46 peaks
Adirondack 46ers
What are the Adirondack 46ers?
The Adirondack 46ers are the 46 mountains in New York's Adirondack High Peaks region that early surveys placed above 4,000 feet. The list comes from brothers Bob and George Marshall and guide Herb Clark, who climbed them between 1918 and 1925. Later surveys found that four peaks (Blake, Cliff, Nye and Couchsachraga) fall below 4,000 feet and that MacNaughton Mountain rises above it, but the traditional list of 46 was kept. The peaks lie mostly within the High Peaks Wilderness, from Mount Marcy at 5,344 feet down to Couchsachraga at 3,820 feet. The Adirondack Forty-Sixers, a club founded in 1948, records hikers who complete the list.
Adirondack 46ers list
Mount Marcy
5,344 ft · New York
Algonquin Peak
5,114 ft · New York
Mount Haystack
4,960 ft · New York
Mount Skylight
4,926 ft · New York
Whiteface Mountain
4,867 ft · New York
Dix Mountain
4,857 ft · New York
Gray Peak
4,840 ft · New York
Iroquois Peak
4,840 ft · New York
Basin Mountain
4,827 ft · New York
Gothics
4,736 ft · New York
Mount Colden
4,714 ft · New York
Giant Mountain
4,627 ft · New York
Nippletop
4,620 ft · New York
Santanoni Peak
4,607 ft · New York
Mount Redfield
4,606 ft · New York
Wright Peak
4,580 ft · New York
Saddleback Mountain
4,515 ft · New York
Panther Peak
4,442 ft · New York
Tabletop Mountain
4,427 ft · New York
Rocky Peak Ridge
4,420 ft · New York
Macomb Mountain
4,405 ft · New York
Armstrong Mountain
4,400 ft · New York
Hough Peak
4,400 ft · New York
Seward Mountain
4,361 ft · New York
Mount Marshall
4,360 ft · New York
Allen Mountain
4,340 ft · New York
Big Slide Mountain
4,240 ft · New York
Esther Mountain
4,240 ft · New York
Upper Wolfjaw Mountain
4,185 ft · New York
Lower Wolfjaw Mountain
4,175 ft · New York
Street Mountain
4,166 ft · New York
Phelps Mountain
4,161 ft · New York
Mount Donaldson
4,140 ft · New York
Seymour Mountain
4,120 ft · New York
Sawteeth
4,100 ft · New York
Cascade Mountain
4,098 ft · New York
South Dix
4,060 ft · New York
Porter Mountain
4,059 ft · New York
Mount Colvin
4,057 ft · New York
Mount Emmons
4,040 ft · New York
Dial Mountain
4,020 ft · New York
Grace Peak
4,012 ft · New York
Blake Peak
3,960 ft · New York
Cliff Mountain
3,960 ft · New York
Nye Mountain
3,895 ft · New York
Couchsachraga Peak
3,820 ft · New York
Working through the High Peaks
Most people finish the 46 over several seasons, often returning to the same trailheads for different peaks. Several of the mountains have no officially maintained trail, so the list leads hikers into parts of the range they would otherwise skip. Many peaks are climbed in groups on long days. Keeping a clear record of which ones are done, and which remain, is what Yak is built for.
Frequently asked questions
How many Adirondack 46ers are there?
There are 46 peaks on the list. The number is traditional: modern surveys show four of them are under 4,000 feet, but the club has kept the original 46.
What is the highest Adirondack 46er?
Mount Marcy is the highest at 5,344 feet. It is also the highest point in New York State.
What is the lowest peak on the list?
Couchsachraga Peak is the lowest at 3,820 feet. It is one of four listed peaks that later surveys found to be below 4,000 feet.
Why isn't MacNaughton Mountain on the 46er list?
MacNaughton was measured above 4,000 feet only after the list was set. The Adirondack Forty-Sixers chose to keep the original list rather than add or remove peaks as surveys changed.
How do you become an Adirondack 46er?
Climb all 46 peaks and register your climbs with the Adirondack Forty-Sixers club. The club also recognizes those who complete the list in winter.
Do the 46ers have to be climbed in a certain order?
No. There is no required order or time limit, and most hikers complete the list over several years.
Is there an app to track the Adirondack 46ers?
Yes. Yak: Mountain Tracker is a free app for iPhone and Android that includes the Adirondack 46ers as a quest with all 46 peaks. Mark each peak as climbed, log the date with notes and photos, plan the peaks you have left and see how close you are to finishing the list.
What is the hardest Adirondack 46er?
Allen Mountain is often called the hardest because of its long approach, about 18 miles round trip. The Seward Range and Santanoni Range are also long, remote days, and several peaks have trailless sections.
When is the best time to hike the Adirondack 46ers?
Summer and early fall. In spring the state asks hikers to stay off high-elevation trails during mud season to protect fragile soils, and winter rounds need snowshoes, traction and cold-weather gear.
Track your 46
Log each High Peak as you climb it and see how many are left.