Jay Mountain Wilderness Area - Unit Management Plan
The Jay Mountain Wilderness Area is located in the northeast portion of the Adirondack Park within the Towns of Jay and Lewis in Essex County. The unit is comprised of one Forest Preserve parcel, and at 7,951 acres, is the smallest Wilderness Area in the Adirondack Park.
In August 2010 the Department finalized the Unit Management Plan (UMP) for the Jay Mountain Wilderness. Key proposals in the UMP include:
- Reroute portions of the Jay Mountain Trail below the ridge to alleviate erosion problems caused by improper trail layout
- Create an official trailhead near the junction of Prestonia and Jay Mountain Roads to provide parking for the Jay Mountain Trail
- Create roadside parking area at Jay Mountain Trailhead to accommodate 3-5 vehicles
- Imposing maximum group size limits to eight for overnight use, and 15 for day use
Jay Mountain Wilderness Unit Management Plan (PDF) (4.66 MB)
