Stag Brook Falls is an excellent couple hours of hiking along an attractive brook with numerous waterfalls and cascades. Picnic benches, nature signs, and swimming are available along the way.

Getting there

Access to this trail is at the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. When the mountain is open for skiing, hikers are not granted access to this trail. From the 4-way intersection in Wilmington, travel west on Route 86 toward Lake Placid. Continue for less than 4-miles to the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center. Turn into the center and park in the lot on the right, just before the bridge.

Hiking

You will need to park in the main lot for the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and hike the road toward the Main Lodge. As you cross the bridge there will be the main building on your left and another building straight ahead. Walk to the left of the secondary building and up the gravel road onto one of the ski trails. The trail for Stag Brook Falls is at the top of the gravel road; a marker on a power pole is its start.

The hike will start on an uphill and continue to climb to its end. The largest of the falls is not too far along the trail and can be enjoyed from the base or from a bit higher as you continue along the trail. The trail continues along the left of the brook as it makes it way higher along the cascade. Other small waterfalls and swimming holes are met along the way.

A road crossing is part way up, just cross directly over it to the continuation of the trail. The trail will essentially end on the ski slopes.

Again, please note that this trail is not accessible when the skiing/riding is open.