Hopkins Mountain Via the Mossy Cascade

Elevation: 3183 ft

Ascent: 2120 ft

Distance: 3.2 miles

Location: Off Route 73 in Keene Valley.

A Springtime Hike

The trailhead to Hopkins Mountain is very low profile and non descript. It is found on east side of Route 73 just south of the steel bridge over the Ausable River.   It is .4 miles north of the Ausable Club and 2 miles south of the sign to Johns Brook Valley in the village of Keene Valley. There is a small green sign with the white lettering “Hopkins and Giant via Mossy Cascade” right off Route 73. There is no parking area so just pull off the road and park on the shoulder. There is no trailhead register to sign.

The trail initially skirts private property and hunting camps so follow the trail markers carefully. At one half mile into the hike, the trail becomes less logging road and more forest trail. It continues alongside a delicate waterfall. Once past the cascade the trail climbs steadily to the summit. At the 2.3 mile point you will see a sign indicating the Hopkins summit is .9 miles away. At this point the trail is in a ravine between Hopkins and Green mountains. The ravine is a drainage area for these two mountains and in the springtime can be very wet. At the 3 mile point in the hike there will be a sign pointing to the bald Hopkins summit in .2 miles.

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NOTE: For a more complete description of the trail, please see ADK's (guide to) ADIRONDACK TRAILS - High Peaks Region 13th Edition, pp 100-101.

Dr. Stuart Delman