Rocky Peak Ridge stands 4,420 feet above sea level and ranks 20th among the Adirondack High Peaks, the most easterly of the 46. Situated in the Giant Mountain Wilderness east of its better-known neighbor, the peak owes its distinctive character to a 1903 forest fire that stripped the topsoil from the upper mountain. More than half the hiking route traverses bare open rock, highly unusual in this forested range and the source of the peak's name.
The East Trail from a US Route 9 parking area covers 6.7 miles one-way with 4,700 feet of gain. It passes Blueberry Cobbles, with views into the Boquet Valley and across the Dix Range, and the open summit of Bald Peak before continuing to Rocky Peak and Lake Mary Louise, a small pond just below the top. A second approach climbs Giant Mountain first, then follows the ridge east, adding roughly 2.5 miles while taking in a second High Peak. Groups with mixed abilities fare well on the East Trail; both Blueberry Cobbles and Bald Peak make reasonable turnaround points with excellent views.
The summit panorama takes in Giant's east slides to the west, the Great Range beyond, Lake Champlain and Vermont's Green Mountains to the east, and the Dix Range to the southwest. The open ridge makes Rocky Peak Ridge a strong choice during fall foliage season, typically peaking in late September.
