Upper and Lower Wolfjaw: Wilderness, Wildlife and Wolfjaws
Upper and Lower Wolfjaw became my 10th and 11th Adirondack High Peaks. The hike begins from the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR), where parking must be reserved in advance. From the parking lot, it's a 1.2 km walk to the historic Ausable Club, followed by a 1 km walk down Lake Road before turning onto the trail.
The Wolfjaws are part of the Great Range, one of several mountain ranges that make up upstate New York's Adirondack High Peaks region. Stretching approximately 19 km (12 miles), the Great Range includes seven of the 46 High Peaks: Lower Wolfjaw, Upper Wolfjaw, Armstrong, Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, and Haystack. The Wolfjaws were given their name around 1870 after landscape artist Alexander Wyant noted that the deep col between them resembled the jaws of a wolf.
Although there aren't many trail markers, the trail was straightforward to follow. The hike offers a bit of everything: forested areas, streams, steep climbs, rock scrambles, waterfalls and viewpoints. Both Upper and Lower Wolfjaw peaks have viewpoints. While not the best views in the High Peaks, I appreciate peaks that have a place to stop and take a break before heading back down. The trails were surprisingly quiet, having only crossed paths with about a dozen hikers all day. Instead, I crossed paths both at the beginning and end of my hike with a white-tailed deer.
Hike Details
Trailhead: Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR)
Distance: 19.7 km (12.4 miles)
Elevation Gain: 1,169 m (3,835 ft)
Time on Trail: 10h39
