Adk_dib
New member
The first 7 miles from the garden to slant rock is a very gradual climb, you can really pound it so you can same time for the upper 2 miles. From slant rock to the range trail it gets slightly steeper for a mile. when you turn left to go towards haystack it gets much steeper with loose rocks, but it is only for about 1/2 mile so take your time (thats why i pounded it to slant rock). You will come out on a nice outlook before you go down about 100 feet to the sign towards little haystack. It doesnt say anything about this downhill in any of the books or topo maps. This means I have to go back up this 100 feet on the way out 
. you now leave the range trail and head up little haystack. the rest of the hike will be on bare rock. Little haystack not much of a climb, but going down other side is a little steep. Good thing hiking boots stick to the rocks becouse a couple of spots are close to the edge. I remember coming back to climb this section and looking up I thought, I climbed down this? It looks really steep. Looks worse than it is becouse I had no trouble going up. The climb up haystack is really nice becouse all the open views. Then on top, wow what a view. spent 1 1/2 hours up there. It was a cool day so I only filled 1 water bottle. there is a good place to refill at slant rock. which you can refill again on the way out. If it is warmer you may want more water from the car, but becouse it is such a easy grade 1 did me fine. On the way out I stopped to soak my feet in the stream after bushnill falls, I think that is how you spell it. After that you go uphill a ways to were trail splits to go to marcy. just after that you see a sign .2 miles to the falls. I figured why not, I have plenty of time. Expect to add another 100 feet to your climb if you go down to falls. It is a nice falls with a good pool to take a dip if you are in the mind to. If I already didn't stop to take my boots off 10 minutes earlier . Your feet will thank you if you soak them here before the long road out to the car.
. you now leave the range trail and head up little haystack. the rest of the hike will be on bare rock. Little haystack not much of a climb, but going down other side is a little steep. Good thing hiking boots stick to the rocks becouse a couple of spots are close to the edge. I remember coming back to climb this section and looking up I thought, I climbed down this? It looks really steep. Looks worse than it is becouse I had no trouble going up. The climb up haystack is really nice becouse all the open views. Then on top, wow what a view. spent 1 1/2 hours up there. It was a cool day so I only filled 1 water bottle. there is a good place to refill at slant rock. which you can refill again on the way out. If it is warmer you may want more water from the car, but becouse it is such a easy grade 1 did me fine. On the way out I stopped to soak my feet in the stream after bushnill falls, I think that is how you spell it. After that you go uphill a ways to were trail splits to go to marcy. just after that you see a sign .2 miles to the falls. I figured why not, I have plenty of time. Expect to add another 100 feet to your climb if you go down to falls. It is a nice falls with a good pool to take a dip if you are in the mind to. If I already didn't stop to take my boots off 10 minutes earlier . Your feet will thank you if you soak them here before the long road out to the car. 
