Mount Colvin
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About Mount Colvin
Mount Colvin stands at 4,057 feet (1,236 m) and is the thirty-ninth highest peak in New York. Located in the Colvin Range between Nippletop and Blake Peak, Mount Colvin offers spectacular views of the Great Range, the Ausable Lakes, and the surrounding High Peaks. The mountain is named after Verplanck Colvin, whose survey work laid the foundation for the Adirondack Park. The most common approach is from the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) via the Ausable Club, following the Lake Road to the Gill Brook Trail. Colvin is often climbed in conjunction with Blake Peak, creating a challenging day hike with substantial elevation gain.
History
Mount Colvin honors Verplanck Colvin (1847-1920), a lawyer, topographical engineer, and superintendent of the Adirondack Survey from 1872 to 1900. Colvin's pioneering survey work mapped the Adirondacks in unprecedented detail and helped establish the scientific basis for protecting the region as a Forest Preserve. The mountain was included in the original Adirondack 46er list. Like many peaks in this area, access to Mount Colvin crosses the private Adirondack Mountain Reserve, which allows hikers to traverse their lands via an easement agreement with New York State. The summit of Colvin was once the site of a wooden observation platform built by Colvin himself during his survey work, though it has long since disappeared. Today, the peak offers naturally open views thanks to its rocky summit, making it a popular destination despite the challenging ascent requiring over 2,000 feet of elevation gain.
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