Cairns: The Trail Markers of the Adirondacks

If you’re hiking the Adirondack High Peaks, you’ll eventually come across small piles of stacked rocks. While you might have seen them in other contexts as decorative objects, they are actually important navigation markers. These stone piles, called cairns, are used as trail markers where installing signs or paint marks to indicate trails are not possible or would cause damage to vegetation. Cairns are especially important to help hikers find their way in low visibility conditions and on open terrain.

Origins

Cairns have been used around the world for thousands of years – from burial markers in prehistoric Europe to navigational aids across treeless moors and tundra in Scotland and Scandinavia. The word cairn atual comes from the Scottish Gaelic càrn, meaning “heap of stones.”

In the Arctic, Inuit have built inuksuit stone landmarks for thousands of years as navigation aids, hunting markers, or to mark sacred sites. Today, inuksuit have evolved from navigation aids to be an important cultural symbol, even serving as the centerpiece of the Canadian territory of Nunavut’s flag. Inuksuit are recognized for their artistic value and remain a powerful cultural representation of guidance, community, and survival in the North.

Cairns in the Adirondacks

In the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, cairns are primarily found above tree line or in open rock areas. They are typically made from large, stable stones stacked to stand up to wind and snow. Each one has been carefully placed to mark the route and protect the surrounding terrain. I first came across them while nearing the summit of Cascade Mountain, my first High Peak Summit in the Adirondacks 46ers Challenge. They are also found on summits like Rocky Peak Ridge, Algonquin, Marcy, Colden and Haystack.

Cairns in the Adirondacks are built and maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). Their placement ensures safe route-finding and are especially important during poor visibility when fog, snow or clouds make it difficult to see the trail and cairns are the only reliable trail markers.