High Peaks Wilderness
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
45,650 acres115.5 mi of trail
Phelps TrailDix TrailH.G. Leach TrailMount Marcy Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Photo: Daniel Tripp · Public domainAOutdoors
Outdoors in Keene
More than half of Keene’s land is conserved: 78%
78% of Keene’s land is conserved, about 77,647 acres. 1,774 acres are parks and preserves, 2,499 per 1,000 residents. 210 miles of mapped trail cross Keene, 1.3 per square mile of land.
Ahead of 92% of U.S. towns. What drives it
Conserved land
78%
77,647 acres · of 155.9 sq mi of land
Trails
210 mi
1.3 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,774 ac
2,499 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
36%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
5,344 ft
Mount Marcy
Lakes & rivers
20
1 beach · 1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Keene?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Land that stays wild78% of the land is conserved; a typical New York town, 5%.Room to roam2,499 acres of park per 1,000 residents; the typical U.S. town has 13.A trail town1.3 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, more than 86% of U.S. towns.History along the way10 places on the National Register.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Keene have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Keene is ahead of 92% of U.S. towns. Conserved land holds the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
A
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Keene’s overall grade.
Conserved land78% of the land · typical NY town 5% · U.S. 4%A+Trails1.3 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (210 mi) · NY 0.4 · U.S. 0.4APark land2,499 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,774 acres) · NY 31 · U.S. 13A+Parks close to home36% of residents within a half mile of a park · NY 70% · U.S. 72%C
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 92%
LessMore
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is High Peaks Wilderness, with 115.5 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Adirondack Mountain Reserve
Nature preserve
5,813 acres24.4 mi of trail
West River TrailEast River TrailSawteeth Scenic TrailBartlett Ridge Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail signWebsite ↗
Giant Mountain Wilderness
Nature preserve
11,558 acres21.4 mi of trail
Roaring Brook TrailMossy Cascade TrailNorth TrailRidge Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Hurricane Mountain Wilderness
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
5,518 acres10.6 mi of trail
Hurricane Mountain TrailSoda Range TrailNorth Hurricane TrailLittle and Big Crow Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto Crow Clearing Parking AreaWebsite ↗
Sentinel Range Wilderness
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
7,230 acres6.7 mi of trail
Jack Rabbit TrailBalanced Rocks Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
East Branch Community Trails
Managed by Essex County
115 acres5.6 mi of trail
Leepoff LoopUpstream (Lower)Sentinel LoopDownriver+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Hammond Pond Wild Forest
Managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
1,156 acres2.1 mi of trail
Upham TrailBaxter Mountain from Beede FarmBaxter Mountain from 9N
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Johns Brook Primitive Area
Nature preserve
140 acres1.6 mi of trail
Southside TrailPhelps TrailSouthside Trail - High Water Route
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
All 11 parks & preserves
High Peaks Wilderness45,650 acres · 115.5 mi of trail · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DirectionsAdirondack Mountain Reserve5,813 acres · 24.4 mi of trail
DirectionsGiant Mountain Wilderness11,558 acres · 21.4 mi of trail
DirectionsHurricane Mountain Wilderness5,518 acres · 10.6 mi of trail · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DirectionsSentinel Range Wilderness7,230 acres · 6.7 mi of trail · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DirectionsEast Branch Community Trails115 acres · 5.6 mi of trail · Essex County
DirectionsHammond Pond Wild Forest1,156 acres · 2.1 mi of trail · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Johns Brook Primitive Area140 acres · 1.6 mi of trail
Wilmington Wild Forest241 acres · 1 mi of trail · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DirectionsHurricane Mountain Primitive Area16 acres · New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DirectionsBartlett Primitive Area1 acres
Who protects it
77,647 conserved acres
78% of Keene’s land. Who manages Keene’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State conservation77,721 ac
Land trusts & nonprofits180 ac
County120 ac
Town or city73 ac
Joint37 ac
Regional Water Districts4 ac
State Wilderness · 69,992 acForest Stewardship Easement · 5,739 acState Conservation Area · 1,809 acPrivate Conservation · 143 acState Resource Management Area · 141 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 5,800 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 3 of 29 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Peaks Wilderness State Wilderness | State conservation | 45,672 | Open |
| Giant Mountain Wilderness State Wilderness | State conservation | 11,567 | Open |
| Sentinel Range Wilderness State Wilderness | State conservation | 7,236 | Open |
| Hurricane Mountain Wilderness State Wilderness | State conservation | 5,516 | Open |
| Hammond Pond Wild Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 1,166 | Open |
| Wilmington Wild Forest State Conservation Area | State conservation | 243 | Open |
| State Conservation Area State Conservation Area | State conservation | 241 | Restricted |
| Johns Brook Primitive Area State Conservation Area | State conservation | 143 | Open |
| High Peaks State Resource Management Area | State conservation | 141 | Open |
| Essex County Lands Local Conservation Area | County | 120 | Restricted |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
260 places to go in Keene
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in Keene
1 beach without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Keene
1 playground without a name on the map.
