New York · Hiking

North Haystack Trail

0.4 mi
round trip
547 ft
climb
2,877 ft
high point
Out and back
route

North Haystack Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike of about 0.8 miles in New York's Mckenzie Mountain Wilderness, managed by the State Department of Conservation. It starts and ends at roughly 2,860 feet, with the high point on the route reaching about 2,877 feet. The trail is an out-and-back with a total climb of about 550 feet and a round trip of about 0.8 miles, and the steepest stretch comes near the beginning, with a grade of about 16%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. July typically brings highs around 74°F and lows near 54°F, based on typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Placid. That station sits nearly 1,000 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. The hike takes about half an hour. The nearby Mckenzie Mountain Trail is about 0.7 miles away, and the Jackrabbit Trail is about a mile off. Climbers can head to Front Boulder, about 2 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit North Haystack Trail

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      23° / 6°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      27° / 8°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 16°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

      14 wet

    5. May

      62° / 40°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 49°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 54°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 52°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 45°

      13 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 35°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 14°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Placid 2 S, NY, 3.7 mi away at 1,888 ft. The station sits about 1,000 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Route details

Distance
0.4 mi round trip
Climbing
About 547 ft
Summit
2,878 ft
Difficulty
Easy
Time
About 0 hours

Other routes up Haystack Mountain

Questions about this route

How long is the North Haystack Trail on Haystack Mountain?

About 0.4 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the North Haystack Trail?

About 547 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the North Haystack Trail?

It is rated easy.

How long does the North Haystack Trail take?

About 0 hours round trip.

How many routes go up Haystack Mountain?

2: North Haystack Trail and Haystack Mountain Trail.

Conditions and forecast on Haystack Mountain

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors