Cobble Lookout (Wilmington)

July 2023 | Wilmington, NY

(Note: this is not the same as Cobble Hill in Lake Placid, which by the way, is also a great hike.)

Getting there: From Lake Placid, it’s about a 20 minute drive. Head East on NY-86 for 12 miles. Make a left onto Whiteface Memorial Highway (NY-431) for ~2.5 miles (you’ll pass the North Pole workshop on your right.) At the fork, keep right onto 18A (if you hit the toll, turn around and go back to the fork to keep right) and the parking pull off will be shortly after on your right. You will see the sign with the trail name and the mileage, indicating you’re in the right spot!

The hike:  out-and-back 2.6 miles (4.184km) ~ 200 ft elevation gain (60.96m) Some areas on the trail are prone to mud, but nothing you probably haven’t already encountered in the Adirondacks!

If you’re looking for a quicker hike and don’t have much time or energy on your side, this one is for you.   Just note that the view of Whiteface and the surrounding High Peaks is truly awesome, so you might want to spend more time up there than you think!  While conducting my research of hikes in the area, this wasn’t one that came up frequently. I think it’s a hidden gem that can be added on to any itinerary - you won’t be disappointed.

An ideal day and what you can pair this hike with: check out the Flume Knob or Bear Den Mountain nearby.  A further 20 minutes north is Silver Lake Mountain, a short-distance yet significantly steeper mountain with pleasant views and aways from some of the more crowded peaks closer to town.