Region: Adirondacks
Designation: 46er
Level: Difficult
Bonus: Trap Dike
Total Distance/elevation gain: ~13 miles/3,000 feet
Colden is the 11th highest peak in the Adirondacks and boasts one of the most exhilarating and dangerous sections of a hike often braved by fellow hikers: the infamous Trap Dike. One of the more technical, steep and tough climbs in the ADKs, the Trap Dike section of Mount Colden is both highly dangerous and extremely exciting.
Start out at the Adirondack Loj and head towards Marcy Dam via the main trailhead (gets you to a handful of high peaks, Algonquin, Wright, Iroquois, Marcy, Phelps, etc.) Head in for 1 mile till you get to the sign showing left to Marcy Dam. Take that left, travel for around another 1.2 miles to Marcy Dam where you’ll cross the water and follow along till you get to the Dam camping area. Another registration here for the next destination. Take the trail to Avalanche Lake, cross over the plank bridges and reach the south end of the lake. From there, it’s a bushwhack to get to the Trap Dike entry point. You’ll see the Trap Dike across Avalanche Lake when you first arrive so the Bushwhack direction (basically back to the north end of the lake on the other side) you’ll have in your head. Good luck!
From there, the Trap Dike starts off relatively easy compared to what it becomes towards the top. See the pictures below to get a good idea on the difficulty going up. It’s a tough climb, not impossible, but it’ll gas you as you start getting towards the top section with waterfalls and extremely steep cliffs. While there are plenty of footholds and handholds to get up, without a helmet or ropes it can be scary. Be extremely careful, go slow, and likely go with at least one other person. I went with a friend who had previously completed so I felt as safe as I could without ropes, a helmet, etc. Super fun, scary and feels good to conquer. Once you finish the more technical climb on Trap Dike, you’ll hit the long, wide rock slab slides which get you near the summit. In all I think the Trap Dike climb plus the slab is around 1.3-1.4 miles depending on what your GPS says that day. Always a little different from device to device.
We took the Lake Arnold Trail back down from the summit. Colden as an amazing hike and would highly suggest, if you have the skills and are with a group of experienced hikers, to think about doing the Trap Dike. Safety first, but worth the thrill and workout if you are willing to take it on.
