Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area
- Open for Recreation: Year-round
- Fee: Free
- Contact Information:
- DEC Region 5 Ray Brook Office (M-F, 8:30AM - 4:45PM), (518) 897-1291; Info.R5@dec.ny.gov
- Search, rescue, wildfire, and enforcement matters: 911- or - 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264)
A local Forest Ranger is a valuable source of information for the state land you would like to visit.
- Location: Town of Champlain, Clinton County
- Wildlife Management Unit: 5A
- Map: Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area map (PDF) || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator
The primary purposes of Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This WMA is 683 acres in size. The land was acquired by the state in the 1960s, primarily for waterfowl habitat enhancement. Formerly an agricultural area where hay, small grains, and firewood were harvested, the Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area is now comprised of hardwood swamp, cattail marsh, and reverted cattle pasture. Because of its agricultural history, the area provided an ideal base to practice wildlife management.
Featured Activities
Hiking
General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Please stay on the designated trails to protect the diversity and richness of the plant communities found within this area.
Hunting and Trapping
General information on hunting and general information on trapping include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules, and regulations.
Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area is open year-round for hunting, fishing, hiking, trapping, and other forms of wildlife enjoyment in accordance with the Environmental Conservation Law and regulations. Waterfowl entice hunters to Kings Bay while muskrat and mink attract the interest of trappers. Please be sure to abide by all game laws (view hunting seasons and trapping seasons).
Fishing
General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules, and regulations.
All fishing access is to Lake Champlain where anglers will find bass, yellow perch, sunfish, pike, pickerel, bullhead, catfish, bowfin, gar, and walleye. Several car-top boat launches are located throughout the WMA, and large motor boats may be launched at the Great Chazy River Boat Launch off Lake Shore Drive. During the winter months the gate barring the access road to Catfish Bay is opened for ice-fishing. All terrain vehicles and snowmobiles are allowed to travel the road to accommodate the placing and removal of ice shanties by the public.
Wildlife
General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.
Deer, turkeys, black bears, squirrels, and a host of songbirds frequent the area. A common sight at Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area is the great blue heron. Use the Wildlife Management Area Vertebrate Checklist (PDF) and the Wildlife Management Area Bird Checklist (PDF) as wildlife viewing guides.
Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area is part of the Lake Champlain Marshes Bird Conservation Area. New York State BCAs are state-owned lands and waters designated to safeguard and enhance bird populations in New York State.
Accessible Features
General information on accessible recreation includes links to other locations with accessible recreation opportunities and information on permits for motorized access.
Kings Bay WMA Features a wildlife viewing platform located south of the Great Chazy boat launch. The accessible platform gives users an elevated view of Lake Champlain and the neighboring fields. A short pathway made of compact stone leads up to the platform from an accessible parking area.
Directions
Take Exit 42 of the Adirondack Northway (I-87). Turn east on State Route 11 - turn right if coming from the south or turn left if coming from the north. Take State Route 11 approximately 5 miles to State Route 9B in the Village of Rouses Point. Turn right onto State Route 9B (Lake Street) south. There are a number of parking areas that can be accessed off of State Route 9B.
All Google links leave DEC website.
- Take State Route 9B south 0.6 miles and turn left onto Stony Point Road. A parking area is on the left near the intersection of 9B and Stony Point Road. Continue down Stony Point Road 0.5 mile to another parking area. A car top boat launch is located here (44.97522°N, 73.36366°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
- Take State Route 9B south 1.5 miles and turn left onto Carney Road. A small parking area is on the left (44.9642°N, 73.3655°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
- Take State Route 9B south 1.8 miles and turn left onto a dirt road directly across from Leggett Road. The parking area is at the end of the 0.1 mile long dirt road (44.959864°N, 73.369389°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
- Take State Route 9B south 2.1 miles and turn left onto Point Au Fer Road. Travel 0.6 miles and turn left onto a short dirt road. The parking area is just a short distance down the road. The gate on this road is open during the winter months for snowmobiling and for motor vehicles access to Lake Champlain for ice fishing (44.949565°N, 73.363755°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
Practice Leave No Trace Principles (leaves DEC website) when recreating on state land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly; minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other users.
All users of Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.
Activity Rules & Regulations
- Hunting Regulations
- Trapping Regulations
- Fishing Regulations
- Public Use of Wildlife Management Areas (PDF) - regulations updated in 2022
The following activities are not permitted in Kings Bay WMA:
- Unless specifically stated, using motorized vehicles, including:
- all-terrain vehicles
- snowmobiles
- motorboats
- Swimming or bathing
- Camping
- Using metal detectors, searching for or removing historic or cultural artifacts without a permit
- Damaging or removing gates, fences, signs, or other property
- Overnight storage of boats
- Cutting, removing, or damaging living vegetation
- Construction of permanent blinds or other structures such as tree stands
- Littering
- Storage of personal property
Outdoor Safety Tips
NOTE: Ticks are active whenever temperatures are above freezing, but especially so in the late spring and early fall. Deer ticks can transmit Lyme and several other diseases. More information on deer ticks and Lyme disease can be obtained from the NYS Department of Health (leaves DEC website).
How We Manage Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area
Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Kings Bay WMA is managed by DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife conservation and wildlife-associated recreation (hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and photography). Funding to maintain and manage this site is provided by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration or "Pittman-Robertson" Act, which is acquired through excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, and archery equipment.
Techniques which have improved the area for waterfowl and other wildlife include the construction of potholes and ditches which create open water in otherwise dense vegetation. In addition, wood duck nest boxes have been erected throughout the area. These artificial nest locations mimic the natural, but scarce, tree cavities utilized by this species of duck.
The DEC's Natural Heritage Program has identified rare and species of special concern that utilize Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area. One of these is the black tern. Black terns are unique among other species of terns found in New York, since they nest in inland fresh water marshes. The nests are found in areas where there is a mix of emergent plants and open water. This species uses muskrat feeding platforms and areas where dead emergent vegetation has become lodged on a substrate for nesting sites. Black tern numbers have declined statewide and the species is currently listed as endangered.
Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities & Other Information
Web links below can provide information about other recreation, attractions, and amenities in this area.
Gas, food and supplies, dining, and lodging is available in the nearby communities of Rouses Point, Chazy, and Plattsburgh.
- The Adirondack Coast (leaves DEC website)
- Adirondack Regional Tourism Council (leaves DEC website)
State Lands and Facilities
Numerous guide books and maps are available with information on the lands, waters, trails, and other recreational facilities in this area. These can be purchased at most outdoor equipment retailers, bookstores, and on-line booksellers.
Additional information, outdoor equipment, trip suggestions, and guided or self-guided tours may be obtained from outdoor guide and outfitting businesses. Check area chambers of commerce, telephone directories, or search the internet for listings.
Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association (leaves DEC website) for information on outdoor guides.
