Looking for great views without hiking a 46er? Try Baxter Mountain overlooking the village of Keene Valley. This popular trail, which is just over a mile in length for this the 2,440 foot peak with an elevation gain of 700+ feet, begins off of NY 9N and on Spruce Hill. The sign's a little faded, but keep your eyes peeled on the right hand side of the road about 60 feet past Hurricane Road. If you come to the Baxter Mountain Tavern on the left you've just missed the start of the trail.

The land here is privately owned, but remains open to all except hunters, fishermen and campers. Just off the highway the trail begins through a field and continues into a forest of pines.  The path to the summit can be accomplished casually in under an hour and offers a generally moderate grade. Along the way you'll see a nice variety of maples, paper birch balsams and hemlocks.

Occasionally, you'll also see enormous glacial erratic boulders that offer a convenient spot to sit and rest. These boulders, left in place after the last ice age some 10,000 years ago, are layered in places with a luxurious carpet of emerald mosses that remain cool and moist throughout the day.

Following a series of gentle switchbacks, the approach to the peak becomes steeper, but soon levels off to a series of overlooks with stunning views of the valleys below and peaks of the Great Range including the tallest in New York State, 5,344 foot Mount Marcy. Continuing on to the final summit you'll be able to look down to the village of Keene Valley nestled in the base of the surrounding mountains.

Directions:  Located 2.0 miles east of intersection of NY 73 and NY 9N at the top of the hill. The trailhead is south of NY 9N, 60 feet east of the intersection with Hurricane Road.

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