Mount Haystack

The route begins and ends at The Garden and reaches the summit of Mount Haystack (4,960'), about 8 miles each way. From the lot, follow the yellow-marked Phelps Trail over rolling terrain, then drop into Johns Brook Valley at around 3.0 miles. Turn right and continue past Johns Brook Lodge, keeping straight toward Bushnell Falls. Skip the side trail to the falls; at 5.0 miles, turn left and descend on red markers to cross Johns Brook, passing the Bushnell Falls lean-to. The grade is moderate and steady to Slant Rock, near 6.5 miles. Beyond Slant Rock, climb steeply to the junction with the trail to Mount Marcy, about 2.8 miles farther. Turn left toward Haystack and climb very steeply to the Horse Hill viewpoint, then dip to timberline. Climb open, exposed rock marked with yellow paint blazes to Little Haystack, descend to a col, and climb 0.3 mile of bare rock to the summit. Haystack is about 1.1 miles from the junction. Crux: Little Haystack is not the summit, and the col below Haystack is slick and often icy. Route-finding on bare rock depends on the yellow blazes. Descend the same route. The steep upper rock is hard on knees and treacherous when wet or icy.