Established in 2013, the Trans Adirondack Route is a primitive pathway that traverses New York’s Adirondack Park, the largest park and forest preserve in the Lower Forty-Eight. Running 238.2 miles, few footpaths are wilder, and the route has gained a notorious nickname early on: "The Triple Crown Crusher." This is due to it defeating three "Triple Crowners" – those who have hiked 8,000 miles along the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail.
The route's wildness can be assessed by the public land it traverses. Five wilderness areas and eight wild forests mark the most primitive sections. During a Trans Adirondack Route traverse you'll hike through prime moose habitat, past the haunts of old-time hermits, and under virgin timber. Primarily a lowland route, the path hops from lake to lake and meanders down scenic river valleys.
The Trans Adirondack Route uses 188.1 miles of trails, 38.9 miles of road walking, and 11.2 miles of off-trail travel to get from one end of the park to the other. Yet it encounters only three small hamlets. Five ecological life zones, scores of picturesque campsites, more than fifty bodies of water, and hundreds of streams and mountains are passed along the way. The route is designed for long-distance hikers seeking an extended walk on the wild side, though most sections can be covered via day hikes.
The Trans Adirondack Route is managed and promoted by Friends of the Trans Adirondack Route, a petite grassroots organization that prides itself on its authenticity. Our straightforwardness is reflected in our mission statement. "The mission of Friends of the Trans Adirondack Route is to promote responsible use of the Trans Adirondack Route and the Adirondack Mountains as a whole. We offer an immersion experience in the East's greatest remaining wilderness, free from the confines of techno-industrial society."
