Trail Information for the Central and Southern Adirondacks
Updated: June 13, 2013
General Notices
Former Finch Pruyn Lands: Governor Cuomo has announced that public access to the 7,200 acres of land, the Hudson River between Newcomb and Indian Lake, the lower reaches of the Cedar River and the lands and ponds south of the Cedar River is available for the first time in 100 years through an Interim Access Plan for the Former Finch Lands (PDF, 2.38 MB). DEC has developed a interim access web page with information about the area and descriptions and maps of the interim public access facilities. Updated information will be provided here and on the interim access web page as roads are opened and trails, landing sites and other infrastructure are developed. (6/13)
Last year Governor Cuomo and DEC Commissioner Martens announced the commitment by New York State to acquire 69,000 acres of the former Finch Pruyn lands in the Adirondacks in phases over the next five years. See Governor Cuomo's press release on the planned acquisition.
Governor Cuomo recently announced the closing on five tracts of land totaling 9,300 acres. Some of these tracts lie just outside the Adirondack Park. When combined with the previously purchased 18,318-acre Essex Chain of Lakes Tracts, the State has added 27,618 acres of new forest preserve and state forest lands. The remaining 41,382 acres will be purchased in phases over the next three years.
More information on the acquisition of the former Finch Pruyn Lands, including announcements regarding public access opportunities, can be found on the Acquisition of Former Finch Pruyn Lands web page.
WARNING: Wilderness conditions can change suddenly. All users should plan accordingly, including bringing flashlight, first aid equipment, extra food and clothing. Weather conditions may alter your plans; you should always be prepared to spend an unplanned night in the woods before entering the back country. Back country hiking trails can be rugged and rough - they are not maintained as park walkways - wear proper footwear!
Be Prepared
- Know
- Your own physical capabilities, knowledge of backcountry recreation and skill level
- The distance you plan to travel and the terrain and conditions you will encounter
- Check (before entering the backcountry)
- With the Local Forest Ranger for current information.
- Current weather conditions, snow depths and short-term forecast
- Wear
- Shoes or boots specifically designed for hiking
- Layers of non-cotton clothes
- Hat for protection from sun and rain
- Carry
- Map and compass - know how to use them and use them!
- Flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries
- Plenty of food and water
- Insect repellent and sunblock
- Pack
- Extra clothes and socks
- Hat and gloves or mittens
- Ensolite pad to rest on and insulate your body from cold surfaces
- Bivy sack or space blankets for extra warmth
- Fire starter supplies - waterproof matches, butane lighter, candles, starter material, etc.
- Always inform someone of your itinerary and when you expect to return
Northville-Placid Trail Website: The Adirondack Mountain Club has created a web site devoted to the 133-mile Northville-Placid Trail. The new website provides information about planning a hike on the trail - whether a through-hike, section-hike or weekend-hike. It also provides information on the latest trail conditions. Use the link near the bottom of the right column. (12/9)
Motorized Equipment in Wilderness, Primitive and Canoe Areas: DEC has adopted a regulation prohibiting the use of motorized equipment in lands classified as wilderness, primitive or canoe. Public use of small personal electronic or mechanical devices such as cameras, radios or GPS receivers are not affected by this new regulation. See Section 196.8 in the DEC Regulations.
Camping Group Sizes in Wilderness, Primitive and Canoe Areas: DEC regulation requires that groups of ten or more persons camping on state land obtain a permit from a forest ranger. DEC policy prohibits issuing group camping permits to groups wanting to camp on forest preserve lands in the Adirondacks that are classified as wilderness, primitive or canoe area. This policy was developed to protect natural resources, the primeval character of the area and exceptional wilderness experiences for all recreationists, and follows Leave No Trace practices. Except for the eastern High Peaks Wilderness, Pharaoh Lake Wilderness and the William C. Whitney Wilderness, where the group size is 8, camping groups in wilderness, primitive and canoe area lands are limited to 9 people or less.
Camping Permits: Camping for more than three nights or in a group of ten or more in Wild Forest lands requires a permit from a Forest Ranger. The following information must be provided to the forest ranger to obtain a camping permit: Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Vehicle License Plate Number, Telephone Number, Date of Birth, Number in Group, Camping Dates, and Location of Campsite.
Backcountry Campsites: Camping at designated campsites in the backcountry is done on a first come, first served basis. There is no reservation system for these primitive campsites. Campsites in popular areas fill up quickly on weekends so plan accordingly.
Road & Traffic Information: Use the link in the right column to visit NYS Department of Transportation 511 New York for information on transportation services, traffic, and road conditions throughout New York State.
Trails Supporter Patch: The Trails Supporter Patch is now available for $5 at all outlets where sporting licenses are sold, on-line and via telephone at 1-866-933-2257. Patch proceeds will help maintain and enhance non-motorized trails throughout New York State.
