Nye Mountain sits in the Street Range of the central Adirondack High Peaks, named for William B. Nye, a 19th-century Adirondack guide. Technically measuring 3,895 feet, the peak was originally surveyed in 1901 at 4,170 feet; later measurements revised it downward, yet the Adirondack Mountain Club chose to keep the traditional list unchanged. That history gives Nye an unusual status: a summit sought by thousands of hikers precisely because it falls short of the threshold that defines the list.
The standard approach begins at the Adirondack Loj at Heart Lake, following the old Nye Ski Trail westward to Indian Pass Brook. The brook has no bridge and can be treacherous during spring snowmelt or after heavy rain. Beyond the crossing, a well-worn herd path follows a small stream through open hardwoods and boggy terrain up to a plateau shared with Street Mountain. At the top, a tree marked "S" and "N" guides hikers in each direction; the Nye summit lies a short 0.2 miles to the right. The round trip to Nye alone covers roughly 6 miles; bagging both peaks extends the day to about 8 miles with around 2,000 feet of gain.
The summit is fully wooded with no views, which explains why Nye is rarely visited outside the context of the 46ers list. For those pursuing the full 46, it pairs naturally with Street Mountain and is generally considered the most approachable of the trailless peaks.
