Calamity Brook Trail

Calamity Brook Trail is a moderate, long-distance hiking route in New York’s Adirondacks, commonly used as the southern approach to Mount Marcy. From Upper Works Road in Newcomb, it follows Calamity Brook past established backcountry camping areas en route toward Flowed Lands and Lake Colden.

The route’s character is streamside early on: the first stretches run relatively flat alongside Calamity Brook, then angles into a steadier climb after a junction at about 1.8 miles, with more sustained uphill as it pushes toward Flowed Lands.

Key landmarks come around the middle of the hike. Flowed Lands is reached around 4.6 miles, where the trail network expands to support access toward other High Peaks routes, including the inner High Peaks via herd paths.

Henderson Monument is another major stop along the corridor, located roughly 4.3 miles in. It’s a memorial tied to David Henderson, an early manager of nearby iron mining who died from an accidental gunshot during a hike.

For many parties, the “destination” varies: it can be hiked to Flowed Lands or continued onward toward Lake Colden / the Marcy approach line. The total outing length is commonly described as ~11.4 miles out-and-back to Lake Colden, or ~10.3 miles one-way for the Marcy summit approach.

Elevation gain is on the order of ~1,341 feet to Lake Colden; pushing beyond that toward additional peaks increases the total vertical. Typical time estimates land around 5–6 hours for an out-and-back length at a steady hiking pace.

Upper Works serves as the practical starting area for the Calamity Brook Trail approach. Parking is in the designated lot adjacent to MacNaughton Cottage, and the access drive route is generally from I-87 Exit 29, then to Blue Ridge Road and Tahawus Road, following High Peaks trail signage to the dead-end trailhead road.

More information: Upper Works Trailhead - Adirondack Hub, Calamity Brook to Flowed Land - Adirondack Hub, Upper Works — Town of Newcomb