Saint Regis Canoe Area
The only designated canoe area in New York State, the Saint Regis Canoe Area (SRCA) is an area where the number and proximity of lakes and ponds make possible a remote and unconfined type of water-oriented recreation in an essentially wilderness setting. The SRCA, which covers 18,400 acres, includes St. Regis Mountain, St. Regis and Long ponds, sections of the east and west branches of the St. Regis River, and 56 other waterbodies. This area is part of a network of recreational waterways in New York State that attract canoeists and kayakers from across the country. In addition, the SRCA offers excellent opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting and fishing.
The SRCA Unit Management Plan (UMP)
The Department of Environmental Conservation adopted the UMP for the Saint Regis Canoe Area (SRCA) in June 2006. A summary of use restrictions approved in the UMP follows:
- Group size limitations will be put into place for the area to reduce congestion across ponds, at canoe carries, on trails, and at summits. The table below explains when and how the restrictions will be phased in.
| Date | Restriction |
|---|---|
| 1/1/2008 | The maximum group size for a camping party is now reduced to nine (9) people. Permits will need to be issued for groups with nine (9) or fewer people that want to stay at one location for more than three (3) nights. |
| 2009 | New regulations will further restrict the maximum group size for a camping party to eight (8) people and a maximum of 15 people for day use groups. Larger groups that split into smaller groups to meet these size restrictions would be required to: a) be one mile apart AND b) not camp or travel on the same pond at the same time. |
- Drive-in camping is eliminated. Two drive-in camping areas off of Keese Mills Road and one campsite off of Floodwood Road are now closed.
- There will be changes to campsite configurations in the area. Campsites will be closed, relocated, or rehabilitated in order to lessen damage to the natural resources, improve visitor experience, and to comply with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.
- Mountain bike use is allowed on the Fish Pond truck trail. Such use will be allowed to continue as long as the area's natural resources are not degraded.
- Other actions include designating a hiking trail from the shore of Upper Saint Regis Lake to the summit of Saint Regis Mountain and the adoption of regulations to protect the wilderness character of the area.
Saint Regis Canoe Area UMP (June, 2006)
a) Entire Plan - SRCA Unit Management Plan (pdf 4.1 Mb- This file is very large and may take a long time to download or even cause some computers to crash).
Plan Sections:
b) Table of Contents through Section III Management and Policy (pdf 881 kb)
c) Section IV Proposed Management Actions through Appendix O References (pdf 411 kb)
Maps (Appendix P):
d) Unit Location Map, Unit Facilities Map (pdf 929 kb)
e) Soils Map, Wetlands map, Deer Wintering Areas (pdf 885 kb)
f) Grouse Habitat, Teddy Roosevelt Hiking Trail (pdf 887 kb)
g) Keese Mills Road Camping area, Little Green Pond Camping area (pdf 209 kb)
For questions regarding the SRCA, please contact:
Steven Guglielmi, Senior Forester
NYS DEC
Lands and Forests
PO Box 296
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Phone: (518) 897-1200
e-mail: r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us
