Nippletop sits in the Colvin Range of the Adirondack High Peaks, the 13th highest of the 46 summits at 4,570 feet. Its characteristic rounded profile gave the peak its informal name; Ebenezer Emmons, who led the first recorded ascent in August 1837, originally called it "Dial," but that name later moved to a neighboring summit. The mountain lies within the High Peaks Wilderness of Adirondack Park, in the town of Keene, Essex County.
All approaches pass through the private Adirondack Mountain Reserve, where dogs are not permitted and a parking reservation is required from May 1 through October 31. The hike begins along Lake Road from the AMR trailhead, following a gentle road walk of roughly 2.5 miles before the footpath begins. A direct out-and-back covers about 8.8 miles with 2,760 feet of gain; the more popular option is a loop combining Dial Mountain and Bear Den Mountain, which adds significant mileage but connects two more 46ers in a single outing. The steepest terrain follows three beaver ponds on the Elk Pass approach, where the trail rises sharply for 1.7 miles to the top.
The Marshall brothers, pioneering Adirondack explorers, rated the summit view among the top three in the High Peaks, a perspective of unbroken wilderness that rewards the long approach. Winter travel requires snowshoes and microspikes, with temperatures at the summit running significantly colder than at the trailhead.
