Hike Into The Clouds On The Van Hoevenberg Trail To The Top Of New York’s Tallest Peak

The top of Mount Marcy is the highest point in the state of New York. This high peak stands 5,344 feet and is in the middle of Adirondack Park. It's one of the most commonly summited peaks in the Adirondacks, and thousands of hikers climb it each year.

As anyone who loves the Adirondacks knows, if you plan to hike in these mountains, you'd better prepare for rain. And, even if it doesn't rain, there's a good chance you'll encounter some clouds. There are sunny days in the Adirondacks too, of course, but no hiker here is ever surprised about an overcast day.

With that said, there are lots of benefits to hiking into the clouds, too. It's never too hot. There's always plenty of water. You'll feel like you're in a mystical fairyland. And clouds often make your photographs even better. Read on to learn more about climbing Mount Marcy via the Van Hoevenberg Trail.

The hike up Mount Marcy on the Van Hoevenberg Trail is long, and it's not easy. However, this is a trail that's absolutely worth it. After all, this the the tallest mountain in New York State.

This mountain is famous for several reasons besides being the tallest. First, it's named for the 11th Governor of New York, Governor William Marcy. Second, Lake Tear of the Clouds near the top is considered to be the source of the Hudson River.

Third, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt was climbing this mountain when President McKinley died from complications from an assassination attempt; he found out he would be the next President of the United States when he came down.

This trail is 7.4 miles each way. At first, it's reasonably easy and flat.

However, once you reach Marcy Dam at the 2.3 mile point, it's mostly uphill from there. It can be tough for inexperienced hikers, but lots of first timer make it to the summit every year. Stick with it, and you'll get there.

You'll walk through clouds much of the way to the top. When you finally get up there, it might look a little like this.

It could also look like this. This is not ideal for photos of the surrounding mountains, but it's pretty cool to literally be inside a cloud!

People climb this trail all year round, although it's busiest in the summer. Here's what you might see from the top in the late fall, winter, or early spring.

However, sometimes the clouds will magically float away when you get up there and you'll realize how high up you really are.

Clouds sometimes make for great photos of sunsets.

Some days, you can watch little poofy clouds just float by in the breeze.

Other days, you can see for miles and miles.

The hike to the top of Mount Marcy on the Van Hoevenberg Trail may be cloudy, but it's well worth it no matter what the weather. You'll never forget hiking up the tallest mountain in New York, and you'll love being inside a cloud.

If you're looking for some more memorable hikes in New York, check out this post for more ideas: Take These 12 Incredible New York Hikes, One For Each Month Of The Year