Giant Mountain Wilderness Area
Encyclopedia
The Giant Mountain Wilderness Area, an Adirondack Park unit of New York's Forest Preserve
, lies in Essex County
, New York
, in the towns of Elizabethtown
and Keene
. It is roughly bounded by NY 9N
on the north, NY 73
on the west and south and US 9 on the east. It includes two bodies of water covering 5 acres (2 ha), 12.5 miles (20 km) of trails, and a single lean-to
.
From the eastern boundary of Route 9 several miles south of Elizabethtown to the top of Giant Mountain represents a horizontal distance of about six miles (9.6 km), with an elevation change of nearly 4,000 feet (1,219 m), the greatest elevation change per horizontal mile over that distance of any Adirondack Park wilderness area.http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/SlmpPDF2001.pdf
Because of the great difference in temperatures and soil conditions between these two elevations, the forest cover type ranges from stunted spruce, balsam and white birch near the mountain tops to excellent quality oak, maple, basswood and white ash at the lower elevations. There are also some excellent stands of hemlock on the Keene Valley side near the Ausable River.
Many small brooks cascade down from the upper slopes and one in particular, Roaring Brook, has a scenic waterfall which may be seen from Route 73, about one mile (1.6 km) north of Chapel Pond. A number of similar brooks in the area provide scenic spots as well as trout fishing pools.
, the Nubble, and Rocky Peak Ridge
offering broad views over the area.http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/SlmpPDF2001.pdf
Forest Preserve (New York)
New York's Forest Preserve is all the land owned by the state within the Adirondack and Catskill parks, managed by its Department of Environmental Conservation. These properties are required to be kept "forever wild" by Article 14 of the state constitution, and thus enjoy the highest degree of...
, lies in Essex County
Essex County, New York
Essex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,370. Its name is from the English county of Essex. Its county seat is Elizabethtown...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in the towns of Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, New York
Elizabethtown is a town in Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,315 at the 2000 census. The county seat of Essex County is a hamlet also called Elizabethtown. The name is derived from Elizabeth Gilliland, the wife of an early settler....
and Keene
Keene, New York
Keene is a town in central Essex County, New York, United States. The population was 1,063 at the 2000 census. Keene is the home of Mount Marcy, the highest mountain in New York state, as well as the Great Range and 15 of the 46 High Peaks, and the Ausable Lakes, the source of the Ausable River...
. It is roughly bounded by NY 9N
New York State Route 9N
New York State Route 9N is a north–south state highway in northeastern New York, United States. It extends from an intersection with U.S. Route 9 , NY 29, and NY 50 in the city of Saratoga Springs to a junction with US 9 and NY 22 in the Clinton County village of...
on the north, NY 73
New York State Route 73
New York State Route 73 is a state highway located entirely within Essex County, New York, United States. The highway begins at an intersection with NY 86 in the village of Lake Placid and ends at a junction with U.S. Route 9 north of the hamlet of Underwood in the extreme...
on the west and south and US 9 on the east. It includes two bodies of water covering 5 acres (2 ha), 12.5 miles (20 km) of trails, and a single lean-to
Lean-to
A lean-to is a term used to describe a roof with a single slope. The term also applies to a variety of structures that are built using a lean-to roof....
.
Geography
The Giant Mountain Wilderness Area topography is steep and rocky with a considerable number of vertical or near vertical cliffs. Repeated landslides have occurred on the west side of Giant, exposing bare rock. Numerous small brooks cascade from the upper slopes. The tops of the higher mountains are bare rock but aspen, white birch, balsam and spruce are slowly filling in the upper slopes.From the eastern boundary of Route 9 several miles south of Elizabethtown to the top of Giant Mountain represents a horizontal distance of about six miles (9.6 km), with an elevation change of nearly 4,000 feet (1,219 m), the greatest elevation change per horizontal mile over that distance of any Adirondack Park wilderness area.http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/SlmpPDF2001.pdf
Forest
During 1903 one of the major forest fires of the Adirondacks swept over the greater part of this area, burning the topsoil down to bare rock and leaving the two dominant mountains of this area, Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge, practically bald. A few pockets on the lower slopes escaped the intense burn and are easily distinguishable as they now contain old growth white pine and hemlock stands with some mixed hardwoods.Because of the great difference in temperatures and soil conditions between these two elevations, the forest cover type ranges from stunted spruce, balsam and white birch near the mountain tops to excellent quality oak, maple, basswood and white ash at the lower elevations. There are also some excellent stands of hemlock on the Keene Valley side near the Ausable River.
Water
Giant's Washbowl lies in a small depression near the 2,300-foot (700 m) level on the lower south slope of Giant Mountain and has a surface area of about five acres (2 ha). The tarn near the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge has been referred to locally by a number of different names, but a sign appeared in the early 1970s with the name "Lake Marie Louise."http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/SlmpPDF2001.pdf The sharp col, referred to as Gusty Gap, between Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge is another attractive feature of the area.Many small brooks cascade down from the upper slopes and one in particular, Roaring Brook, has a scenic waterfall which may be seen from Route 73, about one mile (1.6 km) north of Chapel Pond. A number of similar brooks in the area provide scenic spots as well as trout fishing pools.
Recreation
The area is a popular hiking destination throughout the year with Giant MountainGiant Mountain
Giant Mountain is the twelfth highest peak in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Park, in New York, USA. The peak is also known as "Giant of the Valley," due to its stature looking over Keene Valley and St. Huberts to the west...
, the Nubble, and Rocky Peak Ridge
Rocky Peak Ridge
Rocky Peak Ridge is the twentieth highest peak in the High Peaks Region of the Adirondack Park of New York, USA. The name of the mountain is due to its geology, a rocky ridge to the east of the better known Giant Mountain...
offering broad views over the area.http://www.apa.state.ny.us/Documents/Laws_Regs/SlmpPDF2001.pdf