The Cobble Hill Trail at Adirondack Park in Lake Placid, New York is a moderate 2.9-mile out-and-back hike that features views from the summit of Cobble Hill.
Hike
This hike begins at the less-popular Eastern trailhead for Cobble Hill, located along NY-86 Northeast of the town of Lake Placid. While lacking prominent signage for Cobble Hill, this lesser-known trailhead serves as the official route within the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest. Begin by traversing northwest into the evergreen-filled forest, then veer sharply westward, following the trail parallel to NY-86. Along the way, expect intermittent creek crossings as Cobble Hill sends its waters down the trail, which can be especially challenging during winter when the path sees fewer adventurers. Note that during our hike here in late January 2024, we were the only people on this section of the trail for what seemed like the entire winter so far.
Left-Hand Turn - Mile 0.8
At mile 0.8, hikers will reach a trail junction that leads to the summit of Cobble Hill. Take a left-hand turn here to hop onto the very-popular "main" way to hike Cobble Hill. If hiking during the winter, the trail will transition from having to break trail in the snow to likely a very icy beaten-down trail.
Ascend the main trail, encountering minor rock obstacles that pose
little challenge. Delight in the transition from hardwood to evergreen
surroundings, enhanced by snow-covered boughs and glimpses of exposed
bedrock. As you near Cobble Hill's summit, a junction below offers an
alternative, albeit steeper, ascent route.
Cobble Hill Summit - Mile 1.4
Around mile 1.4, hikers will finally reach the summit of Cobble Hill. During this hike we simply went to the highest point on the mountain which was an exposed area of bedrock that sat higher than the surrounding ground; however, most maps place the "summit" a bit Northeast of here. Just below the summit, within the exposed area, are views you'll want to checkout. While our winter hike here didn't afford sweeping vistas, clear days unveil panoramic views of Lake Placid and the High Peaks Wilderness.
After exploring the summit of Cobble Hill, this hike follows the exact but opposite hike back to parking. During the winter, hikers should be mindful of the large patches of ice and the steeper sections of trail as you descend Cobble Hill. Make sure you take the proper right-hand turn to head back to the eastern parking lot to complete the hike.
Parking
Hikers will find a small parking lot at the coordinates provided, located along NY-86. The lot is large enough to fit a half dozen vehicles or so.
Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed and must be cleaned up after.
MyHikes is an indie web platform aimed to make exploring public trails easier for everyone. The site has no investors and is owned and operated by one person, Dave Miller (Founder & Admin). As the Founder, main contributor, and doer-of-all-things for MyHikes, I share my trips with over-detailed write-ups for fun on a volunteer basis and I believe that public trail information should be available to everyone.
It takes a lot of time 🕦, money 💰, and effort (including espresso shots ☕) to run MyHikes, including hiking , mapping , writing , and publishing new trails with high-quality content... along with building new features, moderating, site maintainance, and app development for iOS and Android . I simply ask that if you find MyHikes' trail guides helpful to please consider becoming a Supporter to help keep the site, iOS, and Android apps available to everyone.
Supporters unlock website and in-app perks with a one-time payment of $25 (you renew) 😎👍. Or you can simply make a Donation of your choice without a MyHikes user account. Otherwise, telling your friends about MyHikes is the next-best thing - both quick and free 🎉
Thanks for visiting MyHikes and have a great hike!️