Taylor Pond Wild Forest

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain (2,162 feet) - The summit and the fire tower residing there provide 360 degree views of the surrounding area and may be accessed by either of two trails:

• The 1.9-mile Observer's Trail which ascends 1,280 feet from the trailhead to the summit along route of an old access road used by fire observers. The trail travels through the forest for much of its length and several beaver ponds may be observed along the route.
• The 1.8-mile Ranger Trail ascends 1,280 feet from the trailhead in the Poke-O-Moonshine Day Use Area to the summit. Significant work has been completed to upgrade the existing trail. Stone steps were installed and portions of the trail are rerouted. The rerouted lower half of the trail passes through some interesting rock features. A reroute of the upper half of the trail is planned in the future.

Catamount Mountain (3,168 feet) - The summit can be reached via a 1.8-mile trail that ascends 1,540 feet from the trailhead. The hike includes one steep and exposed scramble. The view from summit includes Taylor Pond, Silver Lake, Union Falls Pond, the Wilmington Range, the Stephenson Range and Whiteface Mountain. Large patches of wild blueberries are found on and around the summit.

Silver Lake Mountain (2,347 feet) - The summit can be reached via a 0.9-mile trail that ascends 900 feet from the trailhead. The summit offers views of Silver Lake, Taylor Pond, and Whiteface Mountain.

Taylor Pond Trail North extends 3.6 miles from the Taylor Pond Trailhead to a lean-to on the north side of Taylor Pond. The trail forks 0.4 mile from the trailhead, the Taylor Pond North Trail is to the right. The trail passes through the DEC Taylor Pond Campground; hikers may pass through for no fee. The trail gently ascends and descends for the first 1.3 miles and then climbs 165 feet in 0.3 mile. After the ascent it immediately descends 190 feet in the next 0.5 mile and then almost immediately ascends 230 feet the next mile.

Taylor Pond Trail South extends 2.6 miles from the Taylor Pond Trailhead to a lean-to on the southern shore of the pond. The trail forks 0.4 mile from the trailhead, the Taylor Pond South Trail is to the left. The trail ascends 80 feet in 0.25 mile shortly after the fork but otherwise gently rises and falls.

Hikers can also access the Taylor Pond Trails from the Taylor Pond Campground Day Use Parking Area. This reduces the length of the north trail by 0.6 mile and the south trail by 0.2 mile. A day use fee will be charged to hikers parking there when the campground is in operation - the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

Saranac River Access Trail extends 0.2 mile from the trailhead to the banks of the Saranac River and a primitive tent site.

Mud Pond (Route 3) Trail extends 1.0 mile from its trailhead to the shores of 109-acre Mud Pond with views of the Alder Brook Mountains and which has a designated tent site. The trail continues for another .6 miles to the outlet. The entirety of the trail is 1.6 miles one way.

Silver Lake Bog Trail extends 1.0 mile to a bluff overlooking Silver Lake with a view of Whiteface Mountain on lands owned by and managed by the Nature Conservancy (leaves DEC website). The first half mile is on a boardwalk through a bog with benches for sitting and many opportunities for watching birds and other animals. The trail ascends 170 feet in the last quarter mile to the top of the bluff.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

There are twelve designated primitive tent sites and four lean-tos in this unit; many can only be accessed, or are more easily accessed, by water. All designated primitive tents sites, campsites and lean-tos are available on a first come - first served basis and cannot be reserved. Designated campsites are marked with a yellow "Camp Here" disc. Designated tent sites are for tents only. Tents or small campers can use designated campsites. There are no hook-ups for water or electricity at campsites.

Five designated campsites are located on the shores of Franklin Falls Pond and the Saranac River above the pond. Four are located on the northwestern shore and can be accessed directly from River Road or from the water. Two of those sites may be used for group camping. The fifth designated primitive tent site is located on a large island.

Five designated tent sites are located on the eastern shore of Union Falls Pond. Two of the sites are located near the Union Falls Boat Launch, one of which can be used for group camping, and can be accessed by foot. The other three designated tent sites are spread out between French's Brook and the outlet to Cranberry Pond and can only be accessed by water from the Union Falls Pond Boat Launch.

Two designated tent sites and three lean-tos located along the shores of Taylor Pond are considered part of the Taylor Pond Campground.

• When the campground is open - typically the weekend before Memorial Day holiday weekend through Labor Day - the lean-to and tent site can be reserved and an overnight camping fee must be paid.
• During the remainder of the year the lean-tos and campsites are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis
• The lean-to on the western shore should be accessed by boat, the lean-to on the southern shore can be accessed by boat or hiking while the lean-to on the northern side of the pond is best accessed by hiking.
• The tent sites are located on the peninsula on the northeast shore of the pond.

Campers seeking more amenities may camp at the nearby Taylor Pond Campground, Buck Pond Campground, Ausable Point Campground, or the Macomb Reservation State Park (leaves DEC website) and take day trips into the unit.

General information on paddling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Approximately 30 miles of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (leaves DEC website) passes through the unit on the Saranac River, Union Falls Pond, and Franklin Falls Pond.

