We actually debated if "this was it" as the summit of Porter is not exactly a grand summit of bare rock. Time to hike Cascade and Porter? Cascade Mountain via Porter Ridge Trail . No camping or fires allowed above 4,000 feet. Rejuvenated, our group broke apart and continued up the mountain. Cue Cascade and Porter, the easiest of the 46 High Peaks! Hiking Time: 2-3 hours due to the elevation gain. The summit of Porter had some lovely views of mountains in one direction and beautiful snow covered trees in the other direction. After a short section of open views the trail returns to the woods, again climbing until the fork between Cascade and Porter. The views we got where amazing! Totaling 6.2 miles of trails and a total hike time of approximately 3 hours, including a leisurely lunch at the summit of Cascade Mountain, these two peaks are doable, even for beginners, in one day. Posted by. link Copy Link. The Adirondack High Peaks is a geological phenomenon. Miles of clear plastic tubing threaded the hardwood tree trunks. We took the Cascade Mountain Trail and then at the junction we took the Porter Mountain Trail to hit the summit of Porter first. This was listed as a half-day hike, and clearly I was the only one attempting it as an afternoon hike. Arrived early (8:30am on a weekday) and was able to find parking. Cascade is 36th at 4098 ft., and Porter is 38th at 4059 ft. Porter’s long ridge on the left leads into Cascade’s pointy summit to the right. Cascade, with a 4.8-mile round-trip from Route 73, is the shortest hike to a 46er summit and is therefore an attractive day hike for families and others eager to check a mountain off their 46er list. There was only one other couple up there and we took our time enjoying the quiet and the beauty around us. 4 reviews | | DIFFICULT #23 hike out of 280 in High Peaks Wilderness | DIFFICULT. About … Muddy the whole way up. While not the worst climbing in the region, the trail climbs pretty consistently. Cascade / Porter Trail: 5.9 miles (2,250 feet elevation gained) Trip Report: - Christmas Eve I woke up early to do a quick hike before heading back to RI to spend time with my family over the Holidays. Cascade Mountain Trail Stats. It is an extra 1.4 miles roundtrip, but you are already near 4,000 feet, so the elevation gain is much less. Address to Trail head: NY-73, Lake Placid, NY 12946 The trail to porter was MUDDY. Continuing your ascent, you will come across an intersection: on the left, the Cascade summit and on the right that of Porter. Distance: 6.2 miles Elevation: Approximately 2900 feet Our Time: 3.5 hours Trailhead Location: Cascade Mountain Trailhead, Cascade Mountain Foot Trail, Lake Placid, NY 12946 I did not hike Porter with my kids because it was their first high peak and I didn’t want them to hate it by doing too much. There were a lot of people just coming off the trail when I arrived. The close proximity of the 46 peaks gives the Eastern High Peaks an almost carnival-like atmosphere. The trail to Cascade climbs nearly 2,000 feet in 2.4 miles. Once there we hurried up the last 0.3 miles to the summit. Look for Marcy Field on the right. I’ve hiked Cascade twice. We got slammed by a thunderstorm on the summit of Cascade and Porter! Because of the mud, this made the trail feel more difficult. No one had been up this trail before, so we all relied on my memory of having read about it; I recalled that there should be a junction sign at the split between Cascade and Porter, and after that it should be 0.3 miles. United States › New York › High Peaks Wilderness › Cascade Mountain via Porter Ridge Trail. Back to Trip Report. Distance: 4.8 miles (+1.4 to include Porter Mountain) Elevation: 2,293 ft (data courtesy of AllTrails) Estimated Time: 4-5 Hours; Trail Markings: Limited; If you’d like to hike both Cascade and Porter Mountain, the split is well marked and was much farther up the mountain than we originally anticipated. Mountains hiked: Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain, New York, USA Elevation: 1290m (4232 feet) and 1237m (4058 feet), respectively Hiking time: 4 hours (round-trip) Hiking distance: 5.6 miles or 9.0km (round-trip) Greetings! I have hiked 2/3rds of the high peaks. It is the shortest hike for the best views. We still took some time for photos….and even a VIDEO of the crazy conditions! u/nosuchthingaslost. Cascade -- at just 4,098 feet -- is a perfect hike for those looking for an entry point into the world of high peaks hiking. Go right at a junction at 2.1 miles from the road and continue 0.7 miles down and up to reach the summit of Porter Mountain. 2/12/2011: At the trail junction for Porter Mountain – A beautiful, snowy climb up Cascade and Porter Mountains in the Adirondack High Peaks Region, NY 2/12/2011: High Peak #2 for Regan! share Share . GPX; KML 9.4 mi. Hiking map for Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain. It's not as heavily traveled as Cascade and provides a nice short hike through dense woods. 1. Because they are so close, it is feasible to do both in one trip. The intersection with the Porter Mountain trail appears with a sign saying the Cascade Mountain summit is 0.3 miles away. We hiked Cascade and Porter in 4 1/2 hours. I now passed through a sugar maple farm. Trail starts out at the parking lot. Winter berries on a foggy fall day en route to Cascade and Porter. The Hike Cascade Mountain & Porter Mountain Cascade: 1st Peak Hiked, Order #36, Elevation 4098' Porter: 2nd Peak Hiked, Order #38, Elevation 4059' Duration: 10 Hours Distance: 6.5 Miles September 17, 2002 I hiked Cascade and Porter on a whim while looking for a longer hike than the two hour treks that I’d grown accustomed to. This route is used when combining Cascade and Porter as a day trip and is a very busy trailhead. The hike back to the trail junction seemed to take no time at all. Most hike to the summit of Cascade Mountain and then take the side trip to Porter Mountain. The view is exceptional. 3/4 of the way up you'll encounter the Porter Mountain trail … Time to hike Cascade and Porter? If you must do these two mountains, and you want to get anything out of your efforts, wait for a clear day. The view from a clearing near the summit of Cascade Mountain This popular hike affords views of Algonquin, Colden, and Marcy. Typically recommended as a starting point for Adirondack High Peaks. It leads to a bare, exposed rock with 360-degree views. Max- Cascade TH Elevation- 2217' Partly sunny to cloudy. Facebook; Twitter; Email; directions Driving Directions. Hubby and I are headed to Lake Placid soon for our anniversary weekend and I can’t pass up the chance to also get some hiking in! As I was driving from Lake Placid to the Cascade / Porter Trailhead it was still dark out but for the first time since arriving I could see clear skies! The last climb on cascade was a lot of fun. Less if you are comfortable hiking at such a steep grade. Only in places of course, and most had small accessory trails to get around the pits, but there were some that proved trickier than most. The trailheads for each hike were about 14 miles apart. Use the map below as a guide for hiking Cascade Mountain and Porter Mountain in Adirondack Park, New York. If you plan ahead, you can also hike Porter. Following the trail to the right will lead to Porter, dropping steadily into a saddle before arcing left and upward. This trail goes by Porter Mountain. Cascade is a pretty great peak as it has a bare summit with some of the best views of the surrounding High Peaks. This ascent took 2 hours. From here you are hiking on bare rock, will be very exposed to the elements and will enjoy 360 degree views. Awesome hike up Cascade and Porter Mountain. From there, the trail rose over a minor ridge, through the woods. Porter- 4059'/1 Cascade- 4098'/2 808'/mi. Brook on Cascade trail was running Both ascents were moderate. The 4059 foot Porter Mountain is located in the High Peaks Wilderness of the Adirondacks and is one of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers. Most hikers attempting to join the ADK 46er club start with these two mountains. The Cascade Mountain Trail Might Just Be The Most Gorgeous Wintertime Hike In New York. 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