Boat launches in Keene
Canoe and Kayak LaunchIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsWaterfalls in Keene
Artists FallsIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsBeaver Meadow FallsIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsBeede Brook FallsIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsBushnell FallsIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsCascade FallsIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsFairy Ladder FallsIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsHulls Falls
DirectionsIndian FallsIn High Peaks Wilderness
Directions7 more waterfalls
Indian FallsIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsPyramid Brook FallsIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsRainbow FallsIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsRoaring Brook FallsIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsRussell FallsIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsShoebox FallsIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsWedge Brook CascadesIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsPlus 12 waterfalls without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Scenic views in Keene
Allen Lookout EastIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsAllen Lookout NorthIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsBig Slide LookoutIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsCascade MountainIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsFish Hawk Cliffs LookoutIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsGiant East Slide LookoutIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsGiant MountainIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsGiant Washbowl OverlookIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
Directions21 more scenic views
Gothic WindowIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsHitch-up MatildaIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsHitch-up MatildaIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsIndian Falls LookoutIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMarble PointIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsNorth OutlookIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsOutlook #1In Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsOutlook #2In Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsOutlook #3In Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsOutlook #4In Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsOutlook #5In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsPyramid Peak LookoutIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsRainbows Falls LookoutIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsRidge LookoutIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsRoaring Brook Falls Lower LookoutIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsRoaring Brook Falls Upper LookoutIn Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsSawteeth LookoutIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsSnow Mountain LookoutIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsSouth OutlookIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
DirectionsValley View LedgeIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsWedge Brook Cascades LookoutIn Adirondack Mountain Reserve
Directions83 scenic views are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Peaks in Keene
Mount Marcy5,344 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsSchofield Cobble4,970 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMount Haystack4,915 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMount Skylight4,905 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsBasin Mountain4,816 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsGray Peak4,800 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsLittle Marcy4,718 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMount Colden4,711 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
Directions22 more peaks
Basin Mountain - Northwest Peak4,692 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsGothics4,675 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsLittle Haystack4,662 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsBasin Mountain - Northeast Peak4,626 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsGiant Mountain4,626 ft elevation · In Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsGothics - West Peak4,626 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMount Redfield4,603 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsPyramid Peak4,596 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsNippletop4,570 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMount Colden - North Peak4,563 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsSaddleback Mountain4,511 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsArmstrong Mountain - South Peak4,429 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsMount Marcy - Northwest Peak4,416 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsRocky Peak Ridge4,390 ft elevation · In Giant Mountain Wilderness
