Armstrong Mountain is the twenty-second tallest mountain in New York. This peak is often completed as part of the Gothics, Armstrong, Upper Wolf Jaw Mountain & Lower Wolf Jaw Mountain loops. Alternately, hikers may choose to complete the hike using a there-and-back trail from the Keene Valley trailhead.
Distance: 5.8 miles to the summit, thus 11.6 miles round trip
Ascent: feet
Elevation: 4,400 feet
Primary Trailhead: To reach the trailhead from Lake Placid follow Route 73 toward Keene. Drive through Keene and Keene Valley into Saint Huberts. Parking is across the road from the Roaring Brook Falls Trailhead for Giant Mountain. The approach is on the private property of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) and dogs are prohibited in the game preserve.
Trail Route: From the parking lot, you will initially have to follow a dirt road to a paved road next to a golf course. At 0.5 miles from the parking area, turn left and down between two tennis courts on Lake Road Way to get to the gate into the AMR. The AMR is a private property area with recreational easements, special rules apply to use and those are posted at the gate. At the gate you will need to hike the dirt access road for around 2.0 miles to the Gothics access trail on the right. This trail leads through the forest to a bridge over the Ausable River and then to the base of Beaver Meadow Falls.
The trail climbs steeply to the left of the falls over a ladder and slippery conditions to near the top of the falls. From this point the trail becomes a steady climb with a few steep sections and a couple smaller ladders to descend. This trail leads up to the Great Range Trail where Armstrong is to your right and Gothics to the left.
History: Armstrong Mountain was named after Thomas Armstrong, , a local lumberman in the 1800s. The mountain is part of the Great Range of the Adirondack Mountains.
Location: Armstrong Mountain is located in the Town of Keene, in Essex County, in the Northern region of New York State.