Saddleback Mountain (Keene, New York)

Saddleback Mountain is a mountain in the Great Range of the Adirondacks in the U. S. state of New York. It is the 17th-highest of the Adirondack High Peaks, with an elevation of 4,515 feet (1,376 m). It is located in Adirondack Park in the town of Keene in Essex County. The mountain was named for the outline of its ridge, which resembles a saddle, by Orson Schofield Phelps and Frederick Perkins. It is flanked by Basin Mountain, the ninth highest of the High Peaks, and Gothics, the tenth highest. Good views of the two higher mountains are offered from the summit of Saddleback. The mountain straddles the watersheds of Johns Brook and the Ausable River. The earliest recorded ascent was made by amateur climber Newell Martin on August 5, 1894. It was claimed that an earlier ascent was made by patent lawyer James J. Storrow and mountain guide Orlando Beede, but the date of this climb is unknown.

The State Range Trail travels over the summit of Saddleback. Beginning at the Garden parking lot west of Keene Valley, the Phelps Trail travels 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the Johns Brook Lodge. The State Range Trail begins at the lodge and continues 3.1 miles (5.0 km) to the col between Gothics and Saddleback, then turns up Saddleback for the final 0.6 miles (0.97 km) to the top. The saddle-shaped ridge between the two peaks is 0.2 miles (0.32 km). Saddleback can also be hiked as part of a complete hike of the Great Range.