DirectionsSlant Rock4,360 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsArmstrong Mountain4,331 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsTable Top Mountain - Middle Peak4,316 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsAllen Mountain4,304 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsTable Top Mountain4,304 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsUpper Wolfjaw Mountain4,203 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsBig Slide Mountain4,199 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsLower Wolfjaw Mountain4,177 ft elevation · In High Peaks Wilderness
Directions92 peaks are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Picnic areas in Keene
2 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Keene
Designated CampsiteIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsDesignated CampsiteIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsDesignated CampsiteIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsGulf Brook Campsite #1In Hurricane Mountain Wilderness · NYSDEC
DirectionsGulf Brook Campsite #2In Hurricane Mountain Wilderness · NYSDEC
DirectionsLillypad Pond campsiteIn High Peaks Wilderness
DirectionsSno-birdIn High Peaks Wilderness · NYSDEC
Directions53 campgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Trails & water
25 named trails and 20 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 6.0 miUnpaved · 194.2 mi
Phelps Trail7.1 mi
Dix Trail6.4 mi
H.G. Leach Trail5.2 mi
W.A. White Trail4.2 mi
Porter Ridge Trail4.0 mi
West River Trail3.5 mi
Mount Marcy Trail3.3 mi
The Brothers Trail3.2 mi
Roaring Brook Trail3.2 mi
Elk Lake - Marcy Trail3.2 mi
15 more trails
Boquet Forks Trail
3.1 miEast River Trail
3.0 miBartlett Ridge Trail
3.0 miVan Hoevenberg Trail
3.0 miHurricane Mountain Trail
2.8 miMossy Cascade Trail
2.8 miState Range Trail
2.8 miADK Range Trail
2.7 miLake Arnold Trail
2.7 miOrebed Brook Trail
2.6 miJack Rabbit Trail
2.6 miBeaver Meadow Trail
2.5 miS. Burns Weston Trail
2.5 miHopkins Trail
2.5 miSouthside Trail
2.5 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Avalanche LakeBullet PondpondChapel PondCranberry PondDial PondDipperpondGiant's WashbowlLake ArnoldLake Tear of the CloudslakeLillypad PondLittle MeadowspondLower Ausable LakereservoirLower Cascade LakelakeMoss PondpondRhododendron PondRound PondpondTwin PondUpper Ausable LakelakeEast Branch Ausable RiverNorth Fork Boquet River
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
15Tennis
3Soccer
3Baseball
2Basketball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →10 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 3 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Beer's BridgeStructure · listed 1999
About itNotman BridgeStructure · listed 1999
About itRanney BridgeStructure · listed 1999
About itWalton BridgeStructure · listed 1999
About itSlater BridgeStructure · listed 1999
About itKeene Valley LibraryBuilding · listed 2000
About itPutnam CampDistrict · listed 2012
About itUplands, TheBuilding · listed 2016
About itKeene Valley Country ClubDistrict · listed 2020
About itAusable ClubBuilding · listed 2025
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Keene: June to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 20 | 23 | 30 | 42 | 55 | 63 | 67 | 66 | 59 | 47 | 35 | 25 |
| Rain (in) | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
February is the driest month (4.1 in) and July the warmest (highs of 67 °F). 6.1 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Keene →
Next door
Keene and its neighbors
Keene has the second most mapped trails of the 7 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keene | 78% | 1.3 | 2,499 | 36% | A |
| North Hudson | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Elizabethtown | 57% | 0.7 | 5,112 | 71% | A |
| North Elba | 81% | 1.8 | 2,214 | 83% | A+ |
| Jay | 22% | 0.7 | 1,095 | 40% | A |
| Newcomb | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Wilmington | 63% | 1.0 | 11,340 | 62% | A |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Keene
Where can I hike in Keene?
The longest trail networks: High Peaks Wilderness, 115.5 miles; Adirondack Mountain Reserve, 24.4 miles; Giant Mountain Wilderness, 21.4 miles; Hurricane Mountain Wilderness, 10.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Keene is conserved land?
78% of its land, against a typical 5% for a New York town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Keene’s trails?
High Peaks Wilderness and Adirondack Mountain Reserve don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Keene?
399,624 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Keene or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 72,222 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Keene have?
Ahead of 92% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Keene neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →