High Peaks trailhead parking
A few High Peaks trailheads charge to park — the Adirondak Loj (daily fee) and the Garden (seasonal fee) — and the AMR is free but reservation-only from May 1 to October 31. Many big trailheads are free, including Upper Works, South Meadows, and Rooster Comb. On nice weekends the popular lots fill by 6 AM, so always have a backup and never park illegally roadside.
Trailheads that charge to park
- Adirondak Loj (Heart Lake) — a daily parking fee, collected at the gate by the Adirondack Mountain Club. The largest High Peaks lot and the gateway to Algonquin, Wright, Marcy (via Van Hoevenberg), Phelps, and more — it still fills on summer weekends.
- The Garden (Keene Valley) — a small lot with a seasonal fee and a free weekend shuttle from Marcy Field. The trailhead for the Great Range and Big Slide; it fills the earliest of any lot in the region.
- The AMR / Ausable Club (St. Huberts) — free, but a reservation is required from May 1 to October 31 at hikeamr.org (up to two weeks ahead, until 4 AM day-of). No walk-up. The gateway to the Colvin–Blake and Dial–Nippletop peaks and the Lower Ausable Lake road.
Free trailheads
Free to park, but not unlimited — most still fill early on a nice day.
- Upper Works (Tahawus) — the southern gateway, and the standard start for Allen, the Santanonis, and Marcy from the south. A long drive in, but rarely full.
- South Meadows — free roadside/lot access near the Loj corridor; the access road can be rough. Overflow option when the Loj fills.
- Rooster Comb (Keene Valley) — a free DEC lot, a common alternative gateway toward the Great Range when the Garden is full.
- Route 73 roadside lots (Cascade, Pitchoff) — free DEC lots for Cascade and Porter. They fill fastest of all; the corridor is heavily signed, so park only in a marked lot.
- Elk Lake — a free but limited lot on private land with public trail access to the Dix Range and Marcy via Panther Gorge. Closed during parts of big-game hunting season — check before relying on it.
When the lots fill, and how to beat it
On a warm, sunny weekend the Garden, the Loj, the Route 73 lots, South Meadows, and Elk Lake can be full by 6 AM — earlier on a holiday. Your best windows are arriving very early, mid-afternoon as shorter hikes wrap up, or in the evening once day-trippers have gone. Winter is rarely a problem. The single most useful habit is to plan a backup peak with a different trailhead so a full lot doesn’t end the day — and to never invent a roadside spot, which draws tickets and tows and blocks the emergency lane rescuers need.
Frequently asked
Which High Peaks trailheads cost money to park at?+
The Adirondak Loj at Heart Lake charges a daily parking fee, and the Garden lot in Keene Valley charges a seasonal fee. The AMR (Ausable Club) lot is free but requires a reservation. Many major trailheads cost nothing — Upper Works at Tahawus, South Meadows, and Rooster Comb among them — along with the DEC roadside lots on Route 73.
Do you need a reservation to park at the AMR?+
Yes. From May 1 through October 31 the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (Ausable Club) lot at St. Huberts requires a free reservation made at hikeamr.org, up to two weeks in advance and until 4 AM on the day of your hike. There is no walk-up. Despite the time slots, you may arrive any time after 5 AM once you hold a reservation.
When do High Peaks parking lots fill up?+
On a warm, sunny weekend the busiest lots — the Garden, the Adirondak Loj, the Route 73 roadside lots near Cascade, South Meadows, and Elk Lake — can fill by 6 AM, and earlier on a holiday. Winter is rarely a problem. Arriving very early, mid-afternoon, or in the evening gives the best odds.
Which High Peaks trailheads are free to park at?+
Free lots include Upper Works (Tahawus), South Meadows, Rooster Comb, and the DEC roadside lots along Route 73 (Cascade, Pitchoff). The AMR lot is free but reservation-only. Free does not mean unlimited — most of these still fill early on nice days.
What should I do if the trailhead lot is full?+
Have a backup peak or backup lot chosen before you leave, and never park roadside where it is prohibited — Route 73 is heavily signed and ticketed. For the Garden, use the free weekend shuttle from Marcy Field. Do not create a new roadside spot; a towed car and a blocked emergency lane are the usual results.
Get to the trailhead — then up the mountain.
Routes and trailheads for every summit, with the parking realities.
The gateway airports, the Northway corridor, and drive times to the High Peaks.
Every mapped trail with its elevation profile and the trailhead it leaves from.
Lower-stress trailheads to start with.