|
Hike Uniquely Accessible Labrador Hollow
Onondaga and Cortland Counties
Scenic Labrador Hollow Unique Area has something for every outdoors lover to enjoy. Its nearly 1,500 acres include a lush hardwood forest, 100-acre Labrador Pond and 50-foot-high Tinker Falls. All of this beauty is connected by several miles of hiking trails popular for exploring Labrador's shady mountain bog habitat, which is rich in wildlife. Features accessible to people of all abilities include a 2,000-foot boardwalk, a trail to Tinker Falls, and a boat launch and fishing pier. Labrador Hollow is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail System, which will eventually stretch more than 4,000 miles from Lake Champlain to North Dakota! Labrador Hollow's webpage has directions and information about the variety of recreation you can enjoy there and at adjacent areas.
Watchable Wildlife: Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area
St. Lawrence County
Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area comprises wetlands, upland fields and forest. Most of the WMA lies between the Grass and Oswegatchie rivers. Designated an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society, this site serves as a migratory bird concentration area, an important nesting area for water-dependent birds, and valuable habitat for wetland furbearers.
In addition to seeing various bird species, wildlife enthusiasts can use the observation tower to look for white-tailed deer, muskrat, otter, beaver and wild turkey. The WMA has two short trails, a universally accessible trail and a viewing/hunting blind. Although public hunting portions are open year-round, the remainder of the WMA is open only from mid-August until the end of May.
Fishing for Spring Crappie
Spring is one of the best times of year to target crappies on Long Island ponds and lakes before many of the ponds get choked off with weeds. Black crappies are aggressively feeding as they prepare to spawn in the late spring and early summer. They are easily found along the edge of newly emerging weed beds.
The most common way to fish for crappies is with a minnow and float (pencil floats and narrow slip bobbers are best) with a small split shot 6-8 inches above the hook. Hempstead Lake in Nassau County and Artist Lake and any of the Peconic River ponds in Suffolk are good places to start.
Want to find nearby fishing holes, look up species information, and have all the fishing regulations available in the palm of your hand? Download the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App from the Apple App store or Google Play store.
Going the Distance
The red knot - a bird weighing only four ounces - has one of the longest migrations of any bird. The nearly 10,000-mile journey is incredible for any bird, but one red knot, dubbed Moonbird has made the journey every year for the past 21 years. That's like flying to the moon and back! To learn more about this little dynamo, read To the Moon! in the April issue of Conservationist magazine.
Canoeing Meacham Lake and the Osgood River
Franklin County
Canoeing from Meacham Lake to its source at the Osgood River provides wonderful views of mountains and forested state land. On the north and west shores of the lake is the Meacham Lake Campground, which offers canoe rentals and other amenities. Although motors are allowed on the lake, those seeking a quiet Adirondack retreat will appreciate the primitive nature of the surrounding area.
The Annual Adirondack Paddlefest is scheduled for May 15 through 17 in Old Forge, NY and attracts canoeists, other outdoor enthusiasts and vendors. In addition to competitions, the festival offers classes, clinics and demonstrations.
|
