| Rocky Peak Ridge | |
|---|---|
 Rocky Peak seen from Giant Mountain | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,420 ft (1,350 m) NGVD 29[1] |
| Listing | Adirondack High Peaks 20th[2] |
| Coordinates | 44°09′16″N73°42′20″W / 44.15444°N 73.70556°W /44.15444; -73.70556[3] |
| Geography | |
  Rocky Peak Ridge Location of Rocky Peak Ridge within New York Show map of New York Adirondack Park Rocky Peak Ridge Rocky Peak Ridge (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Keene, New York,U.S. |
| Parent range | Adirondacks |
| Topo map | USGS Elizabethtown |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1878, by Fred J. Patterson and Sam Dunning[4] |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Rocky Peak Ridge is amountain in theAdirondacks in theU.S. state ofNew York. It is the 20th-highest of theAdirondack High Peaks, with an elevation of 4,420 feet (1,350 m). It is located in theGiant Mountain Wilderness Area, in the town ofKeene inEssex County.[5] The mountain is named for its appearance as a rockyridge to the east of the better-knownGiant Mountain.[4] Other early names for the mountain included "Giant's Wife", "Bald Mountain", and "Bald Peak",[4] the last of which now belongs to a shorter nearby peak.[6] The earliest recorded ascent of the mountain was made by trail guides Fred J. Patterson and Sam Dunning in 1878.[4] A majorforest fire in 1903 burned the topsoil from the top of the mountain and left it with its distinctive bare ridge.[7]
Rocky Peak Ridge can be climbed from two directions. The East Trail begins at a parking lot onU.S. Route 9, north of its junction withNew York State Route 73 and south ofNew Russia. It continues 1.9 miles (3.1 km) to the Blueberry Cobbles, where it splits in two, with the red trail bypassing the Blueberry Cobbles and the yellow trail passing over them, offering views of theBoquet River andDix Range. After the trails rejoin in Mason Notch, the route continues over the summits of Mason Mountain and Bald Peak, and then along the ridge to the summit of Rocky Peak Ridge.[6] Near the summit, the trail passes Lake Mary Louise, named for Mary Louise Wicks, a summer visitor in the 19th century. Good views in all directions are available on the peak, including the east face of Giant Mountain. This route has a one-way distance of 6.7 miles (10.8 km) and ascent of 4,700 feet (1,400 m).[6]
The East Trail continues from Rocky Peak Ridge to the col between it and Giant Mountain, and then to the summit of Giant Mountain. This allows Rocky Peak Ridge to instead be approached from the west by first climbing Giant Mountain.[6]
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