Primary Route
Adirondack Loj to Marcy, Skylight, and Gray
Standard Route
Marcy, Skylight, and Gray form a long central High Peaks loop that climbs New York’s highest summit first, then uses Four Corners and Lake Tear of the Clouds to link two of the range’s most distinctive 46er objectives.
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Route map
Adirondack Loj to Marcy, Skylight, and Gray
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Planning use
Use the route line and GPX as planning aids. Carry a physical map and verify current official conditions before relying on any route.
Open the Interactive 46 High Peaks MapRoute History
This grouping carries some of the richest history in the High Peaks. In 1872, Verplanck Colvin and guide Bill Nye pushed from Marcy toward Gray through fog, ledges, and dense balsam before descending toward the basin around Lake Tear of the Clouds. Their survey work helped clarify the lake’s connection to the Hudson River headwaters. Skylight entered Adirondack climbing history soon after through Colvin and Old Mountain Phelps, while Gray, named for botanist Asa Gray, spent years with a rough reputation for thick dwarf balsam and an unimpressive rise from the Marcy col. Today, that same hidden terrain gives this loop much of its character: history, alpine exposure, high water, and one of the most rewarding linkups in the central High Peaks.
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Route Overview
Adirondack Loj to Marcy, Skylight, and Gray
This single standard route climbs Mount Marcy first, descends 0.9 miles toward Four Corners, tags Skylight, returns toward Lake Tear to climb Gray, then exits through Feldspar, Lake Arnold, Marcy Dam, and the Adirondack Loj approach.
Selected Route Access
Start from Adirondack Loj / HPIC. This is a paid, high-demand High Peaks parking area near Heart Lake that can fill early on busy days. Plan for early arrival, confirm current parking details, and use the signed trail system after leaving the trailhead.
Selected Route Caution
This is a long, exposed central High Peaks loop with major weather consequences. Marcy, Skylight, and Gray all require conservative timing, and the Lake Arnold / Feldspar return can be wet, muddy, slow, and confusing late in the day.
Selected Route Guidance
Full guide collapsed for quick scanning. 13 sections available.