Mount Marcy is the highest point in New York at 5,344 feet, rising above the heart of the High Peaks Wilderness in Adirondack Park. The Mohawk called it Tewawe'éstha, meaning "cloud splitter," a name that speaks to how often its summit vanishes into low-moving weather. Near the top, a small depression holds Lake Tear of the Clouds, widely recognized as the highest source of the Hudson River.
The most direct route follows the Van Hoevenberg Trail from Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake, covering roughly 14.8 miles round trip with about 3,600 feet of elevation gain. The first few miles roll through spruce-fir forest past the site of the former Marcy Dam before the trail steepens alongside Phelps and Marcy Brooks toward the ridge. An alternative approach from the Garden trailhead in Keene Valley adds distance but can be combined with a night at Johns Brook Lodge. Above tree line, the last stretch crosses open alpine terrain marked by cairns; summit stewards patrol here in summer to protect the fragile tundra plants.
On a clear day the summit delivers views of 43 other High Peaks and, reportedly, as far as Montreal. Weather is notoriously severe and fast-changing: expect temperatures at least 20 degrees colder than at the trailhead, and plan for snow from October through May. Water crossings on the lower trails can run high and dangerous during snowmelt. Most hikers complete the Loj route in 8 to 10 hours.
