Iron Mountain is not by any means a popular peak, but inside the Adirondack hiking community, it is a well known beauty. So, after a little discussion, my buddy Jim and I decided to head north to hike this gorgeous 2451 foot mountain, just north of the High Peaks along Route 9 near the tiny hamlet of
New Russia. A small unmarked pull off on the west side of Route 9 marked our starting point, at a low elevation of under 600 feet along the Boquet River. A small herd path can be seen leaving the parking lot and soon becomes a wide logging road as it ascends.
I had read that a trail is being built on this peak and we did see blue flagging, but we opted to bushwhack off the logging road, heading up the steep east side of the mountain.
The foliage was really popping today! Some of the very best colors that we had seen all season in the woods.
The woods take on a magical appearance this time of year.
A glance to the skies provided a look at some of the vibrant colors!
We had earmarked an area around 1900 feet on the south side of the mountain that looked like it had potential for some open rock and some views. Boy were we right!! We climbed out onto some open rock and were left nearly overwhelmed. East facing view towards Vermont.
Another east facing view from open rock.
Jim, wandering the open rock, enjoying the incredible views. We were quite stunned by the incredible fall colors still remaining this far north.
Further west along the open rock, we found these very impressive views towards Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant Mountain. Iron's summit can be seen on the right.
One more east facing view towards Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains off in the distance.
Blueberry bushes thrive along these south facing, sun soaked slopes.
A look directly up towards Iron's summit, draped in fall color.
We spotted another open ledge, far below the summit, and surrounded by beautiful fall foliage.
More open ledges. In all honesty, this one of the most scenic peaks I have ever been on. Green Mountain's 3960 foot summit can be seen peeking out on the right.
A broader view down over the Roaring Brook valley to the south.
Southeast views
A view straight down into the Roaring Brook valley.
Southeast views from yet another opening.
Approaching the summit.
Iron Mountain's 2451 foot summit, marked with a rock cairn.
Iron's summit area.
The open slopes on the south side of the summit offer up perhaps the greatest views of all. From left to right, Bald Peak, Rocky Peak Ridge and Giant Mountain.
Just a few yards off the summit, is a northwest view towards Hurricane Mountain and its firetower.
Blueberry bushes cover the steep south facing slopes.
The open summit area.
Jim, enjoying a lunch break at the top.
After soaking in the countless views at or around the summit, we finally headed back. We decided to check out some more spots that we had missed on the way up, and wow did we get lucky. The massive slab of open rock on the east side of the peak was the biggest of all. Absolutely incredible.
From the open rock we found vivid colors southeast into the Boquet Valley.
The woods in the valley below(steeply below) were ablaze in foliage. This is the color we have been looking for all year!!
A look back towards shoulder of Iron, just below the summit.
Old bolts on an open rock slab. Not the true summit, so not sure what these were there for.
The Boquet Valley, dressed in peak foliage.
I loved the perspective this shot gives of just how impressive the rock was. Jim appears to be on top of the world and for all intents and purposes we felt like it.
A final peak back towards the High Peaks.
Spotted this tree, sprouting right out of an open rock along the east ledges.
I nearly emptied my camera on this beauty, taking photo after photo after photo and really had a hard time, narrowing down my favorites. The conditions were ideal, with great weather, peak foliage, and incredible, open bushwhacking. Once completed, the trail to this summit will undoubtedly become a favorite. We followed the flagging down off the final stretch of the mountain back to the car. About 5 miles RT and 1900 feet of elevation gain.
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