A blue trail marker along the Switchback Trail in Henry's Woods is seen on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Credit Type: Staff Photo Credit: Chris Gaige

LAKE PLACID — Every so often, the stars align in just the right manner as to make one feel they are on a different planet. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, that happened to be the case in Henry’s Woods.

A fresh coating of bright fluffy snow blanketed everything in sight. The dull brown drab forest floor of late fall serendipitously gave way to a snow globe scene. Wind and gravity had yet to work their ways: much of the snow was left perched on pine bows and spindly deciduous branches, seemingly untouched.

My imagination could not have generated a prettier scene. We here around Lake Placid are fortunate to be treated to the scenes many times over throughout the cold months. Given that these pristine winter days can be more hit-or-miss during winter’s shoulder weeks, I decided to take advantage of this bliss while it lasted and check out one of the remaining trail networks close to the village that the column has not yet profiled.

Close is, of course, a relative term. Henry’s Woods is located on Bear Cub Road less than 2 miles from downtown Lake Placid. It is a 212-acre community trail preserve that was opened in 2009, dedicated to the memory of Henry Uihlein.

Henry’s Woods is located at 20 Bear Cub Road. The driveway is a one-way semi-circle, with the entrance being the first right driveway on the road, and the exit the second. The entrance comes up quickly; it is only about 500 feet beyond the intersection with Old Military Road. While a sign marks the driveway, it is somewhat hidden obscured by the woods until you are immediately next to it.

The Connector Trail through cutting through a tall pine forest in Henry's Woods is seen on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Credit Type: Staff Photo Credit: Chris Gaige

Into the woods

Faithful readers may recall that last week’s Visiting Lake Placid Column was dedicated toward learning how to hike safely in the winter. Eager to employ those tactics and test my knowledge, I came prepared with snowshoes and micro-spikes. Upon arrival, I realized that the tree branches had caught much of the fallen snow, preventing it from reaching the ground.

The snow depth in the woods was well-below the 8-inch threshold the state requires for wearing snow shoes — even though these trails are on private land, it is still a good rule-of-thumb to avoid winter trail damage — so I decided to forego the snowshoes.

Given that there was minimal ice and knowing my route — through pre-trip research — was bereft of any treacherously-steep sections, I decided to forego wearing the spikes. I packed them in my coat pocket just in case.

A map off to the left just beyond the parking lot provides a comprehensive overview — including descriptions and distances – of the trails in the preserve. I made my way along the 0.3 mile Connector Trail, before taking a right on to the Loop Trail.

A scenic view along the Plateau Trail looking northeast toward Whiteface and the Wilmington Notch is seen on Tuesday, Dec. 3. Portions of the village can be seen on the left with Mount Whitney and Cobble Hill, right, in the foreground. Credit Type: Staff Photo Credit: Chris Gaige

The trail was gentle, the surrounding wood serene. Although the trail was not completely flat – it had a slight incline most of the way – it was wide, well-marked and fairly easy to navigate. While not as straightforward as a stroll around Mirror Lake on the sidewalks, the trail is doable for those with less hiking experience.

After another flat 0.2 miles on the green Loop Trail, I took a left on to the blue Switchback Trail. This is where the climb began. The trail was still well-marked and easy to follow, although the steadier incline — gaining 150 feet over 0.2 miles — may make for a more difficult outing if one isn’t in decent hiking shape.

Still, compared to any of the High Peaks or even smaller mountains in the area, such as Cobble Hill, this isn’t an especially difficult path, and those who make it to the top are richly-rewarded with two scenic vistas, provided they turn left on to the yellow Plateau Trail at its junction with the Switchback Trail.

Once on the Plateau Trail, the grade leveled out, making for an easy stroll through the surrounding winter wonderlands. Only 0.2 miles later, I arrived at the first vista, which looked toward the Sentinel Range. I caught a partial view, as the tops of the peaks were cloaked in clouds. With dusk and the publishing deadline both approaching, I couldn’t stick around long enough for the clouds to clear.

The next lookout was only a few hundred more feet further along the trail and offered theoretical views of Whiteface Mountain and the Wilmington Notch. Unfortunately, Whiteface was also in the clouds, but nearby Cobble Hill, Mount Whitney and portions of the village could all be seen.

After taking in the views, I continued along the Plateau Trail and reconnected with the Loop Trai 0.1 miles past the second vista. Bearing left, I began the gradual descent down the plateau and before I knew it — or 0.4 miles, to be more precise — I was back at the intersection with the Connector Trail. I retraced the 0.3 miles and was back at the parking lot with daylight to spare.

Respecting the rules

The trails are owned and maintained by the Uihlein Foundation, but open to the public provided people remain observant of the preserve’s policies. Namely, these include being respectful of others on the trail, following the ‘Leave-no-Trace’ principles and being responsible for your own safety. A full list of the preserve’s policies can be found at the trailhead.

In addition to walking, bikes are also allowed, although they must yield to those on foot. Skiing is permitted in the winter, with those in boots or on snowshoes asked to stay off of the ski tracks to avoid cratering and damaging the path.

Horses, motorized vehicles — including electric bicycles, — camping, fires, hunting and trapping are all prohibited on the property.

Many hiking trails in the area prohibit dogs or require them to be leashed at all times. This is not the case at Henry’s Woods — as well as Heaven Hill, another community trail preserve further to the southwest along Bear Cub Road — where dogs can roam with a bit more freedom. Absolutely crucial to this privilege remaining in place are dog owners following the rules below: First and foremost, aggressive dogs, either to humans or other canines, are not allowed.

While dogs do not have to be leashed, owners must always carry a leash and immediately put it on if there are any signs of aggressive behavior. Dogs must always remain in sight of their owners, and be able to respond to their voice commands. No more than three dogs per person or group are allowed. Owners must pick up and pack out any dog waste. Pouches for waste were available at the trailhead as of press time, although owners should be prepared and have their own on hand if provided pouches are unavailable in the future.

A full list of dog rules are posted at the trailhead. Review them if you are unfamiliar and are considering bringing a dog.

Henry’s Woods makes for an excellent local destination for those looking for a relatively easy hike, bike, snowshoe or ski. While the trails have some incline, they are generally suitable for people with modest hiking experience, and are a good way to work up to some of the more challenging mountains and hills in the area while soaking in some scenery atop the plateau.

While conditions were near ideal on Tuesday, Dec. 3, people considering venturing into the woods should keep in mind that weather and subsequent trail conditions can vary greatly from day-to-day, especially during the winter months.

For more information on Henry’s Woods, visit tinyurl.com/dcxepz25.