Day hikes and backpacking in the NY Adirondacks?

Saw your JMT post and came across this. I actually just moved to Wa from NY. I only really discovered the ADKs a few years ago and they are something else!! The high peaks region is, for the most part, interconnected. I remember planning on doing Mt. Marcy, and wound up doing 5 peaks in one day! My best advice is to get a map of the whole region, and just wing it. I'm not sure the conditions yet, but bring your mikro spikes. but as far as just preference, Skylight is my favorite peak! its at "4corners" and Marcy and Grey peak are easily accessible from there as well. Theres at least 2, maybe 3 trailheads that can get you there. You can even do a loop from the Van "something" trail, sorry i forget the name. That is the typical trail to Marcy, but you can take a different route at the dam leading you to 4 corners. The dam is also a good place for base camp or dropping some gear, since you'll come back past that regardless. Sorry I don't have any more details. But a map will help, and its beautiful up there! Oh and if you're into kayaking or canoeing, you gotta check out the St. Regis wilderness up there in the summer

Justin, I would also suggest… don't overlook the Catskills and even Harriman State Park, which are good places to hone your winter skills without having to travel too far… especially Harriman if the snow starts piling up soon, as it did last year.

Yeah Harriman was my old back yard, and is amazing and much less crowds this time of year. Catskills as well, just don't have as much experience up there. The stuff around New Paltz, Minnewaska state park, nice. Actually probably my favorite within that proximity of NYC.

Harriman, the Catskills, the 'Gunks, Mohonk Preserve and Minnewaska State Park area have plenty of beautiful hikes close to NYC. If you're close to Mohonk it's well worth visiting the well-preserved atmospheric Mohonk House Hotel which has been featured in many films. Don't overlook the Mount Washington State Park, Taconic Ridge Trail, Bish Bash Falls and the Alander Mountain Trail on the border of NY, CT and MA. Only about 1 hr 45 min from NYC. One of the largest rattlesnake dens on the E Coast is located somewhere along the Alander trail though the location is kept secret by rangers. The views into multiple states and mountain ranges from Alander Mountain are amazing, and often Turkey Vultures and other raptors will fly close to the top (so low that we heard surprisingly loud wooshing when they flew right over us). There are more trails in the Berkshires only another 30-60 minutes north of Alander. I highly recommend joining the ADK High Peaks Forums http://www.adkhighpeaks.com/forums/ – a wealth of great info from local and regional people for all seasons. Also if you're willing to combine backpacking with canoeing or kayaking, the Adirondacks are an amazing place for river/lake journeys. I did an amazing 4 day trip through Long Lake and the Raquette River in the fall with my university outing club (and based on my trip if you go anytime near a hunting season make sure you are wearing an orange blaze vest/hat). There were so many scenes of exquisite natural beauty and wildlife action. One thing different about the Adirondack Park compared to many large wilderness areas out West are the way towns and private residences are woven throughout the park.

ADK High Peaks Region I concur on the High Peaks. There are some great trails and some extended stretches above treeline (a rarity in the Northeast). It is an easy area to do an impromptu loop as there are plenty of trails that will get you back to where you want to go. There are also quite a few lean-tos. One drawback is that Bear Canisters are required within the park – though I have personally never seen a bear there I have only gone in from Keene Valley and "The Garden" parking area but I get the impression that there are more crowds coming in from Marcy Dam, so if you are looking for solitude that might be a better place to start (of course if you are going off-season it is a moot point). They do get a LOT of snow up there (I had to abandon my first attempt on Marcy because there was WAY too much snow in April) so it might not be the best place to try your first winter excursion. You can usually find recent trip reports at the aforementioned ADK Forums so you will know what to expect. Points Further South I can't speak to the Catskills but there are some nice trails in the Berkshires. "One of the largest rattlesnake dens on the E Coast is located somewhere along the Alander trail though the location is kept secret by rangers." I did have a run in with a large rattler (I have the stained underwear to prove it!) coming off Mt Frissell on an abandoned trail right near the CT/MA/NY border.

Bear canisters required only in the eastern High Peaks region between April 1 and Nov 30. Otherwise hanging is OK. NYSDEC Regs here. Although snowshoes and microspikes will suffice most of the time in winter, there are some locations like Gothics where full-on, freshly sharpened crampons and proper French technique might be needed for traction on bulletproof ice. And that’s the “tourist” route!