DEC Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Bulletin
June 6, 2019

Have a safe and enjoyable outdoor recreational experience on the lands and waters of the Adirondacks. Properly plan and prepare for your outdoor adventure. Minimize the impact on the mountains and forests, rivers and brooks, ponds and lakes, and the wildlife of the Adirondacks.

Check the Backcountry Information for the Adirondacks web pages for more detailed information on access, outdoor recreation infrastructure, and conditions for those planning to recreate in the Adirondacks. This bulletin provides only the most recent notices.

Muddy Trails Advisory: DEC urges hikers to avoid trails above 2,500 feet to protect trails, soils, and vegetation. Check out this list of Adirondack hikes under 2,500 feet for great alternatives this spring.

If you do encounter mud on the trails:

• Walk through the mud, not around it- Walking through the mud keeps the pressure in the center of the trail which is designed to take the use. By walking around mud or puddles, trailside vegetation becomes damaged or removed, and softer portions of the trail erode which can create unwanted wider trails. Widened trails mean less habitat for wildlife and insects and more damage to tree roots and vegetation.
• Wear waterproof boots- Having the proper equipment means you don’t have to choose between walking down the center of the trail or walking around the mud to protect your feet. Choose to walk right down the center of the trail, through the mud.
• Pack extra wool socks- Every boot has its limit on very wet trails. Bringing extra wool socks to keep your feet warm and dry will give you a more enjoyable hike and allow you to keep walking through the mud.

Emergency Situations: If you get lost or injured, keep calm and stay put. If you have cell service, call the DEC Forest Ranger Emergency Dispatch, 518-891-0235.

Check mountain weather conditions before heading out this weekend.

Packing the proper gear for a hike is very important, and you should be prepared to encounter all conditions. See our recommended packing list and safety tips.

Bear Advisories: While preparing for your camping or hiking trip, check area notices for active bear advisories. If there are active bears present where you are planning to go, either choose an alternative trip or thoroughly educate yourself on proper food storage, food waste disposal and what to do if you happen to encounter a bear. Learn more on our website. 

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Weather forecasts and conditions can and do change quickly. Check the current National Weather Service Forecast, and be prepared for the forecasted conditions, or change your plans.

• Sunshine: This weekend is finally calling for warmer temperatures and consistent sunshine, which means an excellent weekend to get outside! Follow these tips to be prepared:
  • Wear and pack sunscreen and bug spray.
  • Pack plenty of water.
  • Be prepared to encounter leftover rotten snow in the highest elevations and muddy conditions in lower elevations- remember to walk through the mud, not around it!
  • Pack a long sleeve layer or windbreaker for exposed outlooks and summits where temperatures will be cooler.
  • Be prepared to encounter many people out on the trails and practice good trail etiquette while out recreating.
• Primitive Camping: Camping is prohibited above an elevation of 4,000 feet within the Adirondacks. In the High Peaks Wilderness, camping is only permitted within designated camp sites marked with a camp here disc. These regulations are in place to protect the natural resources like the fragile alpine vegetation found on many of the high peaks summits. When choosing to camp under 4,000 feet and not in a designated camp site, be sure to camp at least 150 feet from any trail or water source. Do not cut down trees or vegetation to make a camp site. Tread lightly while camping by keeping everything close together to minimize the number of footsteps on healthy vegetation and to avoid trampling habitats. Always carry out what you carry in.
• Campfires: Fires should be built in existing fire pits or fireplaces if provided. Use only dead and down wood for fires. Cutting standing trees is prohibited. Extinguish all fires with water and stir ashes until they are cold to the touch. Do not build fires in areas marked by a "No Fires" disk. Camp stoves are safer, more efficient and cleaner. Fires are prohibited in the High Peaks Wilderness.
• Black Flies: The transition to spring means black fly season. Wear clothing that fully covers your body, use bug spray where you are not protected, and bring/wear a bug net to protect yourself from black flies. Wear light-colored clothing. Flies are attracted to dark colors.
• Bear Canisters: Bear resistant canisters are the most effective means for preventing bears from obtaining food while you are camping. Black bears in the High Peaks Wilderness have regularly defeated bear resistant canisters made of clear plastic. Choose a dark coated bear canister where food is not visible inside. The use of bear-resistant canisters is required for overnight users in the High Peaks Wilderness between April 1 and November 30. All food, toiletries and garbage must be stored in bear-resistant canisters.

Practice Leave No Trace

Follow proper trail etiquette to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Adirondacks, as well as ensure an enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors by following the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace.

