Six mountains. Four patches.
On May 25, 2013, the Village of Saranac of Saranac Lake created the popular Saranac Lake 6er Hiking Challenge. Since then, hikers have been challenged to climb six area mountains; when they finish, they receive a patch and their moment of fame as they ring the 6er Bell in Berkeley Green. The program has fostered a great introduction to hiking in the Adirondacks.
Hikers taking on the 6er have the choice of the standard challenge in both Summer/Fall/Spring and Winter, plus the Ultra* option in those seasons. The Ultra is a hard-core endurance test, in which all six mountains must be completed within a documented 24-hour period.
Helpful info
Looking to take on the 6er but not quite sure which mountain to begin with? No worries! We recommend taking on the mountains in the following order, from least difficult to most difficult.
- Baker Mountain
- St. Regis Mountain
- Scarface Mountain
- Ampersand Mountain
- Haystack Mountain
- McKenzie Mountain
Spring in the mountains
After a busy, and cold, Adirondack winter, spring usually means we're all excited to get outside and have fun, without all those layers of fleece and down. However, spring brings it's own challenges for hikers: melting snow plus rain lead to mud, and that in itself can be both messy and dangerous. Learn more about how to best prepare for a spring hike.
Current notices about the 6er
- As of 2022, starting at the Baker Mountain trailhead will no longer count for the 6er program. To earn a 6er title, one must start and end their Baker Mountain summit (on foot) from the 6er bell, located in Berkeley Green Park.
To learn more about the Saranac Lake 6er, visit the Village of Saranac Lake website.
