At the corner of Mirror Lake Drive and Northwood School’s driveway, the new trailhead begins with a 250-foot boardwalk that connects to the natural surface trail to the 2,343-foot summit. All previous access points are now closed.

The trail work is part of a multi-year project to make the path safer and more enjoyable for hikers of a wide range of age, experience and ability, and to protect surrounding forests and waters. In addition to the boardwalk and trailhead, the following updates were made to the trail in 2023: 1,000 feet rerouted, two bridges installed, and tread and drainage improvements to 2,000-plus feet. The work is being done by professional trail builders with Wilderness Property Management and Tahawus Trails.

Additionally, Northwood School, which owns the land and allows access to the trail as a service to the community, removed old bridge footers, planks and log corduroy, and covered closed trail segments with seed and straw to encourage native vegetation growth in the spring.

Trail work will resume in summer 2024, closer to the summit, to establish an alternative route to a steep rock slab hikers currently must navigate.

A new 250-foot boardwalk links the new trailhead at Cobble Hill in Lake Placid to the interior, natural surface trail. (Photo provided — Northwood School)

Hikers are encouraged to walk from their homes, hotels or designated parking spots in the village. Trailhead parking on Northwood School property is no longer available. The residential school, home to more than 200 students, faculty and staff, closed the campus to the public for safety and operational reasons.

This project was made possible through a partnership between Northwood School, the town of North Elba, the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism, Paul Smith’s College, the Lake Placid 9’er hiking challenge, the Barkeater Trails Alliance, New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, Adirondack Land Trust and private landowners. The project is funded by grants from North Elba LEAF, New York State Conservation Partnership Program and gifts from community members.

To learn more, visit adirondacklandtrust.org/cobble-hill-trail-project or contact info@adirondacklandtrust.org, 518-576-2400.