Armstrong Mountain

Armstrong Mountain is a peak in the Adirondacks reaching about 4,400 feet, positioned between Gothics and Upper Wolf Jaws. The summit offers views across the upper Great Range and Johns Brook Valley.

The mountain was acquired in 1866 by lumberman Thomas Armstrong and his business partner Almon Thomas through the Totten and Crossfield Purchase. Its first documented ascent occurred in 1875 when Ed Phelps and Thomas P. Wickes reached the summit.

The peak carries the name of Thomas Armstrong, a 19th-century lumberman whose presence shaped the early use of these slopes. Visitors follow paths established during that era of resource exploration and early mountaineering.

Access starts at the Garden Parking Lot via the Phelps Trail, with parking reservations required from May through October at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve. The route to the summit includes fixed cables and a ladder in the final approach.

The approach features fixed cables and a substantial ladder near the summit, making the route more technical than many casual hikers anticipate for this moderately elevated peak. These obstacles require careful footwork in the final stretch to the top.