Rooster Comb Trail

Views from the summit ledge and Valley View Ledge complete a 360 degree panorama of Mt. Marcy and the Johns Brook Valley plus Giant Mt. and the Ausable Valley. The trail offers mostly good footing and is a good choice early in the season or when it is wet. This 2.5 mile, one way, trail is over easy to moderate terrain. Starting from the trailhead in Keene Valley you will hike over a long wooden bridge to the trail register before hiking past a small pond to your right which is located behind the Keene Central School. As you move away from the pond the trail climbs steadily to a junction with one of the routes to Snow Mountain Trail at 0.7 mi. Bear right and continue a steady climb but never steep climb to another junction at 2.0 mi. (Straight ahead leads to Hedgehog and Lower Wolf Jaw. Left is an alternate return, which also connects to Snow Mt.) Turning right, the trail climbs to the crest of the ridge and a junction at 2.2 mi. Right is the 0.1 mi. side trail to Valley View Ledge. Left is the trail to the summit, which is reached after a few steeper pitches at 2.5 mi.