Balsam Creek State Forest

State Reforestation Area Lewis #30

This 559 acre state forest, located in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, is bisected by the 150 foot deep Balsam Creek valley. Balsam Creek and its tributary to the north, Cold Creek, are well known spring fed trout streams. The hardwood forests abound with valuable high quality hard maple and black cherry sawtimber and veneer.

In the 1930's the Conservation Department planted pine trees in the open fields near Fish Creek Road. Today these trees have grown to mature plantations of white pine, red pine and Norway spruce sawtimber. DEC forestry staff regularly conduct carefully controlled timber sales on this forest, maintaining a vigorous forest while at the same time providing the forest industry with critical raw materials.

Wildlife found here includes white-tailed deer, black bear, and fur bearers including fisher, coyotes and mink. Briar Hill Truck Road provides 1.5 miles of gravel surface access for the public north from Fish Creek Road.

Directions

From Croghan, take Belfort Road (Lewis County Route 10) to Belfort turn right onto Long Pond Road. Two miles out take Fish Creek Road, proceed 1 mile.