1953 Map of Mount Marcy

About this map

The High Peaks of Essex County are documented here in a survey based on field checks from 1953, revealing the complex network of trails and waterways that define this section of the Adirondack State Park. The map centers on the massive elevation of Mt Marcy, where the high-altitude Lake Tear of the Clouds serves as a critical headwater for the Opalescent River. To the north, the terrain transitions into the valley floor near North Elba, featuring the Olympic Bobsled Run and the North Country Sch. The eastern corridor along the West Branch Ausable River shows the concentrated settlements of Keene Valley and Saint Huberts, supported by Marcy Airfield. For those tracing local history, the map preserves the locations of the Norton Cem and several administrative landmarks like the Ranger Headquarters near Phelps Brook. This record of the mid-century landscape captures the era of classic Adirondack recreation at Adirondak Loj before more modern developments altered the wilderness character.