Cook Mountain Preserve

The Cook Mountain Preserve offers three hiking trails for a variety of experiences for hikers of all ages and abilities. All trails start from the parking area and kiosk on Baldwin Road in Ticonderoga,.

The yellow trail follows a wide flat path into the preserve. After about 0.12 miles the trail’s loop begins.  Stay straight to follow the trail another 0.4 miles along a gently climbing path (which turns into a dirt road) to its junction with the Ridges Trail, or turn right to wind along the shore of what was once an active beaver pond.  After about 0.2 miles, the trail joins the Ridges Trail, marked with red round disks.

The Ridges Trail ascends steeply – 680′ over 0.5-mile – then climbs more gradually for the remaining 0.6 miles to an elevation of 1,213′.  A short loop to an eastern view into Vermont is reached after 0.75 miles from its base.  Continue following The Ridges Trail to its end for a fantastic, clear view down Lake George.  Flat Rock and Anthony’s Nose can be seen on the left, and Rogers’ Rock on the right.

For history buffs, there is a new blue trail that takes you to a cemetery that dates to the Civil War.  It is reached from the yellow trail about 0.15 miles past the beginning of the loop.