One of the original 46ers, Nye Mountain now ranks as the 51st highest peak in the Adirondacks after later surveys.  Although Nye Mountain is now listed at a height of 3895 feet, it is still a mountain that must be climbed for the 46er club. 

Nye is quite a different climb than the other 46ers. Characterized by open hardwood forests, with birch, elm and maple as well as its soft non-muddy trails.  The summit is totally tree covered and unfortunately it is perhaps the most ho-hum of the 46 peaks as there is absolutely no views from the top. 

This is outweighed by the fact that this peak is probably the easiest of the 46ers without an officially maintained trail. This is thanks to the very good trail work of the ADK 46ers. At one time Nye like Street Mountain was one of the more difficult peaks to get to not because of isolation or climbing difficulty but because of the tangled web of heard paths that crisscrossed the summit plateau between the two mountains. The many different trails to the plateau have been standardized to one new trail.

Start your hike on at the west corner of Heart Lake and follow the old Nye Ski Trail.  There is a nice sign to guide you onto the trail.  Follow it until it ends at Indian Pass Brook.  Cross the brook and pick up the new herd path on the other side.  From this point on you will basically shadow the small brook that comes down the plateau between Street and Nye Mountains.

NOTE:  Indian Pass Brook can be a dangerous ford during the spring and at times of heavy rains.

You will cover almost every type of ground from grassy meadows, soggy bogs, and open hardwood landscape and you will cross the brook a few times but the trail should be very easy to follow and eventually leads up and to the west then onto the plateau.

You will come to an intersection on the plateau between Street and Nye and there is a tree clearly marked with S (Street) & N (Nye). Head to the right or N (for Nye) and in a few hundred yards you will be on the summit of Nye Mountain.  Usually only those attempting completion of the 46ers hike to this summit as there are no views.  It is always hiked along with Street Mountain by those seeking the completion of the 46ers.

It is a 3.2 mile hike to Nye Mountain.  If you also hike to the summit of Street Mountain, you will have an overall roundtrip hike of nearly eight miles with an elevation gain of over 2000 feet.

For more information on the Adirondack 46ers, get the book Exploring the 46 Adirondack High Peaks and for more info on hiking in the High Peaks Wilderness get the book Adirondack Trails High Peaks Region.

 

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