Seasonal Notices
Fire Danger: Low. Check the current fire danger rating. Be careful with campfires. (6/13)
Bear Activity: Black bears are active in the backcountry. The use of bear-resistant canisters is encouraged throughout the Adirondacks. Prevent creating nuisance bears by properly using bear-resistant canisters, by storing all food, toiletries and garbage in the canister and by following other practices to prevent attracting bears. (6/13)
Biting Insect: Until the end of summer black flies, mosquitoes, deer flies and/or midges (no-see-ums) will be present. Take steps to minimize the nuisance of biting insects: (6/13)
- Wear light colored clothing;
- Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants, and tuck shirts into pants;
- Button or rubber band sleeves at the wrist;
- Tuck the bottom of pant legs into your socks;
- Pack a headnet to wear when insects are thick;
- Use an insect repellant with DEET, follow label directions.
High Water Levels: Water levels are high, low water crossings may not be passable. Trails along waters may be flooded. (6/13)
Trail Conditions: Trails are wet and muddy. Wear appropriate footwear and gaiters for hiking through wet and muddy areas. Stay on the trail and hike through muddy areas to reduce erosion and avoid widening the trails or creating "herd paths". Always check current weather conditions and forecasts before entering the backcountry. Use the link near bottom of the right column to view the current National Weather Service "Weather Forecast". (6/13)
Paddling Conditions: Water levels are very high and waters temperatures remain cold. Don't paddle alone, wear clothing that will keep you warm and dry and always wear a personal floatation device (PFD). Use the link near the bottom of right column to view the USGS Streamflows for selected waters in this area. (6/13)
Summits: Conditions on and near summits are more extreme - stronger winds and cooler temperatures. Use the link near the bottom of the right column to view the National Weather Service's "Mountain Forecasts" for selected summits in this area. (6/13)
Blowdown: Blowdown may be present on trails, especially lesser used trails. Plan accordingly. (6/13)
Specific Notices
Adirondack Canoe Route (central portion)
- Water levels are very high and water temperatures remain cold. (6/13)
- Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs, aka life jackets) must be present in the boat and should be worn at all times. Cold water temperatures can cause hyperventilation, hypothermia and weakening of limbs; all which can quickly lead to drowning if a person is not wearing a PFD. (6/13)
- Northern Forest Canoe Trail volunteers rehabilitated the takeout at the north end of Eighth Lake. (2010)
Blue Mountain Wild Forest
- The Tirrell Pond Trail has been cleared of blowdown. (1/3)
- The Blue Mountain Fire Tower is open to the public including the cab. The fire tower was restored in 1994 and the observer's cabin was restored this year. (2010)
Blue Ridge Wilderness
- The Wilson Pond Trail has been cleared of blowdown. (1/3)
- The Wakely Mountain Fire Tower is open to the public, but has not been restored at this time. DEC plans to restore the fire tower and the observer's cabin.
Ferris Lake Wild Forest
- All trails and facilities are open and in satisfactory condition. (2011)
Jessup River Wild Forest
- DEC has completed a number of changes to the campsites around Mason Lake and along the Perkins Clearing Road pursuant to the actions described in the Jessup River Wild Forest Unit Management Plan. See the Mason Lake Designated Campsites Map (PDF, 157 KB) for more details. These changes include: (5/23)
- Converting the first waterside campsite on the shore of Mason Lake along the Perkins Clearing Road into a picnic area and waterway access site. This will allow a greater number of people to use the site. Two picnic tables, a full size privy and water access registration box have been installed.
- Designation of 10 campsites as a result of closing some over used, poorly located campsites and creating some new campsites. Three sites have been closed and are currently under restoration. Camping is prohibited at these sites. The Mason Lake Designated Campsites Map (PDF, 157 KB) shows the location of campsites available for use. (5/20)
- Clumping three campsites along Mason Lake Road into a group campsite that is available by permit only.
- Installing two new wilderness type box privies.
- Designating campsites 6, 7 and 8 as a group camping site available by permit only. The permit must be obtained from the local Forest Ranger.
- Permits are required for any campsite at which campers will be staying more than three nights and can be obtained from the local Forest Ranger.
- Installing boulders to serve as vehicle barriers; keeping vehicles from accessing or parking in areas not designated for motor vehicle use. This will protect vegetation, soils and the water quality of Mason Lake.
- The Old Military Road from Sled Harbor to the Pillsbury Mountain Trailhead is passable only by high clearance SUVs and Trucks. All other vehicles should park at Sled Harbor and hike from there. (5/23)
- The Snowy Mountain Fire Tower was restored and the cab is open to the public. (2001)
- The Pillsbury Mountain Fire Tower is open to the public up to the topmost landing, but the cab is closed. DEC plans to restore the tower, including the cab, and the observer's cabin, in the future with the help of a friends group. Once the work is complete the public will be able to access the cab of the fire tower as well.
