Hurricane Mountain Wilderness

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

The Hurricane Mountain Wilderness contains 14 miles of hiking trails including three routes that provide access to the summit of Hurricane Mountain.

Hurricane Mountain (3,694 feet)

• East Hurricane Mountain Trail - Hike begins at the end of Hurricane Mountain Lane. The trail ascends 1,700 feet over 2.7 miles from the Hurricane Mountain Lane Trailhead. It becomes quite steep at the end of the former observer station road, after 1.2 miles.
• Hurricane Mountain Trail from 9N - The trail ascends approximately 2,000 feet over 3.4 miles from the Route 9N Trailhead to the summit. This route is characterized as having a number of steep, rough sections interspersed with more moderate gradients. The first mile has been rerouted and contains a number of new footbridges.
• North Trail - Hurricane Mountain can be approached from the North from the Crow's Clearing Trailhead at the end of O'Toole Road. The trail ascends 1,600 feet along the 3-mile trail to the summit. Although this approach is longer than the other two routes, the grades are considered moderate throughout. The Gulf Brook lean-to is located approximately 1.2 miles in on the Weston Mountain/Lost Pond Trail a short distance pass where it joins the North Trail.

Lost Pond and Weston Mountain (3,115 feet) - Hikers follow the North Trail towards Hurricane Mountain to the junction for the Lost Pond/Weston Mountain Trail which is on the left approximately 1.1 miles from the Crow's Clearing Trailhead. The trail extends 2.1 miles from the trailhead and ascends 630 feet before reaching Lost Pond and the Biesemeyer Memorial lean-to. The summit of Weston Mountain is another 0.3 mile and 275 feet climb beyond Lost Pond.

Little Crow Mountain (2,535 feet) - The trail ascends 845 feet and 0.9 mile from the Hurricane Road Trailhead to the summit of Little Crow Mountain (2,535 ft.). The trail contains moderate climbs with a few steep sections with a number of scenic views from ledges along the way.

Big Crow Mountain (2,815 feet) - Climb another 280 feet and another 0.6 mile to reach the summit of Big Crow Mountain. Many scenic views of the surrounding peaks can be found along the way and on the summit. Big Crow Mountain can be reached from the Crow's Clearing Trailhead hiking a 0.6-mile trail that ascends approximately 300 feet - most of the ascent is in the last half of the trail. Using the trail, Hurricane Road and O'Toole Road provides a 3.5-mile loop trail from either of the trailheads.

Soda Range - The Nun-da-ga-o Ridge Trail extends 3.0 miles across the Soda Range connecting Big Crow Mountain and Weston Mountain. A 6.0-mile loop begins at the Crow's Clearing Trailhead and ascends a total of 1,600 feet. Hikers can travel on the loop in a clockwise direction by first ascending Big Crow Mountain and turning right onto the Nun-da-ga-o Ridge Trail to Weston Mountain, or in a counterclockwise direction by first ascending to Weston Mountain. A number of ledges along the ridge provide stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

All designated primitive tents sites, campsites and lean-tos are available on a first come - first served basis and cannot be reserved. Designated campsites are marked with a yellow "Camp Here" disc. Designated tent sites are for tents only. Tents or small campers can use designated campsites. There are no hook-ups for water or electricity at campsites.

Campers who desire more amenities may camp at the nearby Lincoln Pond Campground or Sharp Bridge Campground and take day trips into the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness.

There are four primitive campsites and two lean-tos available for public use.

The Gulf Brook lean-to is located 1.2 miles from the Crow's Clearing Trailhead; three primitive tent sites are located nearby.

The Biesemeyer lean-to is located between Lost Pond and Weston Mountain and one primitive tent site is located nearby.

General information on hunting include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Hunters may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads, and trails used by hikers to access the lands in this area. Hunters can park on the shoulders of seasonal access roads provided vehicles are out of the travel lane.

The Hurricane Mountain Wilderness provides large tracts of land with no trails for big and small game hunting. The lower elevations in the east of Hurricane Mountain offer great wilderness hunting opportunities. The lands can be accessed from the Hurricane Road Trailhead. Lands on the northern side of the wilderness can accessed from the Jay Mountain Road. This seasonal access road serves as the boundary between Jay Mountain and Hurricane Mountain Wildernesses.

Big game hunters may obtain a permit from the local DEC Forest Ranger to camp on the forest preserve lands in this area for the length of the Northern Big Game Season.

General information on trapping include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations.

Trappers may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads, and trails used by hikers to access the lands in this area. Trappers can park on the shoulders of seasonal access roads provided vehicles are out of the travel lane.

The Hurricane Mountain Wilderness provides large tracts of land with no trails for big and small game hunting and trapping. The lower elevations in the east of Hurricane Mountain offer great wilderness trapping opportunities. The lands can be accessed from the Hurricane Road Trailhead. Lands on the northern side of the wilderness can accessed from the Jay Mountain Road. This seasonal access road serves as the boundary between Jay Mountain and Hurricane Mountain Wildernesses.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Cross-country skiing is permitted on all hiking trails. The portion of the Jay Mountain Road/Wells Hill Road that borders the Jay Mountain and Hurricane Mountain Wildernesses is not plowed in the winter. Skiers should be aware this is a designated snowmobile trail and be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails. The portion of the Jay Mountain Road/Wells Hill Road that borders the Jay Mountain and Hurricane Mountain Wildernesses is not plowed in the winter. Snowshoers should be aware this is a designated snowmobile trail and be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules & regulations. You can ensure of continued good fishing opportunities in the future by fishing responsibly. If you have never been fishing but want to try, it's easy to learn how to fish.

All waters within the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness are open to fishing. Anglers may use the same trailheads and trails as hikers and the same campsites as campers to access and fish these waters.

Although limited, there are a few opportunities for those wishing to fish. Visitors may find fish in nearby waters such as Jackson Brook, Gulf Brook, Spruce Mill Brook, and Spruce Hill Brook.

The lower reaches of Spruce Mill Brook are stocked with brook trout and brown trout. For Public Fishing Rights (PFR) on Spruce Mill Brook, visit DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer. Users are encouraged to visit the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide first for "how to" instructions on using the fishing map).

Help Protect Native Adirondack Fish; populations of brook trout, round whitefish and other native Adirondack fish species have severely declined due to introduced fish.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

The Adirondacks contain large tracts of wildlife habitat with some boreal, bog, alpine and other unique habitats. Many species of birds and mammals are unique to the Adirondacks or are mainly found here. More than 50 species of mammals and hundreds of species of birds inhabit or pass through the Adirondacks at one time of the year or another so it is not unlikely to catch site of wildlife during your trip.

Beaver activity and possibly the beavers themselves may be seen along the lower portion of the trail from 9N to the summit of Hurricane Mountain.

A drive down Jay Mountain/Wells Hill Road or the Seventy Road also provides a great opportunity to view wildlife in this unit. If you see a bird or animal, observe them from inside your vehicle - cars make great wildlife blinds.

More information on Adirondack Flora and Fauna (leaves DEC Website) from the SUNY ESF Adirondack Ecological Center.

You can protect wildlife and wildlife habitat when viewing them.

Wildlife Found in the Adirondacks

• Mammals
  • Moose
  • Black Bear
  • Beaver
  • Eastern Coyote
  • River Otter
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Little Brown Bat
• Birds
  • Bald Eagle
  • Common Loon
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Osprey
  • Great Horned Owl
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Wild Turkey
  • Eastern Bluebird