The Lake Placid 9'er: A 9-Peak Adirondack Hiking Challenge
Looking for an Adirondack hiking challenge that offers rewarding summit views without requiring you to tackle the 46 High Peaks? The Lake Placid 9'er is a great way to explore some of the smaller mountains surrounding Lake Placid, Keene, and Wilmington.
The challenge consists of nine peaks that collectively cover more than 30 miles of trail and 10,000 feet of elevation, with hikes ranging from quick climbs and approachable outings to steeper scrambles and spectacular views of the surrounding High Peaks. It can also serve as a stepping stone for hikers who eventually hope to take on some of the Adirondacks' more demanding mountains.
What Is the Lake Placid 9’er Hiking Challenge?
Although these mountains are lower in elevation than the Adirondack High Peaks, don't underestimate them. The challenge was designed with a progression of hikes that can help newer Adirondack hikers build their skills and confidence as they go.
The nine mountains in the Lake Placid 9’er are:
- Cobble Hill – Elevation: 2,332 feet – 2.2 miles round trip
- Mount Jo – Elevation: 2,876 feet – 2.6 miles round trip
- Baxter Mountain – Elevation: 2,440 feet – 2.4 miles round trip
- Mount Van Hoevenberg – Elevation: 2,940 feet – 4.4 miles round trip
- Big Crow Mountain – Elevation: 2,815 feet – 1.4 miles round trip
- Bear Den Mountain – Elevation: 2,650 feet – 4.5 miles round trip
- Pitchoff Mountain – Elevation: 3,500 feet – 5.2 miles round trip
- Catamount Mountain – Elevation: 3,169 feet – 3.6 miles round trip
- Hurricane Mountain – Elevation: 3,678 feet – 6.8 miles round trip
Trail distances and elevations are based on information provided by the Lake Placid 9’er.
Start Small and Work Your Way Up
One of the appealing aspects of the Lake Placid 9’er is the variety among the nine hikes.
Newer hikers can get started with mountains such as Cobble Hill, Mount Jo, and Baxter Mountain before progressing to more demanding terrain. The official challenge recommends completing the mountains in the listed order if you're relatively new to Adirondack hiking, allowing you to gradually prepare for the tougher hikes ahead.
Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill is a particularly approachable place to begin. Located right in Lake Placid, the 2.2-mile round-trip hike rewards you with views of Lake Placid and the surrounding mountains.
Mount Jo
Mount Jo is another popular early hike, offering impressive High Peaks views (plus Heart Lake) for a relatively short 2.6-mile round trip.
Baxter Mountain
Baxter Mountain features easy-to-moderate terrain and switchbacks, making it another option for building your hiking skills before moving on to the more challenging peaks in the Lake Placid 9’er.
Take on the More Challenging Lake Placid 9’er Peaks
As you make your way through the challenge, you'll encounter longer distances, steeper climbs, rocky terrain, and sections that require a little more hiking experience.
Pitchoff Mountain
Pitchoff Mountain reaches 3,500 feet and can include steep and muddy sections depending on conditions. Hikers can also make a side trip to Balanced Rocks for one of the mountain's memorable viewpoints.
Catamount Mountain
Catamount Mountain presents another step up in difficulty. The trail includes steep climbs, scrambling, rocky sections, and areas where careful attention to trail markers is important.
Hurricane Mountain
At 3,678 feet, Hurricane Mountain is the tallest peak in the challenge. The 6.8-mile round-trip hike is also the longest of the nine and culminates at a rocky summit featuring a historic Adirondack fire tower and expansive mountain views.
Save Hurricane for last and you'll have quite the finish to your Lake Placid 9’er adventure.
Complete the Lake Placid 9’er Over a Long Weekend
You don't need to finish the Lake Placid 9’er in a single trip, but experienced hikers looking for a hiking-focused getaway can group the mountains together.
The official challenge suggests this three-day itinerary:
- Day 1: Big Crow Mountain, Baxter Mountain, and Hurricane Mountain
- Day 2: Pitchoff Mountain, Mount Jo, Mount Van Hoevenberg, and Cobble Hill
- Day 3: Bear Den Mountain and Catamount Mountain
That's a significant amount of hiking to pack into three days, so consider your experience level, fitness, weather, trail conditions, and available daylight before attempting multiple mountains in one day.
There's also no need to rush. Complete the peaks across several trips and enjoy each hike on its own.
Go Further With the Winter and Ultra Lake Placid 9’er Challenges
Already completed the standard Lake Placid 9’er? There are additional versions for hikers seeking a bigger challenge.
Winter Lake Placid 9’er
The Winter Lake Placid 9’er requires completing all nine mountains during the winter calendar season, from December 21 through March 20. The hikes can be spread across multiple winter seasons.
Winter hiking in the Adirondacks presents additional challenges, so hikers should be prepared with the appropriate equipment, skills, and knowledge of current mountain conditions.
Ultra Lake Placid 9’er
Highly experienced hikers can attempt the Ultra Lake Placid 9’er, which requires ascending and descending all nine peaks within a single 24-hour period.
There's also a Winter Ultra variation combining the winter requirements with the 24-hour time limit.
These versions are intended for hikers prepared for significantly more demanding conditions.
How to Become an Official Lake Placid 9’er
Once you've successfully climbed all nine mountains, you can register as an official Lake Placid 9’er.
Finishers can submit the official registration form along with the $15 registration fee to receive an official Lake Placid 9’er finisher's patch, sticker, card, and roster number.
Visit the official Lake Placid 9’er website for the registration form, current fee, trail information, downloadable map, and other challenge details before getting started.
Prepare Before You Hit the Trails
Even though the Lake Placid 9’er focuses on lower peaks, Adirondack hiking conditions can change quickly. Shorter mileage doesn't necessarily mean an easy hike, and some of these mountains feature steep, rocky, muddy, or challenging terrain.
Before heading out:
- Review the latest trail and weather conditions.
- Research your route and trailhead before leaving.
- Carry a map or another reliable navigation resource.
- Bring adequate food and water.
- Wear appropriate hiking footwear and clothing.
- Pack extra layers and essential hiking gear.
- Allow plenty of time to complete your hike before dark.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles.
- Know your abilities and turn around if conditions become unsafe.
Trail access, parking, and conditions can change, so check current information from official sources before each hike.
Make the Lake Placid 9’er Your Next Adirondack Hiking Goal
With nine mountains ranging from quick outings to challenging climbs, the Lake Placid 9’er gives hikers a chance to see several sides of the Lake Placid region while working toward a fun goal.
Start with Cobble Hill, build your way toward Catamount and Hurricane, or complete the peaks at your own pace. By the time you check that ninth mountain off your list, you'll have covered more than 30 miles of Adirondack trails and gained plenty of experience along the way.
Ready for another challenge? Check out more Adirondack hiking challenges and find your next goal.
