New York · Hiking

Cooper Kiln Pond Trail

5.6 mi
round trip
3,906 ft
climb
3,249 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Cooper Kiln Pond Trail is a hard hike in the Wilmington Wild Forest in New York, managed by the State Department of Conservation. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 11 miles, with a total climb of roughly 3,900 feet. The one-way gain is about 1,900 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 3 miles in, where the grade reaches 27%. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lake Placid show July highs around 74°F with lows near 54°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the higher parts run cooler. Cobble Lookout Trail starts just 0.3 miles away, and Esther Trail and Marble Mountain Trail are both within about 2 miles. Climbers can find Cloudspin Cliff about 4.3 miles off.

Local outfitters

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  • Best time to go

    Best time to visit Cooper Kiln Pond Trail

    No month here meets our mild-weather rule. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      23° / 6°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      27° / 8°

      14 wet

    3. Mar

      36° / 16°

      14 wet

    4. Apr

      49° / 29°

      14 wet

    5. May

      62° / 40°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 49°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 54°

      14 wet

    8. Aug

      73° / 52°

      13 wet

    9. Sep

      66° / 45°

      13 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 35°

      15 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      28° / 14°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lake Placid 2 S, NY, 8.6 mi away at 1,888 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors