Snow Mountain is a shorter mountain just south of Keene Valley, with many ways to hike it. Depending on the way you take, combining it with Deer Brook Falls makes for a great day hike. A successful hike of Snow Mountain involves research, tthe right gear, and knowledge of Leave No Trace principles.
Key takeaways
- Elevation: 2,370 feet at summit of Snow Mountain
- Hike includes trail junctions and bridges
Hiking Snow Mountain and Deer Brook Falls
There are two main ways to do this hike. Described are both options, one from the Deer Brook Trailhead, and the other from Rooster Comb.
Via Deer Brook Trailhead
From the Deer Brook trailhead you will enter the woods on the left of the brook with rocky terrain. In a short distance you come to a private road. Here you have the choice of continuing straight ahead (as described below) along the brook or turning left for the "High Water Route" which follows private driveways. The distance is the same, but the route along the brook involves four brook crossings and some very rough footing as you climb through a beautiful flume. The scenery through this section is fantastic.
Part of the trail has been rerouted after severe flooding and slowly brings you along the left side of Deer Brook before sweeping left and up to the junction with the High Water Route. At this point you are on an old road with a junction just up and to the right. Going straight at this junction, after a few more minutes you will come to a two log bridge over Deer Brook, just before the bridge is the 200 yard spur trail to the base of Deer Brook Falls. The spur trail is a bit slippery, so take your time.
Cross the bridge and continue along a wide path that moves along a side hill and eventually flattens out as you meet up with a trail on the left that leads to St. Huberts. Going right, it is a short distance from this point to another junction. (Straight ahead is the trail to Rooster Comb and the alternate start described below) Going right toward Snow Mountain is a short but steep and rocky climb. While fun on the ascent, it makes for a slow descent if the conditions are slippery.
The final distance is along a semi-open flat topped peak with views in every direction.
- Distance: 3 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
Via Rooster Comb Trailhead
If you choose the Rooster Comb approach, this 2.3 mile, one way, trail is over easy to moderate terrain. Starting from the trailhead in Keene Valley you will hike over a long wooden bridge to the trail register before hiking past a small pond to your right which is located behind the Keene Central School. As you move away from the pond the trail climbs steadily to the Snow Mountain Trail on the left at 0.7 miles (Flume Brook Trail). Follow here as it passes through an open forest nearly on the level of a brook crossing at 1.1 miles, after which it climbs steadily to a junction at 1.8 miles where you will head left. (Straight ahead leads to Rooster Comb) Following left you will descend a bit to cross one brook after which the trail is mostly level to the junction with the trail to Snow Mountain on the left at 2 miles from the parking area.
- Distance: 4.6 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,450 feet round-trip
Find your perfect trail near Keene Valley
Does Snow Mountain sound amazing, but a little more than you want to tackle right now? No need to stress, with over 2000 miles of hiking trails in the Adirondacks we are sure we can find the perfect hike for you.
How to get there
From the intersection of Route 86 and Route 73 in Lake Placid, follow Route 73 toward Keene. Continue through Keene Valley. The trailhead is on the right 1.9 mi. south of the High Peaks sign in the center of Keene Valley and just north of a steel-sided bridge over the Ausable River. The trailhead is marked only by a small green sign with parking on the shoulder or at a wider turnout across the bridge.
For the approach from Rooster Comb, trailhead parking is on the right 0.4 mi. south of the High Peaks sign in the center of Keene Valley.