Firewood Alert!- Don’t move firewood

NYS regulation prohibits importing untreated firewood into NY as well as prohibits untreated firewood grown in NY to be transported more than 50 miles from it’s source or origin. The regulation was put in place because transporting infested firewood allows invasives to spread further and faster than they would have on their own, and moving untreated firewood is one of the main ways invasive pests and diseases spread to new areas.

Here’s what you can do to protect our trees:

• Do not bring your own firewood to campgrounds or parks. Instead, get it locally from the campground or a nearby vendor.
• If you choose to transport firewood within New York State, you must have a receipt indicating the firewood’s source which must be within 50 miles of its destination.

General Conditions/Notices

Learn the conditions you will encounter from Adirondack Backcountry Information.

All

• Travel: Check NY511 for road closures and conditions.
• Spring in the Adirondacks: It continues to be cool and wet.
  • Mud and water in the lower to middle elevations
  • High water levels
  • Snow and ice are present in shaded areas in the highest elevations.
  • Check spring recreation tips for a safe and enjoyable outing while minimizing impacts on natural resources and trails.
  • Check the National Weather Service or NY Mesonow for current conditions and forecasts for the location where you plan to recreate.
• Seasonal Access Roads: Many seasonal access roads are open while many others remain closed for mud season.
  
  • Closed roads will reopen after the frost has thawed, the roads are dry, and any necessary repairs and maintenance are completed.
  • Check the Specific Notices below and the Adirondack Backcountry Information web pages to learn which access roads are open.
  • Seasonal access roads are dirt and gravel which can be rough. Four-wheel drive SUVs, pick-up trucks, and other high clearance vehicles are recommended for driving on these roads.
  • Roads may be narrow – use caution, drive slowly, and watch for oncoming vehicles.
• Biting Insects: It’s “bug season” in the Adirondacks. Black flies and mosquitoes are present. Both will likely be out in large numbers this weekend if the forecast for warm weather holds. Follow these steps to minimize the nuisance of biting insects:
  • Wear light-colored, long sleeve shirts and long pants.          
  • Tuck shirts into pants, button or rubber band sleeves at the wrist, and tuck the bottom of pant legs into your socks.
  • Pack a head net to wear when insects are thick.
  • Use an insect repellant with DEET. Follow label directions.
• Fire Danger: Low throughout the Adirondacks.
• Fire danger rating can change daily in the spring. Check the fire danger map for daily updates.
• Water Levels: Rains continue to keep water levels in rivers and streams high and flowing fast. Check the USGS Current Water Data for New York for stream flow of selected waters.
• Water Temperatures: Water temperatures are very cold.
  • DEC strongly recommends anglers, boaters and paddlers wear personal Flotation Devices (PFDs aka lifejackets). 
  • People immersed in cold waters can lose the ability to think clearly and move quickly after only a short time in the water.
  • Anglers fishing from shore or wading should wear a personal flotation device.
• Thunderstorm Safety: Thunderstorms can pop up even if they are not forecast.
  • Avoid summits, water surfaces and other open areas during thunderstorms.
  • As soon as you are first aware of an approaching thunderstorm, move to lower elevations, head to shore or otherwise seek shelter.
  • If caught outside in a thunderstorm, find a low spot away from tall trees, seek an area of shorter trees and crouch down away from tree trunks.
• Report Moose Sightings:
  • DEC is asking the public to report moose sightings and observations.
  • DEC and its research partners use these public sightings as indices of moose distribution and abundance in New York.
  • This is part of a multi-year research project to obtain information on the status of New York State's moose population, health of the moose, and the factors that influence moose survival and reproductive rate.
  • Use the moose sighting form.

Hikers and Campers

• General Information
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Camping
• Muddy Trail Advisory: Due to cool temperatures and the amount of rainfall, the Muddy Trail Advisory remains in effect.
  • Please protect high elevation trails and vegetation, and postpone hikes on trails above 2,500 feet until these high elevation trails have dried and hardened.
  • Snow and ice are currently melting on high elevation trails.
  • Steep trails with thin soils can be dangerous to hike and are susceptible to erosion; and sensitive alpine vegetation is easily damaged.
  • Choose any of the numerous trails under 2,500 feet to hike until the advisory is lifted.
• Trail Conditions: 
• Mud and water are present on most trails – protect trails and trailside vegetation by walking through mud and water, not around it.
• Water levels are high - low water crossings may be problematic or impossible to cross.
• Bear Resistant Canister:
  • The use of bear-resistant canisters is required for overnight users in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness between April 1 and November 30.
  • All food, toiletries and garbage must be stored in bear-resistant canisters.
  • DEC encourages the use of bear-resistant canisters and other practices to avoid negative encounters with bears throughout the Adirondacks.
• Mountain Summits: Please avoid high elevation mountain summits while the Muddy Trail Advisory is in effect.

