Cheney Mountain is a short, easy hike near Mineville that provides a great view of nearby communities and the Champlain Valley
Cheney Mountain
0.8 miles (1.6 miles round trip)
Champlain Area Trails
Moriah, Essex County
Hiking, Snowshoeing
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Hike Cheney Mountain
Cheney Mountain is located near Mineville in Essex County. The trail is on private land, but is open to the public under an agreement and management by Champlain Area Trails (CATS). The trail is easy, with only 500 feet of elevation. The view from the top of Cheney Mountain provides views of Moriah and the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The parking area is accessed off of County Route 54, just after Cheney Road coming from the west. The trail begins just past a fence separating the field and the parking area. It continues directly across the field towards Cheney Mountain, which can be seen straight ahead. The trail crosses over a closed, capped grass-covered landfill covered in flowers, crickets, and small moths, although also dotted with white tubes coming out of the ground. After a few hundred feet, hikers will reach the base of Cheney Mountain, and soon after is the trail register.
The trail is relatively steep after this point for a short distance. After rising onto the ridgeline of Cheney Mountain, the trail provides filtered views to the open sky through oak, beech, and maple trees on each side.
The Top of Cheney Mountain
After less than half a mile of ridgeline walking, the trail reaches viewpoints at the top of the mountain. There are two primary views, very near to each other, that look out over the old mine tailings in Moriah, which stand out starkly from the surrounding beautiful forests, hills, and mountains nearby.
The trip back down to the base and to the parking area is similarly easy, and the trip overall is very short with no very difficult sections. For these reasons, this trail is accessible to almost any hiker, and is usable by dogs on leash as well.
The Cheney Mountain Trail was created and is maintained by Champlain Area Trails (CATS).
Click here to download a map and information about hiking Cheney Mountain.
When You Hike Make Sure to Practice “Leave No Trace” to be Prepared and to Protect the Forest Preserve
Please follow “carry in, carry out” rules for all trash and follow other Leave No Trace principles when hiking in the public Forest Preserve and other wild areas. The seven Leave No Trace principles are: 1) Plan ahead and prepare; 2) Stay on hiking trails and camp at designated areas; 3) Dispose of human waste and trash properly; 4) Leave what you find; 5) Minimize campfires; 6) Respect wildlife; 7) Respect other hikers.
Educated hikers do not damage the environment.
Prepared hikers do not need search and rescue unless injured.
Winter Use: Cheney Mountain is a popular trail for snowshoeing in the winter.
