Having summited all the 46 High Peaks, I say with some confidence that Dial and Nippletop are two I probably would never choose to do again, unless it were to help someone else on their 46er Journey. There are so many great climbs out there and this one has little going for it compared to some many others I love. 

None of that is to say these peaks are “bad”, or anything like that –  but Dial is very lackluster, Nippletop is very small, and the trail is very muddy most of the time. It is also worth noting that this trail is the worst in the entire valley when it comes to high contractions of black flies. Anyone who has spent their fair share of time in the ADK knows how annoying black flies can be, and that some places are significantly worse than others.

The trial is not incredibly difficult, so it has that going for it. In many ways it is distinctly average. Even from Lake Road it is a fairly long hike, and many long stretches are through muddy and overflowing creek beds (hence, the black flies). Not wet enough to be a stream, not dry enough to scare off the bugs – a true High Peaks trail.

There is a pretty cool lookout area near “Bear Den” that provides pretty great views, and the actual peak of Nippletop provides some of the best views of the Lower Great Range that can be had. It is definitely worth doing at least once if you’ve never done it before, and attempting this one in later dry Summer days might be smart, since the Spring moisture contributes to the unfriendly fly environment. 

• Parking at the Ausable Club has become a subject of great contention and now (and as of 2022) requires advanced parking reservations. Seek out information from the AMR website where those coveted reservations can be sought out..
• No dogs are allowed on this trail or anywhere in the AMR, they have lots of rules.You’re in the land of the rich folk now.
• These two mountains can be done in conjunction with the rest of the range (Blake and Colvin) but that will make a very long day.