Keene is a town in central Essex County, New York, United States.

Trailheads for many of the High Peaks are located within the town, along with the Johns Brook Lodge of the Adirondack Mountain Club.

A road along the Ausable River from Jay was extended south to Keene Center about 1797, but it was often deemed almost impassible due to the structure of the area.

[4] The town of Keene organized the first school district in the Adirondacks, which held its first recorded trustee meeting in 1813.

In 1892, after the Adirondack Mountain Reserve acquired the land, a privately tolled and maintained road to Lower Ausable Lake was constructed.

The extension of this network into rural areas makes it unique in the Adirondack Park.

[8] Many of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park are in or near the town, including Mount Marcy, elevation 5,343 feet (1,629 m), the highest point in New York.

The Garden, one of the most popular trailheads in the Adirondacks, is located in the hamlet of Keene Valley and is the eastern end of the Johns Brook Trail, leading to Johns Brook Lodge, Mount Marcy, and the heart of the High Peaks Region.

[10] New York State Route 9N changes from north–south to east–west south of Keene hamlet, at the foot of Spruce Hill.