The 15,000 acre Wilmington Wild Forest is primarily in the area next to the Whiteface Ski area and the Stephenson Mountain Range near Lake Placid off NY 86 and NY 431. The Wilmington Wild Forest features the 6.6 mile Beaver Brook Trail System and the nearly ten miles of trails of the Flume Trail System.  There are also trails that lead toward Whiteface Mountain that begin in the Wilmington Wild Forest.  Whiteface Mountain and Esther Mountain are part of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks.  The West Branch Ausable River runs adjacent to portions of the wild forest.

You'll also find a trail that travels through the remote Stephenson Range with a popular destination being Cooper Kiln Pond. Wilmington Notch State Campground is located in the wild forest off NY 86. The popular Flume Falls is located right off NY 86 and can be seen from the parking area for the Flume Trail System. This is a popular recreational destination due to its proximity to the Lake Placid area.

The 6.6 mile Beaver Brook Trail System trailhead parking area is located on Hardy Road about 2.2 miles south of NY 86 and 1.2 miles north of County Route 12 (Springfield Road). The trails are built for mountain biking, although hiking is also popular.  Most of the trails are on the west side of the road, except for the 0.6 mile Coniferous Loop Trail located on the the east side of the trail and the newly created 3 mile loop (Trail 7) that has been rated tough.  The Coniferous Loop Trail is a short, easy hike most everyone can enjoy. The western trails give hikers the opportunity to create loop hikes with their choice of distance.  Look for a map below.

The nearly ten mile Flume Trail System has two main trailhead parking areas. The Flume Trailhead, which has most of the trails, is located two miles south of Wilmington off NY 86 at the bridge where the West Branch Ausable River plunges through the Flume Falls aka the Wilmington Flume. The Bear Den Trailhead is located at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Area, also off NY 86.  Most people use this trailhead to access the trail to Bear Den Mountain and Flume Knob, both featuring nice views after moderate hikes.

The rest of the Flume Trail System features trails for mountain bikers and hikers, which you can create your own adventure. Many trails allow for the opportunity to create your own loop hikes, or you may just want to take a short, quiet and scenic walk along the trail next to the West Branch of the Ausable River. Look below for a map of the Flume Trail System.

Destinations in Wilmington Wild Forest

Whiteface Mountain	Esther Mountain	Cooper Kiln Pond
Flume Trail System	Beaver Brook Trail System	Bear Den Mountain
Cobble Lookout	Clements Pond	West Branch Ausable River
Charcoal Kilns	Morgan Mountain	Stephenson Range
Wilmington Range	Wilmington Quarry	Schwarz Trail