Hough Peak
#23
About Hough Peak
Hough Peak stands at 4,400 feet (1,341 m) and is the twenty-third highest mountain in New York. Located in the Dix Range between Dix Mountain and South Dix (Carson), Hough (pronounced 'huff') is known for its steep, challenging terrain. The summit is largely wooded but offers limited views through the trees, with better vistas available from lookouts just below the peak. Hough is almost always climbed as part of a traverse of the Dix Range rather than as a standalone destination. The approach is typically from the Elk Lake trailhead to the south, though some hikers also approach from the north via the Round Pond trailhead.
History
Hough Peak was named after Franklin B. Hough, who served as the first chief of the United States Division of Forestry (the precursor to the Forest Service) and was an early advocate for forest conservation. Hough conducted some of the earliest systematic surveys of Adirondack forests and was instrumental in establishing forest management practices in the United States. The mountain was included in the original Adirondack 46er list. Like many peaks in the Dix Range, Hough's trails are unmaintained herd paths rather than officially marked routes, though they are well-established from decades of use. The peak is named in recognition of Hough's contributions to forest conservation, particularly appropriate given the mountain's location within the protected Dix Mountain Wilderness.
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