Top5 Mud FreeHikes

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Mud-Free Hikes

By Spencer Morrissey

Cobble Lookout

DIFFICULTY: Easy DISTANCE: 2.2 miles round trip DIRECTIONS: From the four corners in Wilmington, take Route 431 for 3 miles. At the split with the Whiteface Memorial Highway, bear right on Gillespie Drive (county Route 18A on some maps). Continue for 0.3 mile to the trailhead and new parking area on the right, just past Lake Stevens.

The Crows

DIFFICULTY: Intermediate DISTANCE: 2.4 miles round trip DIRECTIONS: At 200 yards past the intersection with state Routes 73 and 9N in Keene, turn onto Hurricane Road at the Keene Town Hall. At just over 2 miles from Route 73, bear left on OʼToole Lane (dirt) for 1.2 miles to the end at Crow Clearing. The trail to Big Crow begins on the left side of the clearing.

Rooster Comb from Keene Valley

DIFFICULTY: Intermediate DISTANCE: 5.0 miles round trip DIRECTIONS: Leave Lake Placid on state Route 73 toward Keene. Continue through Keene and Keene Valley. The trailhead for Rooster Comb is on the right just past the Noon Mark Diner.

Flume Knob

DIFFICULTY: Moderate DISTANCE: 3.8 miles round trip DIRECTIONS: Coming from Lake Placid, follow state Route 86 toward Wilmington. Continue past the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center for a just over a mile. Cross over the Ausable River at the Flume and park in the parking lot on the left - this is the trailhead.

Hurricane Mountain from Crow Clearing

DIFFICULTY: Intermediate DISTANCE: 6.0 miles round trip DIRECTIONS: At 200 yards past the intersection with state Routes 73 and 9N in Keene, turn onto Hurricane Road at the Keene Town Hall. At just over 2 miles from Route 73, bear left on OʼToole Lane (dirt) for 1.2 miles to the end at Crow Clearing. The trail to Hurricane begins on the right side of the clearing.