The view to the southeast is seen from Cobble Lookout on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Wilmington, with Giant Mountain seen in the background at right. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

WILMINGTON — At first glance, the 180-plus degree views from Cobble Lookout seem like it would require an arduous hike that climbs high above the woodlands to secure such an expansive scene.

Au contraire.

Much of the elevation gain comes en route to the trailhead parking area as one climbs over 1,300 feet driving up from the four corners in nearby Wilmington.

Sure, it’s still a hike. The path isn’t paved and — unlike the nearby Whiteface Memorial Highway — you can’t drive your car completely to the vista. But, as far as local hikes go, Cobble Lookout is one of the gentler ones. The trail is 2.5 miles round-trip. It gains about 300 feet in elevation.

The trailhead is located on Gillespie Drive, about 0.3 miles from the road’s intersection with the Whiteface Memorial Highway. Driving from Lake Placid and Wilmington, the trail is on the right side of the road. Though there is a state Department of Environmental Conservation sign marking the trailhead, it’s somewhat obscured by trees and a bend in the road, requiring motorists to pay extra attention when driving up to it.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation trailhead sign for Cobble Lookout is seen on Gillespie Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Wilmington. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

There is a short driveway to a small parking area. Given the trail’s popularity, it is often quick to fill up, with some roadside shoulder parking available in that case. Hiking early on a Wednesday morning, I was fortunate to snag a spot in the lot.

The trail starts off on a wide level path, an old quarry road, with the sign-in register on the right a few hundred feet after the parking area. The trail comes to a well-defined, but unmarked junction about 0.1 miles from the parking area. The trail continues to the right while the path to the left proceeds to a staggering cliff face at the old quarry. It’s a neat sidequest, though hikers heading there should beware of some broken glass around the bottom of the cliff.

Continuing right at the junction, the trail becomes rockier and rootier as it continues its slight incline, now off the old quarry road. Caution is needed to avoid an ankle roll, but the trail is otherwise easy to navigate. The path is still well-defined and marked with blue trail marker discs.

The trail levels off for a bit before resuming the incline around 0.25 miles, climbing through a mostly deciduous forest, sure to put on a show over the next few weeks. Around 0.6 miles, the trail reaches its highest point. From here, it’s a mix of flat stretches and gradual declines to the lookout point.

There is a bit of mud around 1 mile from the trailhead, with a series of log bridges built to stay dry. Some of the logs are uneven and sway with the hiker’s weight, requiring some caution and attention to balance when crossing.

Rocks and roots are seen along the Cobble Lookout trail on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Wilmington. The trail requires hikers to pay close attention to their footing but is otherwise generally easy, with no steep elevation pitches and a total distance of 2.5 miles. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

The trail reaches the lookout at 1.25 miles, where an expansive open area provides views of Esther and Bear Den mountains, as well as a smidge of Whiteface Mountain’s summit area — including the tower — in the foreground.

Further back, the AuSable River valley, Sentinel mountains, Hurricane Mountain and Giant Mountain are all visible on a clear day. Cobble Lookout is not to be confused with Cobble Hill, whose trailhead is located off of Mirror Lake Drive just outside the village of Lake Placid.

To get to Cobble Lookout from Lake Placid, head east on state Route 86 to the four corners in Wilmington, about 13 miles from downtown Lake Placid. There, turn left onto state Route 431, more commonly referred to as the Whiteface Memorial Highway. Continue 3 miles to the intersection with Gillespie Drive, shortly before the toll booths for vehicles heading to Whiteface Mountain’s summit. Turn right onto Gillespie and look for the parking lot approaching on the right.

Cobble Lookout provides a spectacular view for a relatively easy hike, and is an appropriate trail for those looking to give hiking a try without a lot of previous experience. Consider hiking earlier in the morning, especially on nice weather or weekend days over the next few weeks, as the trail will likely be busy as the leaf peeping season gets underway in the Olympic region.

A tall cliff face is seen from a short spur off the Cobble Lookout trail on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Wilmington. The Cobble Lookout trail avoids the cliffs. (News photo — Chris Gaige)

Cobble Lookout's expansive vista is seen on Wednesday, Sept. 10 in Wilmington, providing ample space for a picnic or rest spot. At left is Esther Mountain, the northernmost of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks. (News photo — Chris Gaige)