Essex, New York

Top Spots in and near Essex

  • Essex, New York

    Deep Water Solo at The Palisades on Lake Champlain

    Free soloing gets a lot of hype in the climbing world. No surprise, you're putting your life at risk basically. But, as climbers haven't you wanted to experience free soloing? You can, and you can take away some of the risk/death aspects of it by deep water soloing. This rare form of climbing can...
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  • 324 State Park Road, Vermont

    Hike to Mount Philo

    5.0
    1.9 mi / 538 ft gain
    Mount Philo is a great hike year-round with incredible views from the summit. Starting from the bottom, the right hand portion of the loop is ‘paved,’ while the left hand portion is more of a traditional trail hiking experience. Dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be kept on leash. Take caut...
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  • New Russia, New York

    Split Rock Falls

    5.0
    The the easiest and the fastest access of any New York waterfalls Split Rock Falls, is within 10 feet of the parking lot and as soon as you open the car door you hear the water gushing down the Boquet River. The clear, cold waters of Split Rock Falls cascade through groves of hemlock and spruce, ...
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  • Bristol, Vermont

    Bartlett Falls

    5.0
    The 14 foot falls plunge into a deep pool, perfect for cliff jumping. There is even a shallow end for younger children. Always take caution when cliff jumping. Make sure your path is clear of rocks.  Direction: Turn east on Lincoln Gap Road from Rt. 116 a mile north of Bristol. The falls are vis...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Backpack the Dix Range

    4.5
    17 mi
    Day 1The trail begins about a mile past the intersection of Rt. 73 and Rt. 9 just east of a bridge over the North Fork Boquet River. Note: this trail is unmarked, so be sure to have an accurate map of the area. I recommend going to The Mountaineer store in Keene Valley and asking one of the cler...
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  • Ausable Chasm, New York

    Ausable Chasm

    1.84 mi / 210 ft gain
    Ausable Canyon is known as The Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, this park offers a variety of adventure!! Enjoy the beauty and geologic history as a day trip or spend a few days. Ausable Chasm offers a variety of accommodations including camping, cabins or a motel. The recreation center at the...
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  • Jay, New York

    Jay Covered Bridge

    Originally erected in 1857, it was restored to its original state in 2006. The only bridge traffic allowed is pedestrian and bicycle. The bridge resides over the east branch of the Ausable River. It is currently listed on the State Register of Historic Places. In the warmer months, the covered...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Climb Chapel Pond Slab

    Chapel Pond area is mostly known for its ice climbing on the other side of the pond, but some easier, but runout slab climbing can be had on the eastern side.  There is ample parking on both sides of the road in the form of pull offs and the walk to the base of the climbing is only a few hundred ...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs

    4.3
    9.71 mi / 1634 ft gain
    At 9.7-miles long, this lengthy, but easy loop takes you to two ADK lower peaks. The views from Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs will blow your mind away. I love stopping here every time I make my way to ADK. The colors are absolutely gorgeous in the fall.  From the parking lot, take the lake ro...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Nippletop, Indian Head, Gothics

    5.0
    21.55 mi / 7631 ft gain
    We completed this loop over the course of 3 days in late June, however for those who pack extraordinarily light and/or travel extraordinarily fast, this loop could be completed in 2 days. There are also a plethora of trail intersections to either extend or shorten your loop to different preferenc...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Hike to Noonmark Mountain

    5.0
    4.6 mi / 2300 ft gain
    This trail actually begins off an easement of private roads at the Ausable Club. From the main road, you will see the Register and signage showing 2.1 miles to Noonmark. Continue on a gravel road until an arrow directs you to take a right into the woods. Follow the Stimson Trail to the summit. Th...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Rooster Comb Mountain

    4.69 mi / 1673 ft gain
    Take in two unique views of the Adirondacks on one hike. Rooster Comb offers a great 5.2 mile round trip hike that gives you some unique vantage points. Starting from the parking lot you cross over a nice wooden bridge to the trail registry. Remember to sign in. Next you'll come up on a pond in w...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Hike to Gothics Mountain, Pyramid Peak, and Sawteeth Mountain via Beaver Meadow Falls

    4.0
    14.3 mi / 4900 ft gain
    Gothics Mountain is number 10 in height on the 46ers list, standing at 4,736 feet. Pyramid Peak stands at 4,550 feet, but because of it's location and closeness to Gothics, it is not considered one of the 46ers. Sawteeth is number 35 in height on the 46ers list, standing at 4,100 feet.This is a 1...
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  • Keene Valley, New York

    Hike to Mount Colvin and Blake Peak

    4.0
    14.6 mi / 4000 ft gain
    Mount Colvin and Blake Peak are located along the Colvin Range in the High Peaks Wilderness. Mount Colvin is number 39 on the 46er list, at 4,057 feet. Blake Peak is is number 43 on the list, at 3,960 feet, although new surveying methods discovered this summit just short of 4,000 feet, tradition ...
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  • Keene, New York

    Rock Climb Owl's Head Mountain

    Owls Head Mountain is a hot spot when it comes to hiking. For climbers, it's a great crag to hone in your skills and practice moving fluidly. The height of the wall is on the smaller side, I'd say somewhere around 50-55 feet. The view and rock quality, however, that is the real draw.  Once you've...
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  • Huntington, Vermont

    Camel's Hump Summit via the Burrows Trail

    4.0
    4.4 mi / 2228 ft gain
    This adventure takes you up the Burrows Trail from the Huntington side of Camel's Hump. There are multiple trails to the summit, but this trail is the shortest. It is 2.4 miles to the summit with 2300' elevation gain. The trailhead is accessed from the aptly named Camel's Hump Road out of Huntin...
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Camping and Lodging in Essex

Moosalamoo Campground
Salisbury, Vermont

Moosalamoo Campground

Lake Bomoseen KOA Holiday
Hubbardton, Vermont

Lake Bomoseen KOA Holiday

Guides, Insights and Stories from Essex

Visit the Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Vermont

Visit the Most Beautiful Waterfalls in Vermont

Tara Schatz

Explore the Mountains of Vermont on a Route 100 Road Trip

Explore the Mountains of Vermont on a Route 100 Road Trip

Tara Schatz

Top 5 Adventures in Vermont

Top 5 Adventures in Vermont

The Outbound Collective

Winter Camping Recipe: Fire Charred Eggplant Sabich

Winter Camping Recipe: Fire Charred Eggplant Sabich

Emily Hlaváč Green

Life on the Long Trail: An Expedition through Vermont's Green Mountains

Life on the Long Trail: An Expedition through Vermont's Green Mountains

Aaron Ibey

8 Ways to Develop Outdoor Skills on a Gap Year

8 Ways to Develop Outdoor Skills on a Gap Year

Julia Rogers