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.