Union Falls Pond: This 1,671-acre, 5.0-mile long body of water can be accessed from a hand launch site near the dam at the north end or from a hand launch site along Plank Road just below the Franklin Falls dam. Bald eagles often nest on the east shore near midpoint of the lake. There are five campsites on the shore.

Franklin Falls Pond: This 437-acre, 2.7-mile long body of water can be accessed from a hand launch on its northwestern shore. The hand launch is designated for use by anglers only.

Saranac River: Starting at the Moose Pond Road Bridge upriver from Franklin Falls Pond is an easy flat water paddle for 2.5 miles to a take-out before the half-mile of rapids known as Permanent Rapids leading to Franklin Falls Pond. The rapids are Class II or III depending on the water level. Below the Union Falls dam the river can be paddled at higher water levels and offers Class III challenges.

Taylor Pond: This 856-acre, 3.0-mile long body of water is accessed from a boat launch at the DEC Taylor Pond Campground. A day use fee will be charged for parking there when the campground is in operation - the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

General information on boating includes safety tips with links to rules and regulations and lists of DEC boat launches by county.

Taylor Pond: This 856-acre, three-mile long body of water is accessed from a boat launch at the DEC Taylor Pond Campground. A day use fee will be charged for parking there when the campground is in operation - the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

Union Falls Pond: This 1,671-acre, five-mile long body of water is accessed from a hand launch site near the dam at the north end or from a hand launch site along Plank Road just below the Franklin Falls dam.

Franklin Falls Pond: This 437-acre, 2.7-mile long body of water can be accessed from a hand launch on its northwestern shore. The hand launch is designated for use by anglers only.

Don't Spread Aquatic Invasive Species! Boats and trailers can spread invasive species from waterbody to waterbody unless properly cleaned after use. Regulations prohibit boats from launching from or leaving DEC launch sites without first draining the boat and cleaning the boat, trailer and equipment of visible plant and animal material.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations. You can ensure of continued good fishing opportunities in the future by fishing responsibly. If you have never been fishing but want to try, it's easy to learn how to fish.

Anglers may use the same trailheads and trails as hikers, the same hand launches as paddlers, the same boat launches as boaters and the same camp sites as campers to access and fish these waters.

Taylor Pond contains land-locked salmon, lake trout, rainbow smelt, brown bullhead, yellow perch and pumpkinseed.

Union Falls Pond contains walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead, black crappie, fallfish, yellow perch and panfish. Ice fishing is allowed.

Franklin Falls Pond contains walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead, yellow perch and panfish. Ice fishing is allowed. The pond can be accessed from a hand launch on the Franklin Falls Road which is designated for use by anglers only.

Mud Pond (Route 3) contains brown trout.

Military Pond in the Terry Mountain State Forest contains brown trout. The pond may be accessed from the Guideboard Road South Parking Area via the Military Pond Trail on the Black Brook Easement Tract.

Black Brook contains brook trout.

Little Ausable River, Spruce Mill Brook and other brooks & streams in the area contain naturally reproducing brook trout.

The Saranac River is stocked with brown trout and rainbow trout.

For Public Fishing Rights (PFR) on the waters listed below, visit DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer. Users are encouraged to visit the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide first for "how to" instructions on using the fishing map).

• Ausable River
• Boquet River
• North Branch Boquet River
• North Branch Saranac River
• Salmon River
• Saranac River
• Spruce Mill Brook

Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing provides information on fishing in the Adirondacks and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.

Help Protect Native Adirondack Fish; populations of brook trout, round whitefish and other native Adirondack fish species have severely declined due to introduced fish.

General Information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to, safety tips, and links to seasons, rules and regulations

Hunting and trapping are allowed on all of the lands and waters on the Forest Preserve, State Forest and Easement Lands described on this web page, including Terry Mountain State Forest and Burnt Hill State Forest, except for the Franklin Falls Easement Tract.

Public hunting is prohibited on the Franklin Falls Easement Tract and Shell Rock Easement Tract.

Hunting and trapping are also allowed in the nearby Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area and Wickham Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

Big game hunting for white-tailed deer and black bear is popular in this unit. Small game hunting opportunities for ruffed grouse, varying (snowshoe) hare and woodcock are also available. The two wildlife management areas provide great opportunities for waterfowl hunting.

Hunters and trappers can access the lands and waters using the same parking areas and trails as hikers and the same boat launches and hand launches as boaters and paddlers.

For access to trail-less areas, the roadside parking areas often do not have signs marking their location:

• Guide Board Road South Parking Area provides access to the Black Book Easement Tract and Taylor Pond Wild Forest lands to the west of the parking area. It is located off Guide Board Road in the Black Brook Easement Tract. (44.4764°N, 73.7448°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
• Black Mountain Road Parking Area provides access to the Black Mountain Tract and is located on the seasonal access Black Mountain Road off of Green Street. (44.3995°N, 73.6369°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
• Red Road Parking Area provides access to Terry Mountain State Forest and is located in the eastern portion of the property on Red Road (44.587346°N, -73.63937°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
• Seventy Road Parking Area provides access to the Fay Mountain Tract of the Taylor Pond Wild Forest and the eastern portion of the Jay Mountain Wilderness. It is located at the end of seasonal access Seventy Road off of the Wells Hill Road. (44.3138°N, 73.6143°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)

General Information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to, safety tips, and links to seasons, rules and regulations

Hunting and trapping are allowed on all of the lands and waters on the Forest Preserve, State Forest and Easement Lands described on this web page, including Terry Mountain State Forest and Burnt Hill State Forest, except for the Franklin Falls Easement Tract.

