The Flume Knob Hike at Adirondack Park in Wilmington, New York is a difficult 3.5-mile loop / out-and-back trek that features views of the West Branch Ausable River and leads to the summit of Flume Knob where hikers will find breathtaking views of the Wilmington Valley and surrounding mountains.
Trail names: Corridor Loop Trail, Flume Knob Trail, River Loop Trail
Location: State Route 86, Wilmington Wild Forest, Wilmington NY
Permitted uses: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Catch and release fishing with a license and using ONLY artificial lures, Hunting in season and with a license.
Prohibited uses: No motor vehicles are allowed. No Electric bikes. No camping or overnight parking.
Hours: There are no posted closure hours.
Fees and Parking: There is no fee to park or use the trails. There is a good size parking area that can fit about 14 cars, depending on how well people park, but it fills up quickly. There is a designated area for handicap parking.
Pets: There are no posted restrictions for pets.
Accessibility: These are not wheelchair accessible trails.
Hiker amenities: At the trailhead parking area there is a gender neutral restroom. There isn't any water but there is a trash bin. However, it's very helpful if all visitors would pack out all trash. There is an information Kiosk at the Trailhead with a posted map and regulations for the Preserve. There is a boot washing station for those who fish, and a boot brush for hikers to use before and after hiking. These were installed to try to reduce the unintentional introduction of invasive or harmful species to this area.
Length and Trail information: This hike was done as an out and back hike with a loop added after completing the Flume Knob trail. The trails have blue trail markers and engraved painted signs at junctions. For the most part, the trails are very well marked, but it’s still a good idea to download a map or take a picture of the one posted at the trailhead Kiosk. The Flume Knob Trail is for foot traffic only and has an ascent of 1,325 feet and it's hard.The Corridor and River Loop Trails are easy. This hike was 3.53 miles in length. Our goal for this hike was to reach the top of the Flume Knob and enjoy the views, we were not disappointed. If you are hoping to see the river and some falls, the best views are found just after the trailhead information Kiosk where there is a small look out area. We enjoyed the wooded serenity of the Corridor Loop Trail and the views along the River Loop trail that offered beautiful views of the Ausable River as well as views of the Flume Knob from below.
The Flume Knob trail is full of challenges. The substrate is tricky due to the expected rocks and roots but during this hike we encountered an unexpected hazard….an overabundance of acorns littering the trail! At times we thought we were hiking on marbles. Acorns can be a real trip/slip/fall hazard and caution should be used, especially during the descent, which at times is very steep. There is a bit of rock scramble and the ascent is steady and steep. There are several places along the trail that are heartbreakers… you think you are reaching the summit, only to find that you have just reached a small plateau and the trail actually continues to ascend. The Flume Knob Trail feels like a solid mile of UP. This trail sees far fewer hikers than other trails, most likely due to the effort needed to reach the summit. We did finally reach the summit of the Flume Knob Trail, and it was worth every bit of effort we put in. The views were amazing and we enjoyed spending some time there before heading back down the trail.
