Trail Descriptions and Maps

Champlain Area Trails (CATS) are mostly in the central Champlain Valley towns of Essex, Westport, and Willsboro. We continually expand the trail network and will eventually connect to other Champlain Valley communities and to trails in surrounding areas (the Adirondack Mountains, Clinton County, Quebec, Vermont, and the Hudson Valley).

You can find quick descriptions of the trails below. For maps, continue scrolling down to the section named "Attachments" where you can find maps of the whole trail network, individual trails, and clusters of trails. There are some trails we have yet to map--so check back as we continually update this page. Please let us know your suggestions for improving the descriptions and maps.

We encourage you to help create and maintain trails by participating in our trail projects--the trail projects are fun and rewarding--just click on the "Events" tab to read about our upcoming trail projects and hikes. We send out email notices for upcoming projects--to be included on our email list please click on the "Contact" tab.

We invite you to become a "trail adopter"; Yes, you, your friends, and family can take responsibility for keeping a trail attractive and safe for the people who will hike there. To become a trail adopter, just reply on the "contact" tab.

We hope you enjoy the Champlain Area Trails.

Note: We are still writing descriptions for some of the trails - if you want to write a description please an email to champlaintrails@gmail.com.

*** MAPS for the trails are below so scroll down to "Attachments."

Trail Name Nearest
Town
Length Rating Type
Beaver Flow Trail
Essex & Westport 2.25 miles
(each way)
Mild There & back or loop via Homestead Trail & Cook Rd.
Big Woods Trail
Willsboro 2 mile
Mild Several loops; river section tends to be overgrown in summer
Black Kettle Nature Trail
Essex 1.5 miles Mild Loop; has nice overlook
Bobcat Trail
Westport 1 mile
(each way)
Mild There & back
Boquet Mountain Trail Essex 3 miles
(each way)
Mild There and back
with side trails
Coon Mountain Trails
Westport 1 mile
(each way)
Moderate There & back to great view; Hidden Valley Trail loops into main trail
Homestead Trail
Essex 2.5 mile
Mild Loop via Beaver Flow Trail and Cook Road
Lee Park Trail
Westport 1/2 mile
Mild Loop
McAullife Road Trail
Essex & Willsboro 2 mile
(each way)
Mild There & back
Noblewood Trails
Willsboro 1 mile
(each way)
Mild There, back & loops
Rocky Ledges Trail
Essex 3 miles
Mild CLOSED during hunting season Sept 15 - Dec 15
Split Rock Trails
Westport & Essex many miles of trails
Mild Loops to Lake Champlain & overlooks
Wildway Overlook Trail
Essex 1 mile
(each way)
Mild There & back to great view; easier hike than Coon Mtn Trail

 

AttachmentSize
CATS Trail System.2011.pdf797.89 KB
CATS Trail System showing GPS points for trailheads - June, 2011.pdf532.82 KB
CATS Trails in Essex between Walker and Ferris Roads includes Boquet Mt. Trail, Wildway Overlook Trail, Homestead Trail, Beaver Flow Trail, Black Kettle Trail, and Bobcat Trail - June 2011.pdf1.02 MB
Beaver Flow Trail - 2009.pdf674.08 KB
Beaver Flow Trail, Homestead Trail, and Black Kettle Trail - June 2011.pdf487.93 KB
Black Kettle Nature Trail - 2009.jpg84.79 KB
Black Kettle Trail - nature interpretation points - 2009.jpg108.13 KB
Bobcat Trail - June 2011.pdf428.66 KB
Bobcat Trail - 2009.pdf693.87 KB
Boquet Mt. Trail - 2009.pdf531.12 KB
Boquet Mt Trail, Wildway Overlook Trail, and Black Kettle Trail - June 2011.pdf653.91 KB
Cheney Mt Trail Map.pdf1.83 MB
Homestead Trail, Beaver Flow Trail, and Black Kettle Trail - June 2011.pdf487.94 KB
Split Rock Wild Forest Trails (downloaded from NYS DEC website).pdf761.13 KB