Mount Colden is the eleventh-highest peak in the High Peaks of the

Adirondack Mountains The Adirondack Mountains (; a-də-RÄN-dak) form a massif in northeastern New York with boundaries that correspond roughly to those of Adirondack Park. They cover about 5,000 square miles (13,000 km2). The mountains form a roughly circular ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States. The peak was named after David S. Colden, an investor in the McIntyre Iron Works, in 1836. The peak was briefly renamed "Mount McMartin" the next year, but the older name persisted. The mountain is known for its distinctive Trap Dike, a large crevice running up the center of the mountain, which can clearly be seen from Avalanche Lake. There are two maintained trails up Mount Colden. The first, which approaches from the northeast, passes by Lake Arnold before ascending the summit after crossing over several false summits. This trail was laid out in 1966 to replace a steeper trail which ascended the southeast face of the mountain and which was abandoned by 1975.''Guide to Adirondack Trails'', eighth edition, Adirondack Mountain Club, 1975, p. B6-17. The second trail, which is steeper, approaches from the southwest, starting from

Lake Colden Lake Colden is a lake located in the Adirondack High Peaks in New York, United States. Lake Colden sits at 2764 feet (842 meters) at the western base of 4,714-foot (1,437 m) Mount Colden. To the northwest lie the MacIntyre Mountains— 5,115- ...

. Both approaches can be reached from the popular

Adirondak Loj The Adirondak Loj (pronounced "Adirondack Lodge") is a historic lodge in North Elba, Essex County, New York. It is near Lake Placid in the Adirondack Mountains. The current facility, located on the shore of Heart Lake, was built in 1927 and i ...

trailhead. After hiking from the Loj to the Avalanche Lean-Tos, climbers can head southwest through Avalanche Pass and past Avalanche Lake to reach

and the trail to Colden from the southwest. Alternatively, they can head southeast to reach Lake Arnold and the northeast approach.

and the southwest approach can also be reached from the Upper Works trailhead. Finally, the summit of Mount Colden can be reached by climbing the Trap Dike from Avalanche Lake. This approach leads to a long slide and a short bushwhack to the summit. This last approach does not follow a maintained trail, is extremely steep in places, and should be used with caution.

Gallery

Image:Mt Colden NY seen from Marcy Dam.jpg, Mount Colden seen from

Marcy Dam Marcy Dam was a wooden dam on the Marcy Brook in the Adirondack High Peaks in North Elba, New York, United States; it impounded Marcy Dam Pond. An early version of the dam was constructed by the Conservation Corps during the 1930s. It was re ...

Image:Mount Colden from Lake Colden near the Interior Outpost.jpg, Mount Colden from

near the Interior Outpost Image:Trap Dike.jpg, The Trap Dike from Avalanche Lake

Notes

External links

*
Peakbagger.com: Mount Colden

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colden Mountains of Essex County, New York Adirondack High Peaks Mountains of New York (state)