- Blowdown may be found on trails.
Moose River Plains Wild Forest
- The 12.8-mile Seventh Lake Mountain Multiple Use Trail connecting the communities of Inlet and Raquette Lake is open. The trail provides four seasons of recreational opportunities for the public to snowmobile, hike and bike. The southwestern end of the trail is at the Limekiln Lake-Cedar River Road in the Town of Inlet and the northeastern end is at the Sagamore Road in the Town of Long Lake. Trail Map (6/6)
- The Otter Brook Gate is open, however a temporary barrier has been placed at the Brook Trout Lake Trailhead because a culvert washed out beyond there. (6/6)
- The Limekiln Lake and Cedar River Gates are open and the Moose River Plains road system, except for the Otter Brook Gate, is open to motor vehicles. (5/30)
Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands
- The Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands web page provides information about the unit and its recreational opportunities.
- All Town, Village and DEC roads designated for motor vehicle use are now open including the town of Lake Pleasant's Perkins Clearing Road and the Village of Speculator's Elm Lake Road. Road access to the Cisco Brook, Pillsbury Mountain and Spruce Lake trailhead parking areas is available. (5/23)
- The Old Military Road from Sled Harbor to the Pillsbury Mountain Trailhead is passable only by high clearance SUVs and Trucks. All other vehicles should park at Sled Harbor and hike from there. (5/23)
- DEC Operations staff have removed blowdown and raked the Jessup River Road and part of the the Old Military Road. (5/20)
- The road to the Spruce Lake Trailhead is in good shape. (5/23)
- Elm Lake Road (maintained by the Village of Speculator and the Town of Wells) is open and access to the Cisco Brook Trailhead is in good shape. (5/23)
- Camping on easement lands is allowed at designated campsites only. Permits are required for any campsite at which campers will be staying more than three nights and can be obtained from the local Forest Ranger. (5/23)
- A new 5 car parking area has been constructed at the Spruce Lake Trailhead on conservation easement lands. The old parking area was located on forest preserve lands in the West Canada Wilderness, is closed and a rock barrier is located at the wilderness boundary. The new location does not add any additional mileage to a hike into Spruce Lake. (2012)
Pigeon Lake Wilderness
- Blowdown may be found on trails, particularly infrequently used side trails. Blowdown may be heavy enough in some places to impede travel.
Sargent Ponds Wild Forest
- The Outlet Bay Lean-to on Raquette Lake is damaged and in poor condition from a tree fallen on its roof. (2011)
- The Owls Head Mountain Fire Tower was restored a few years ago and is open to the public. There is no observer cabin. (2004)
Shaker Mountain Wild Forest
- The lean-to on the south shore of Chase Lake was removed, and a new lean-to was constructed on the lake's north shore. A new trail spur leading off the old trail and approaching the new lean-to from the west has been marked. The site of the old lean-to is now a designated tent site. (2010)
Silver Lake Wilderness
- The Mud Lake Lean-to on the Northville Placid Trail has been destroyed by a large white pine that toppled on it during a recent storm. DEC is working to have a replacement built in the near future. (2012)
- There is heavy blowdown on the Northville Placid Trail between Benson and Silver Lake. (2011)
- The trail to Cathead Mountain remains closed by a private landowner. (2007)
West Canada Lakes Wilderness
- The road to the Spruce Lake Trailhead is open and in good shape. (5/23)
- A new 5 car parking area has been constructed at the Spruce Lake Trailhead on conservation easement lands. The old parking area was located on forest preserve lands in the West Canada Wilderness, is closed and a rock barrier is located at the wilderness boundary. The new location does not add any additional mileage to a hike into Spruce Lake. (2012)
- The bridge over the West Canada Creek on the Northville-Placid Trail at the outlet of Mud Lake has been rebuilt by the Adirondack Mountain Club Professional Trail Crew as a paid contractor for the DEC. (2012)
- A 30-foot long two-stringer footbridge along the Northville-Placid Trail south of Spruce Lake lean-to #1 has been repaired. In addition two 10-foot long bog bridges were constructed on the trail in that general area. All of the work was done by the Student Conservation Association's Adirondack Program. (2012)
- The bridge over Mud Creek on the Northville-Placid Trail has been replaced by the Adirondack Mountain Club Professional Trail Crew. (2011)
- Blowdown may be found on trails, particularly infrequently used side trails. (2011)
More about Trail Information for the Central and Southern Adirondacks:
- Seventh Lake Mtn Multi-Use Trail Map - Map of the Seventh Lake Mountain multiple use community connector trail.
