{{short description|Mountain in New York, United States}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Mount Haystack | image = Adirondacks Mount Haystack from Little Haystack.JPG | image_caption = Mount Haystack from Little Haystack | map = New York Adirondack Park#USA | map_caption = Location of Mount Haystack within New York | elevation_ft = 4,960 | elevation_ref = {{NGVD29}}{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|p=286}} <!-- | prominence_ft = 840 | prominence_ref = {{efn|Key col elevation between 1,250 and 1,260 m.}}--><!--prominence data was previously sourced from peakbagger.com. Seeking a better source.--> | listing = Adirondack High Peaks 3rd<ref>{{cite web |title=The Peaks – Adirondack 46ers |url=https://adk46er.org/peaks/ |website=adk46er.org |access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref> | location = Keene, New York, U.S. | range = Adirondacks | coordinates = {{coord|44|06|20|N|73|54|2|W |type:mountain_region:US |display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref>{{cite gnis | id = 973353| name = Mount Haystack |access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref> | topo = USGS Mount Marcy | type = | age = | first_ascent = 1849 by Orson Schofield Phelps, Almeron Oliver, and George Etsy{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|pp=50-51}} | easiest_route = Hike }}
'''Mount Haystack''' is a mountain in the Great Range of the Adirondack Mountains of New York. With an elevation of {{Convert|4960|ft}}, it is the third-highest mountain in New York and one of the 46 High Peaks in Adirondack Park. It is located in the town of Keene in Essex County. The first recorded ascent of the mountain was made by mountain guide Orson Schofield Phelps in 1849, accompanied by Almeron Oliver and George Etsy. Phelps gave the mountain its current name based on its appearance to a haystack,{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|pp=50-51}}{{sfn|Carson|1927|p=102}} and later cut the first trail to the summit in 1873.{{sfn|Waterman|2003|p=210}} The summit is an alpine zone above the treeline, which offers a view of nearby Mount Marcy and Panther Gorge.{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|pp=50-51}}
Two trails can be used to access the summit of Haystack. The mountain can be approached from the north by following the Johns Brook Trail from the Garden parking area in Keene Valley to the Phelps Trail, passing the DEC Interior Outpost and Johns Brook Lodge, and then following the State Range Trail from a junction between the two. The northern trail to Haystack branches from the State Range Trail {{Convert|0.6|mi}} from the summit. The distance from Keene Valley to the DEC Interior Outpost is {{Convert|3.5|mi}} and Haystack is an additional {{Convert|5.8|mi}}, for a total distance of {{Convert|9.3|mi}}.{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|pp=38-41,50-51}} It can also be approached from the south, starting at the privately owned Ausable Club. This approach involves steep, rough terrain, and is not recommended for backpackers due to the risk of falls. This route is {{Convert|3.5|mi}} from Upper Ausable Lake to the summit, with an elevation gain of {{Convert|3070|ft}}.{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|pp=106-107}}
Ascents of Haystack are sometimes combined with several other peaks, including Marcy, Basin, Saddleback, or the Great Range.{{sfn|Goodwin|2021|pp=48-49,107-108}}
==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" heights="180"> File:Little Haystack and Haystack Mt NY.jpg|Little Haystack (left) and Mount Haystack (center), from Mount Marcy </gallery>
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==References== {{reflist}}
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |last1=Carson |first1=Russell M. L. |title=Peaks and People of the Adirondacks |date=1927 |publisher=Doubleday |location=Garden City |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSsqAQAAMAAJ |isbn=9781404751200 |page=102}} * {{cite book |editor1-last=Goodwin |editor1-first=Tony |title=Adirondack trails. High peaks region |date=2021 |publisher=Adirondack Mountain Club |isbn=9780998637181 |edition=15th}} * {{cite book |last1=Waterman |first1=Laura |title=Forest and crag : a history of hiking, trail blazing, and adventure in the Northeast mountains |date=2003 |publisher=Appalachian Mountain Club Books |location=Boston |isbn=0910146756 |edition=First |page=210 |url=https://archive.org/details/forestcraghistor0000wate/mode/2up}}
==External links== *[https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hiking/adirondack-backcountry/backcountry-information-for-adirondack-park Backcountry information for Adirondack Park] at ''dec.ny.gov'' *[https://www.lakeplacid.com/hiking/mount-marcy Mount Haystack hiking guide] at ''lakeplacid.com'' *[http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=6051 Mount Haystack geography] at ''peakbagger.com'' *[http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150573/mount-haystack.html Mount Haystack description] at ''summitpost.org''
{{Adirondack High Peaks}} {{Mountains of New York}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Haystack}} Category:Mountains of Essex County, New York Category:Adirondack High Peaks Category:Mountains of New York (state)