This trail is the oldest and best known trail from the east. It begins at the main corners in Keene Valley Village, and follows up Johns Brook past Bushnell Falls and the natural rock shelter known as Slant Rock Camp. The distance from Keene Valley to the top of Marcy is 10 miles, and the ascent is 4,250 feet.

An Interior Headquarters is maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation on this trail, 4.6 miles from Keene Valley.

Miles Trail Description

00.00 "The Garden," end of automobile road. If cars are parked here, care should be taken not to block exit of cars already parked. Follow yellow markers.

0.88 Bear Brook lean-to.

1.27 Lean-to; Deer Brook by ravine.

3.10 Department of Environmental Conservation Interior Caretaker Headquarters. Hikers are urged to register here. Such registration is valuable in case of accidents or other emergencies. Bear right on yellow markers for Johns Brook Lodge, mount Marcy and the Range Trail. Left on blue markers to Wolf Jaw, Wolf Jaw lean-to and for the Range Trail at times of high water.

3.21 Howard Leon-to.

3.25 Cross Slide Brook on foot bridge. Trail to right, 200 feet beyond is Adirondack Mountain Club Trail to Big Slide Mountain and thence to junction with the Johns Brook South Meadows Trail in Klondike Notch.

3.52 Johns Brook Lodge of the Adirondack Mountain Club. At the lodge, the blue trail to the left is the Range Trail leading to Gothics, Saddleback, Basin, etc. Red trail to the right to Klondike Notch, Klondike lean-to, South Meadows, Adirondak Loj and Lake Placid. Continue straight ahead on yellow markers for Mount Marcy.

4.46 Hogback Brook.

5.03 Bushnell Falls to left in deep ravine.

5.08 Trail junction. Yellow trail to right is Hopkins Trail to Marcy, 3.75 miles, with easy grade and excellent views. For Bushnell Falls lean-to, and Slant Rock lean-to, follow red markers to left and cross brook at bridge.

5.15 Bushnell Falls lean-la, on the left of trail.

6.81 Trail junction and Slant Rock lean-to. Yellow trail to left to Range Trail west slope of Basin Mountain, 1.2 miles. Continue on red markers for Mount Marcy.

7.78 Top of divide between Johns Brook and Panther Gorge. Blue trail to left is Range Trail over Haystack, Basin and Saddleback Mountains to Keene Valley, 10.5 miles.

8.47 Intersect Van Hoevenberg Trail. Blue markers to right for Adirondak Loj and Lake Placid, turn left on blue markers for Mount Marcy.

9.05 Top of Mount Marcy. Yellow markers ahead lead to Elk Lake, Lake Sanford, Lake Colden, etc.

It begins at the main corners in Keene Valley, an area may be reached from Route 73.

Johns Brook Trail is an eastern approach to Mount Marcy from Keene Valley via Slant Rock. It is the oldest and best known trail from the east.