Wright Peak Loop

The Wright Peak Loop combines a strenuous summit ascent with a fascinating piece of aviation history, making it one of the most compelling routes in the Adirondack High Peaks. Wright Peak reaches 4,580 feet and sits on the MacIntyre Range as a satellite summit below Algonquin, but its character is entirely its own. In November 1962 a U.S. Air Force B-47 Stratojet bomber crashed into the upper slope of Wright Peak during a training mission, and fragments of the aircraft including engine components and fuselage sections remain visible in the krummholz zone below the summit. A small memorial marker commemorates the crew. The upper summit is partially open with views across the MacIntyre Range and toward the Great Range beyond. The loop route descends via a different ridgeline through old-growth boreal forest, passing through zones of spruce and fir that feel primeval in their density and stillness. Wildlife common to the High Peaks including moose, black bear, and boreal chickadees may be encountered along the wooded sections. The route requires careful navigation on the upper mountain where trails can be indistinct on bare rock, and conditions deteriorate rapidly in poor weather. Despite the challenge, the combination of alpine scenery and unique historical artifact makes Wright Peak a memorable Adirondack adventure.