New York trails · Elk Lake To Marcy Trail

Elk Lake To Marcy Trail

A 9.6-mile out-and-back in New York, with 2,399 ft of climbing. Reaches Elk Lake. Managed by the state.

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Length

9.6 mi

Elevation gain

2,399 ft

Difficulty

Expert

Max grade

40%

Steepest mile

+1,109 ft

Tread at ≥10% grade

3.4 mi

Shape

out-and-back

Bikes

Horses

Managed by

State

Elevation profile

Most of the climbing sits in the final third — 57% of the ascent, between mile 6.4 and mile 9.6.

3-D terrain

USGS 3DEP ELEVATION × ESRI WORLD IMAGERY · VERTICAL ×1.5

Reaches

Elk Lake (lake)

Heads up

Stream ford: expect at least one unbridged crossing.

Terrain graded T2 (SAC scale).

Getting there

Elk Lake To Marcy Trail access — parking nearby, restroom. About 1 h 48 min drive (77 mi, 5 of them unpaved) from Saratoga Springs. 44.02077, -73.82791 · directions

Daylight at the trailhead

On October 14, 2026 — the day this page was generated — first light reaches this trailhead at 6:39 a.m., the sun rises at 7:08 a.m. and sets at 6:13 p.m., and the last usable light fades about 6:42 p.m. (EDT) — 11 h 05 min of daylight. At about 2.7 mph plus 30 minutes per 1,000 feet of climbing, the 19.1-mile round trip takes roughly 9 h 29 min, so leaving the trailhead at sunrise puts you back around 4:37 p.m. — 1 h 36 min before sunset.