Public hunting is prohibited on the Franklin Falls Easement Tract and Shell Rock Easement Tract.

Hunting and trapping are also allowed in the nearby Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area and Wickham Marsh Wildlife Management Area.

Big game hunting for white-tailed deer and black bear is popular in this unit. Small game hunting opportunities for ruffed grouse, varying (snowshoe) hare and woodcock are also available. The two wildlife management areas provide great opportunities for waterfowl hunting.

Hunters and trappers can access the lands and waters using the same parking areas and trails as hikers and the same boat launches and hand launches as boaters and paddlers.

For access to trail-less areas, the roadside parking areas often do not have signs marking their location:

• Guide Board Road South Parking Area provides access to the Black Book Easement Tract and Taylor Pond Wild Forest lands to the west of the parking area. It is located off Guide Board Road in the Black Brook Easement Tract. (44.4764°N, 73.7448°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
• Black Mountain Road Parking Area provides access to the Black Mountain Tract and is located on the seasonal access Black Mountain Road off of Green Street. (44.3995°N, 73.6369°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
• Red Road Parking Area provides access to Terry Mountain State Forest and is located in the eastern portion of the property on Red Road (44.587346°N, -73.63937°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
• Seventy Road Parking Area provides access to the Fay Mountain Tract of the Taylor Pond Wild Forest and the eastern portion of the Jay Mountain Wilderness. It is located at the end of seasonal access Seventy Road off of the Wells Hill Road. (44.3138°N, 73.6143°W) Google Maps (leaves DEC website)

General information on biking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Electric bicycles (E-bikes) of any class are not allowed on trails and roadways where public motorized access is prohibited.

The 1.0-mile Mud Pond (Route 3) Trail is a designated bike trail that begins on State Route 3 opposite the North Branch Saranac River Fishing Access parking area. It accesses the 109-acre Mud Pond which has a designated tent site on its shores with views of the Alder Brook Mountains.

General information on horseback riding includes safety tips and rules and regulations.

There are no trails designated for horseback riding but horses are allowed on seasonal access roads that are open to motor vehicles.

General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowmobiling is a popular outdoor recreational activity in this unit. Nearly 50 miles of snowmobile trails are located on the lands and connect with a larger network of trails.

The 10.5-mile Taylor Pond Loop Trail is a designated snowmobile trail and accesses three lean-tos on the shores of Taylor Pond.

The C8 Snowmobile Trail, a main connection route through Franklin and Clinton Counties, passes through this unit.

The snowmobile trail network in the complex connects with the Wilmington Snowmobile Trail and the community of Wilmington.

Vehicles and trailers can park at the Taylor Pond Campground, Catamount Trailhead, and Silver Lake Mountain Trail Head for access to snowmobile trails in the area.

Cross-country skiers and snowshoers may also use snowmobile trails. Snowmobilers should slow down when approaching and passing skiers or snowshoers.

General information on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all seasonal access roads and hiking trails. The trails listed below are popular with cross-country skiers, most of them are also designated snowmobile trails.

The 10.5-mile Taylor Pond Loop Trail is a designated snowmobile trail and accesses three lean-tos on the shores of Taylor Pond.

Silver Lake Bog Trail is a one-mile hike to a bluff overlooking Silver Lake with a view of Whiteface Mountain on lands owned by and managed by the Nature Conservancy (leaves DEC website). The trail ascends 170 feet in the last quarter mile to the top of the bluff.

Military Pond Trail extends 5.7 miles along a dirt road from the Guideboard Road South Parking Area on the Black Brook Easement Tract to Military Pond in Terry Mountain State Forest. The trail passes Slush Pond 2.8 miles from the trailhead. There is no signage at the parking area and the trail is not marked.

When traveling on designated snowmobile trails, skiers and snowshoers should be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.

General information on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all seasonal access roads and hiking trails. The trails listed below are popular with cross-country skiers, most of them are also designated snowmobile trails.

The 10.5-mile Taylor Pond Loop Trail is a designated snowmobile trail and accesses three lean-tos on the shores of Taylor Pond.

Silver Lake Bog Trail is a one-mile hike to a bluff overlooking Silver Lake with a view of Whiteface Mountain on lands owned by and managed by the Nature Conservancy (leaves DEC website). The trail ascends 170 feet in the last quarter mile to the top of the bluff.

Military Pond Trail extends 5.7 miles along a dirt road from the Guideboard Road South Parking Area on the Black Brook Easement Tract to Military Pond in Terry Mountain State Forest. The trail passes Slush Pond 2.8 miles from the trailhead. There is no signage at the parking area and the trail is not marked.

When traveling on designated snowmobile trails, skiers and snowshoers should be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.