4,715 feet
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Trail Length:
14.1-mile loop
(12.8 miles out-and-back)
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Difficulty:
4 out of 7 Difficult
Average Hiking Time:
7-9 hours
Dog Friendliness:
Leashed dogs permitted; Trail is not that bad for dogs.
Could be a good one for them.
Trail Surface:
Well-trafficked mixed rock and dirt surfaces, with some scrambling and slab sections.
Water Availability:
Plenty of water along the route, but recommended to start with all you will need. 2.5L minimum.
Maximum Grade:
1,200 feet/0.6 miles (Mount Colden southwest side descent)
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Sunrise or Sunset:
Outstanding sunrise and sunset views.
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View Type:
Extensive panoramic views in all directions from
various points on the summit.
Special Considerations:
For the shortest day hike, out-and-back this via Lake Arnold. There is not much to complain about this peak. Bring a good sandwich for the top!
Intro
Mount Colden, historically described by Alfred B. Street as “the most savage mountain of the Adirondacks—the very wild-cat of mountains,” has transformed from an intimidating, seemingly impenetrable peak into one of the most admired destinations in the Adirondacks. Two main routes ascend the mountain: the rugged Lake Colden Trail, opened in 1923 by state forester Arthur S. Hopkins, and the gentler, though still challenging, Lake Arnold Route, established in 1966. Named the “L. Morgan Porter Trail,” after the Adirondack Mountain Club's guidebook chairman, this latter route provides an approachable ascent and is recommended for hikers of moderate experience.
The Hike
For this adventure, you'll ascend via the Lake Arnold Trail and descend via Lake Colden, forming a scenic loop. To shorten and simplify the journey, hikers can instead choose an out-and-back on the Lake Arnold Trail, reducing mileage by nearly two miles.
Starting from the Adirondack Loj, you'll enjoy a pleasant initial hike toward Marcy Dam, traversing rolling terrain, coniferous forests, and gentle slopes.
After approximately one mile, you'll encounter a junction; turn left, following signs to Marcy Dam, another 1.3 miles away. Upon arriving, you'll find the collapsed dam ahead, a trail to your left, and a spur leading right to the dam site. Stay left, cross the nearby bridge, and then bear right, reaching a second trail register. Signing in here is strongly recommended.
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Soon after, another intersection appears: a left turn leads up the Van Hoevenberg Trail to Mount Marcy, while right leads toward Avalanche Lake and Colden. Proceed to the right, following signs for Avalanche Lake. The trail remains comfortable for the next 1.1 miles, passing Avalanche Camps and crossing a small wooden bridge shortly before the camp area. Just past this bridge is another junction, offering two options: straight ahead continues directly to Avalanche Lake, and left ascends toward Lake Arnold and Mount Colden. For this loop, turn left toward Lake Arnold, tackling the mountain clockwise.
The next 1.5-mile stretch toward Lake Arnold gradually increases in challenge. The footing becomes rougher and more rock-strewn, demanding careful navigation. Around one mile into this section, you'll pass a marked intersection near a stream, pointing to Indian Falls—ignore this turn and continue toward Lake Arnold, guided by the blue markers. The subsequent half-mile becomes even more rugged, frequently muddy, especially after rain.
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Upon reaching Lake Arnold at around 3,700 feet, watch carefully for the Mount Colden trail junction—this sign can be easy to overlook. The current marker indicates Colden's summit is another 1.4 miles away. Turn right at this junction, marked by yellow trail indicators. Immediately after the turn, the trail passes briefly through a muddy area, a quick viewpoint overlooking Lake Arnold, and a nearby marked campsite. After the initial muddy stretch, the trail levels out slightly, crossing wooden boardwalks before starting the final ascent.
The remaining 1.4 miles to the summit steadily increase in steepness and roughness, eventually entering the alpine zone, indicated by a prominent white sign. You’ll first ascend Colden’s smaller northern peak, known as the Northeast Peak. The climb here includes some steep scrambling, rewarding you with breathtaking preliminary views. After admiring the vista, continue left along the ridge toward Colden’s main summit. Descend briefly down ladders and wooden stairways to reach the saddle between these peaks, then continue the steep ascent toward Colden itself.
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Approaching the summit ridge, you'll encounter a massive boulder you may pass underneath or carefully navigate around to the left. Follow the ridge path for a short distance until you spot a spur trail branching slightly left. This path leads you directly to the true summit, recognizable by a small drill-hole marking its highest point.
For even better views, continue slightly beyond the summit, reaching the well-known balanced rock with stunning panoramas of the MacIntyre Range. Follow the designated paths carefully here to protect the fragile alpine ecosystem.
Begin your descent on the steep and exposed southwest side toward Lake Colden. This trail segment is challenging, particularly in wet conditions, due to smooth rock slabs and steep terrain. After multiple scrambles and drops, you’ll descend a significant wooden staircase, losing nearly 2,000 feet over 1.5 miles to Lake Colden’s eastern shore.
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At Lake Colden, turn right, following signs toward Avalanche Lake. Now just one mile from Avalanche Lake, the scenic trail hugs the shoreline, offering dramatic views of Algonquin and surrounding peaks. The Avalanche Pass Trail is particularly noteworthy, featuring intricate boulder scrambles, stairways, ladders, and boardwalks, including the famous wooden “Hitch-Up Matilda” bridges with a storied past. Passing beneath Colden’s dramatic cliffs and the Trap Dike, this unique trail section is one of the highlights of your return journey.
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Exiting Avalanche Pass, the trail gradually descends, returning you to Avalanche Camps. Retrace your original route via Marcy Dam back to the Adirondack Loj, concluding your memorable loop around Mount Colden.
Trail Summary
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0.0 miles: Start from Adirondack Loj.
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1.0 miles: Left turn at junction toward Marcy Dam.
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2.3 miles: Arrive at Marcy Dam, cross bridge, turn right.
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2.4 miles: Right at Avalanche Lake junction toward Avalanche Camps.
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3.5 miles: Avalanche Camps; turn left toward Lake Arnold.
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4.5 miles: Pass Indian Falls sign, stay straight for Lake Arnold.
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5.1 miles: Lake Arnold, right turn for Mount Colden ascent (1.4 miles).
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5.9 miles: Reach Northeast Peak of Colden.
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6.4 miles: Summit Mount Colden, begin descent down southwest side.
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7.9 miles: Reach Lake Colden shore, turn right toward Avalanche Lake.
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8.9 miles: Begin Avalanche Pass.
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9.4 miles: Pass Avalanche Lake, descend to Avalanche Camps.
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10.5 miles: Return to Avalanche Camps, retrace route via Marcy Dam.
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14.1 miles: Finish back at Adirondack Loj.
Alternate Approaches
Upper Works (16.2 miles, 3,300 feet elevation gain):
For those who do not want to travel all the way to Lake Placid and are coming from the south side, you can easily hike into Lake Colden via the Calamity Trail. This takes you up and down the Colden South Side trail.