Allen Mountain Bushwhack
Allen Mountain Bushwhack (“Bushwhack to Allen”) is a long, remote Adirondack High Peaks hike that’s famous for relying on unmarked travel after the main trail/old roads transition. Expect a serious time commitment and a final steep push that includes a distinctive slide section on the upper mountain before reaching Allen’s tree-covered summit.
Typical round-trip distance is about 18 miles with roughly 3,700–2,600 ft of gain cited by different trip summaries. The route is commonly described as out-and-back, with the hardest work concentrated on the approach-to-summit transition and then the return from the slide/climb.
Access is generally from the Upper Works Road (CR 25) area in Newcomb, NY, often reached via I-87 (exit 29) and the Blue Ridge Road (CR 84) toward Newcomb; the last drive is followed by a trailhead on CR 25. Use a topo/map and be ready to navigate—parts of the route are explicitly described as unmarked.
The approach commonly starts along long logging-road style travel for the first miles, then involves major water crossings in the watershed. A key crossing mentioned in route writeups is the Opalescent River (the bridge crossing was destroyed in October 2019), so the “real” bushwhack is also about route planning for how you’ll cross safely.
After the maintained trail ends, the travel shifts to a herd-path style ascent up Allen Brook. Near the top, the terrain steepens and the upper section includes Allen’s slide; route descriptions emphasize that it can be slick (including when surface algae/slime is present), and that there’s a way to avoid exposed rock by staying on a rough herd path.
The summit area is wooded, but route summaries also note openings near/just past the summit sign where you can catch views. The slide/hard climb is the crux, so plan your pace accordingly and assume the return is equally demanding given the distance and the need to re-navigate the unmarked sections.
In winter, this route is treated as advanced: snowshoes and traction spikes/crampons are repeatedly flagged, and cold-season Opalescent crossings are described as extremely dangerous. If conditions are marginal, this is the kind of hike where turning around is a realistic strategy—because the hardest sections aren’t just “late in the day,” they’re the only parts you can’t easily bypass.
More information: Visitor information, Allen Mountain - Dismal Wilderness, Allen Mountain | Lake Placid