Last year about this time I decided to go up Snow Mountain for an afternoon tromp through the woods and found that the Deer Brook Trail was closed. These conditions shouldn’t have been a surprised since it wasn’t too long ago, that Hurricane Irene came through and remodeled the back-country.  So, to satisfy my curiosity and keep the information I present to people as accurate as possible, I thought I would see if the trail had been treated at all.

Start of High Water Route along Deer Brook Way

Starting from Route 73 at the Deer Brook Trail I found this initial section to be the same as before, up to the one car bridge, about 150 yards from the main road. From here the trail was also as before, rocky with odd footing and slippery root systems.  But it wasn’t long before I discovered that the trail had in fact been rerouted a bit, and very recently too. The trail crew had utilized the slopes on the south side of Deer Brook and made a very nice new trail section to allow hikers to once again enjoy the clear cascading, cool waters.  This new trail at the end swings hard south to join up with the high water route just below the trail to Lower Wolf Jaw.

Along Deer Brook

Section of the Re-Routed Trail

I continued up the steady slopes of the trail and passed a family of four heading to Snow Mountain and recommended to them that the take the new trail along the brook to allow the kids to wade around and play on the rocks. Grateful, I’m sure they did.  If wasn’t long before I reached the small spur trail to the base of Deer Brook Falls.

Deer Brook Falls

 

After a quick picture with my less than adequate phone, I returned to the bridge over Deer Brook and at that point decided I would continue up toward Snow Mountain and take the trail down toward St. Huberts, then a left onto the Lower Wolf Jaw Trail, which I passed a bit earlier. This would loop me back to the High Water Route I was on a couple minutes ago.  The plan was set in motion as I crossed the log bridge and started a steady climb over a wide trail, which resembles an old tote road.

The St. Huberts Trail was a bit further than I thought it was, making me feel as though I missed it or something, but conferring with my map, it says otherwise. I eventually reached the trail junction and started an aggressive downhill run, I mean why not run; the trail was in great condition for it. The trail seemed very soft in comparison to others I have been on lately, must be due to intermittent use.  Crossing over a slab rock section that spanned a small brook, I almost ended up flat on my back. The constant slow moving water over it had created a skating rink of red and green lichen that almost stopped me dead in my tracks – momentum was the only thing on my side.  With a pirouette like a figure skater, I somehow made it across in one piece and with no witnesses.

Along the St. Huberts Trail

Past this point I wasted no time moving along to the crossing of Deer Brook, above the falls this time. In my haste I did manage to run right past the spur trail that lead back to the High Water Route and ended up further down the St. Huberts Trail at the second junction of the Lower Wolf Jaw Trail. A short backtrack of less than 1/4 of a mile got me back in the right direction. From here it was a very steep descent back to the High Water Route which I followed back to Deer Brook Way and then back down to Route 73.

So, now that the trail is back in tip top shape, bring the entire family to Deer Brook and enjoy the waters, climb the boulders, take tons of pictures and create your own unique adventure. Then when you are done, hit up Lake Placid for some of the

best food in the park, then if you decide to stay, go for another hike another day.  

Route Map