The Lassiter Tract
Public Use Guide
Lewis, Herkimer & ST. Lawrence Counties DEC Forest Preserve And Conservation Easements
The 1986 Environmental Quality Bond Act provided funds to purchase 6,737 acres of Forest Preserve in St. Lawrence and Herkimer Counties, and 17,749 acres of contiguous Conservation Easements in the Northeast corner of Lewis County, from Lassiter Properties, Inc. The land under both of these categories offers the following public usage rights exist:
I. Getting to the Land
Public access to the properties may be gained by foot from the adjacent New York State Reforestation Area, east of Jerden Falls Road and Blanchard Creek Truck Trail and New York State Forest Preserve lands. Additionally, foot and vehicle access may be gained by utilizing Bald Mountain or Bear Pond Roads. Restricted motor vehicle and foot access for recreational canoeing only is allowable along Mullins Pond Road, an extension of Bryant's Bridge Road. Mullins Pond Road will be gated closed in the spring (as will Bear Pond Road) until frost-out to protect it from damage, but will then be open throughout the recreational canoeing season. The easement property begins at 1.5 miles inside the Mullins Pond gate and no parking is permitted until you enter the easement lands. A new public access road has been constructed that allows vehicular, foot and bicycle access to the eastern portions of this land. It connects Bald Mountain and Mullins Pond Roads.
II. Public Use on the Lands
- Pubic access across the properties by foot, snowshoes, skis and horses is unrestricted.
- Vehicular use on the easement is allowed only over presently established roads. Access from the south along Bald Mountain Road ends at the Croghan-Diana Town line. No off road use by vehicles is permitted.
- Travel on any navigable stream crossing the properties is allowed by canoe and other means of non-motorized travel and access. Canoeing (including the right to portage around obstacles when necessary) is allowed on the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie between the western edge of the easement and Bryant's Bridge.
- Camping is allowed at least 150' from any road, trail, spring, stream, pond or any body of water. Camping at one location four or more nights or in a group of 10 or more requires a permit from the local Forest Ranger. Please note that no camping by the public is allowed along the right-of-way across the private lands leading into the easement property.
- Fishing and trapping are allowed on the property.
- Firewood may be gathered only from dead and downed trees, and only for on site use, for cooking and warmth.
- Littering is prohibited.
- Lassiter Properties, Inc. retains the right to harvest timber on easements. Areas in Lewis County undergoing active harvest or road construction may be posted as closed by Lassiter, in the interest of public safety.
- Hunting
- Hunting on the Lewis County easement portions of this property is allowed only between January 1 thru August 31 of each year until 2020. Hunting rights from September thru December are reserved by Lassiter Properties, Inc. until December 31, 2019.
- All hunting, fishing and trapping must be in accordance with DEC regulations.
More about The Lassiter Tract:
- Map of the Lassiter Tract - Detailed Map of the Lassiter Tract
