Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in New York with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 58,889 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
New York compresses Adirondack High Peaks, Catskills, Finger Lakes gorges, Long Island shoreline, and Hudson Highlands into one state. The Adirondacks alone are larger than several Western parks. Mount Marcy (5,343 ft) and the High Peaks Wilderness routinely deliver 3,000-4,000 ft of gain from trailhead to summit. Hypothermia in shoulder seasons (Adirondack weather changes fast), ticks (Lyme endemic), and slick rock on exposed High Peaks routes.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 58,889 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in New York — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Blue Mountain Trail
Blue Mountain Trail leads the elevation rankings with 5,085 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 5,085 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Blue Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail
Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail comes in at #2 with 4,593 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 4,593 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Peaked Mountain Trail
Peaked Mountain Trail comes in at #3 with 3,970 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 3,970 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Peaked Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Moxham Mountain Trail
Moxham Mountain Trail comes in at #4 with 3,281 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 3,281 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in New York, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Moxham Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Sutton
Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Sutton comes in at #5 with 2,848 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 2,848 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Sentier de l'Estrie, Zone Sutton trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Sawyer Mountain Trail
Sawyer Mountain Trail comes in at #6 with 2,625 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 2,625 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Sawyer Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Rocky Mountain Trail
Rocky Mountain Trail comes in at #7 with 1,476 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 1,476 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Rocky Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Cat Mountain Trail
Cat Mountain Trail comes in at #8 with 1,280 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 1,280 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Cat Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Little Moose Pond Trail
Little Moose Pond Trail comes in at #9 with 1,247 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 1,247 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in New York, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Little Moose Pond Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Cat Mountain Red Trail
Cat Mountain Red Trail comes in at #10 with 984 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 984 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Cat Mountain Red Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your New York trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for New York. May-October for high routes; black flies in late spring; fall foliage in early October is the visual peak. Hypothermia in shoulder seasons (Adirondack weather changes fast), ticks (Lyme endemic), and slick rock on exposed High Peaks routes.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More New York hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our New York coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in New York — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in New York — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in New York — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in New York — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in New York — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in New York — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in New York — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in New York last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
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