Six Peaks and a Bell: My Saranac Lake 6er Ultra

The bell was waiting in downtown Saranac Lake. Between me and that finish were six Adirondack summits, a lot of trail, and the kind of day you remember long after your legs recover.

I did the Saranac Lake 6er as an Ultra. The idea is simple to explain and much harder to do: climb all six mountains within a documented 24-hour window. Ringing the 6er bell at the end felt every bit as good as I had hoped.

The six peaks

Ampersand, Baker, Haystack, McKenzie, Scarface, and St. Regis are spread around Saranac Lake. This is not one continuous signed loop. You plan the order, the travel between trailheads, and the energy you want to save for the last climb.

This graphic compares the six peaks and outlines the challenge. It is not a trail map. Check the official Saranac Lake 6er guide for current rules, then carry a proper trail map or an offline map for the hikes themselves.

Rules of the Saranac Lake 6er Ultra

• Summit all six named mountains within a documented 24-hour period. Keep track of your start and finish times for each hike.
• Start and finish the official Ultra at the 6er bell in Berkeley Green in Saranac Lake. Ring the bell when you complete the challenge, not at every peak.
• Baker has a special rule: its summit trip must begin and end on foot at the bell, not at the Baker trailhead. Check the current official rules before you go.
• Choose a route you can finish safely. The 24-hour clock does not make a slippery descent or changing weather less important.

That Baker rule was updated after some earlier 6er attempts. I am sharing today's rules for anyone planning their own Ultra, not claiming they were the rules on the day I did mine.

Give yourself a plan, and room to change it

Start by looking at the six trailheads and driving time between them. Pack for the full range of conditions, not just the weather at the first summit. Bring food you will actually want to eat late in the day, a headlamp with spare power, layers, water, and navigation you know how to use.

Check trail conditions and daylight before you leave. Tell someone your plan. If the day stops being safe, it is okay to stop. The peaks will still be there.

The little 6er checkpoint box and those wide-open summit views are the details that stay with me. So is the bell. The best part was arriving back in town knowing exactly how much work had gone into that last ring.

A lakeside home base

Mirror Lake Inn hosted my stay. It is a historic Lake Placid inn overlooking Mirror Lake, and our room had the sort of view that makes you stop at the window before you even unpack. My dog seemed to agree.

It is dog friendly, but book a designated dog-friendly room ahead of time. The inn's pet policy has the current reservation details and rules. Having a comfortable place to return to after a long mountain day made the whole trip feel even better.

If you are eyeing the 6er Ultra, read the rules first. Then get curious about the six very different mountains behind that little bell.