Facility Overview

The St. Huberts Parking Area, officially operated as the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) Hiker Parking Lot, is one of the most critical and heavily visited wilderness trailheads in the Adirondack High Peaks region. Situated at 24-78 Ausable Road just off New York State Route 73 in the picturesque hamlet of St. Huberts (Town of Keene Valley), this dedicated open-air surface lot serves as the primary gateway to the private 7,000-acre Adirondack Mountain Reserve and the adjoining High Peaks Wilderness. The lot features an organized, graded gravel surface with clearly designated vehicle stalls, an on-site steward check-in cabin, and an automated departure gate. Because it is a ground-level outdoor lot, there are no overhead clearance restrictions, easily accommodating standard sedans, crossovers, full-size SUVs, pickup trucks, and high-roof adventure vans. However, oversized RVs, travel trailers, and tow-behind campers are strictly discouraged or barred due to tight turning radiuses, narrow access lanes along Ausable Road, and strict capacity management.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Nestled in the breathtaking High Peaks corridor of Essex County, St. Huberts Parking Area is the starting point for some of the most celebrated hiking trails and natural vistas in the Northeast. Surrounding venues and trail destinations include:

• Indian Head and Fish Hawk Cliffs: Widely regarded as one of the most iconic vistas in New York State, this dramatic rocky overlook towers above the fjord-like waters of Lower Ausable Lake, reachable via an 8- to 10-mile round-trip trek along Lake Road.
• Waterfalls & Scenic Gorges: Hikers depart directly from this lot to access pristine cascading falls including Rainbow Falls, Beaver Meadow Falls, and Gill Brook Flume.
• Adirondack 46er Peaks: Serves as the primary and most accessible trailhead for numerous 4,000-foot summits, including Mount Colvin, Blake Peak, Nippletop, Dial Mountain, Sawteeth, and the southern access points for the Great Range (Gothics, Armstrong Mountain, and Upper & Lower Wolfjaw).
• Roaring Brook Falls & Giant Mountain: Located directly across NY-73 from Ausable Road, offering immediate access to the popular Roaring Brook Trail up to the summit of Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge.
• Keene Valley Town Center: Situated only 3 miles north (about a 5-minute drive), providing access to local favorites such as The Mountaineer gear shop, Noon Mark Diner, Ausable Inn, and Valley Grocery.
• Lake Placid Olympic Region: Positioned approximately 20 miles (25 minutes) northwest, connecting visitors to Olympic Center ice venues, Whiteface Mountain, and the bustling Mirror Lake dining and shopping hub.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicular access is straightforward via NY-73 Scenic Byway, the main arterial highway cutting through the High Peaks connecting Interstate 87 (Adirondack Northway) at Exit 30 to Keene Valley and Lake Placid. From Route 73, drivers turn onto Ausable Road and proceed roughly 200 yards to the check-in steward station and parking entrance. Egress is smooth and controlled; an automated, one-way exit gate activates via ground sensor, allowing registered vehicles to depart at any hour, even after the arrival gate is locked for the evening. In terms of public transit, long-distance travelers can utilize Adirondack Trailways or Greyhound bus services with stops in Keene Valley; passengers holding an active regional bus ticket dated within 24 hours are granted walk-in pedestrian access across the AMR easement without requiring a separate advance vehicular parking reservation.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Dedicated Conservation Steward Station: Staffed during morning and peak afternoon hours by AMR and NYSDEC representatives who verify reservations, record safety itineraries, and educate visitors on Leave No Trace principles.
• Automated Departure Gate: Inbound entry is monitored between 4:00 AM and 7:00 PM, while the one-way automatic outbound gate permits seamless exit 24 hours a day.
• Sanitation Facilities: On-site composting outhouses and portable privies are available right at the trailhead before setting out on the trails.
• Open Headroom Design: No vertical height barrier, allowing roof boxes, kayak racks, and high-clearance 4WD vehicles.
• Trailhead Kiosk & Map Displays: Detailed physical topographical maps and safety signage detailing trail junctions, current trail closures, and seasonal regulations.
• Free Parking: Parking and trail easement access are completely free of charge, governed exclusively through an advance permitting reservation system.

Ideal For

• Adirondack 46er Peak Baggers: Climbers tackling Colvin, Blake, Nippletop, Dial, Sawteeth, or attempting the grueling Great Range Traverse.
• Day Hikers & Landscape Photographers: Visitors journeying to the legendary clifftop viewpoints of Indian Head or the mist of Rainbow Falls.
• Multi-Day Backpackers: Hikers completing backcountry loops through the High Peaks Wilderness who hold valid multi-day overnight parking reservations (up to 3 consecutive nights allowed).
• Leaf Peepers & Nature Photographers: Autumn sightseers exploring the vibrant foliage along Gill Brook and the Ausable River basin.

Visitor & Driver Tips

• Mandatory Advance Reservation (HikeAMR.org): Between May 1 and October 31, entrance without an advance reservation is strictly prohibited. Reservations open exactly two weeks in advance at 7:00 AM daily and often fill within minutes for peak summer and autumn weekends.
• No Dogs Permitted: Unlike state-owned DEC forest preserve lands, AMR property is private club land governed by an easement agreement that strictly bans domestic pets and dogs anywhere on the property or trails accessed through it.
• Arrival Hours Window: You must enter the lot between 4:00 AM and 7:00 PM daily. Vehicles arriving outside these hours cannot pass the physical inbound entry gate.
• Zero Tolerance for Roadside Parking: Parking on the shoulders of Route 73 or anywhere along Ausable Road is strictly illegal, patrolled aggressively by New York State Police and DEC Environmental Conservation Officers, and subject to immediate ticketing and towing.
• Same-Day Cancellations: If reservations appear sold out, check HikeAMR.org between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM on your target morning, as last-minute cancellations are frequently released into the pool for same-day booking.