Bikers

• General Information
  • Biking
• Trail Conditions
• Most trails are dry and rideable, but some trails remain closed due to wet and muddy conditions. 
• Don’t use muddy trails. They are easily rutted and damaged through use. 
• If you are leaving tracks, turn back. 
• The Barkeaters Trail Alliance provides information on the status of mountain bike trails in the Tri-lakes region of the Adirondacks.
• E-bikes: Electric powered bikes are prohibited on all bike trails on the Forest Preserve.

Boaters and Paddlers

• General Information
  • Boaters
  • Paddlers
• Conditions
  • Water levels are high and water temperatures are cold.
    • DEC strongly recommends anglers, boaters and paddlers wear personal Flotation Devices (PFDs aka lifejackets). 
    • People immersed in cold waters can lose the ability to think clearly and move quickly after only a short time in the water.
• Boat Launches: Docks have been installed at all but a few boat launches where high water levels are preventing installation.

Anglers

• General Information: Fishing
• Water levels remain high due to frequent rain.
• Wear proper footwear and use a hiking stick with a carbide tip to access the water.
• Water temperatures are cold.
  • Anglers should wear a PFD as a precaution.
  • A person falling into the water could quickly lose the ability to keep their head above water.
• Anglers new to brook trout fishing should look to the Guide to Brook Trout Fishing in Adirondack Ponds for assistance.

Climbers

• Rock Climbing Route Closures: Some Adirondack rock climbing routes are closed to protect Peregrine falcon nest sites.

Recent Notices

Notices below reflect recent changes in conditions and recreation infrastructure work that DEC and its partners completed. Check the Backcountry Information for the Adirondacks for ongoing issues and more detailed information.

• High Peaks Wilderness:
  • High Use Advisory:
    • Due to the weekend's forecast of sunny skies and warm temperatures, expect trailhead parking lots and interior campsites to reach capacity on many weekends throughout the hiking season. 
    • Visitors should plan accordingly and are advised to seek backcountry recreation opportunities in other areas of the Adirondack Forest Preserve during these high use weekends. 
    • Our web page, Hikes Away From the High Peaks, provides a list of alternative day hikes in the Adirondacks.
  • Hikers seeking to use the Mt. Van Hoevenberg East Trail, which opened last fall, will be re-routed around the construction underway to make significant improvements to Olympic Sports Complex facilities.
    • Hikers can park at the Biathlon Facility parking area in the Complex and use a marked 2.9-mile detour bypassing the construction zone using roads, ski trails, and a temporary trail to reach the Mt. Van Hoevenberg East Trail approximately 1.0 mile below the summit.
    • Expect to encounter trail workers along the trail to the summit of the mountain as they complete the final touches on the sustainably designed and recently opened trail.
    • Hikers may also reach the summit using the traditional route – the 2.2-mile Mt. Van Hoevenberg West Trail which begins at the trailhead on Meadows Lane.
• Ausable Mountain Reserve Conservation Easement Tract/High Peaks & Giant Mountain Wildernesses:
  • Parking will be prohibited on a four-mile section of State Route 30  between Chapel Pond and the Rooster Comb Trailhead.
  • Parking will still be allowed at trailheads and other designated pull-offs.
  • DEC encourages hikers to discover and visit the other numerous hiking opportunities in the area or visit on weekdays when there is less demand.
  • The DEC web page, Hikes Outside the Adirondack High Peaks, lists a dozen nearby alternate hikes.
• Boreas Ponds Tract: DEC will be working in June and July to provide additional access and recreational infrastructure.
  • Gulf Brook Road will remain closed through the Memorial Day holiday weekend due to a significant washout on the road.
  • When the road opens, motorists will be able to access the Fly Pond Parking Area on weekends only.
  • Hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders will be able to use the road during the week but must use caution in construction areas and obey all instructions from workers.
• Moose River Plains Wild Forest/West Canada Lakes Wilderness:
  • Limekiln Lake – Cedar River Road (Moose River Plains Road) is open to public motor vehicle use from Limekiln Entrance to the Cedar River Entrance.
  • The following roads remain closed:
    • Rock Dam Road
    • Otter Brook Road at the bridge over South Branch Moose River
    • Indian Lake Road
• Blue Mountain Wild Forest/Township 19 & 20 Conservation Easement Tracts:
  • Pickwickett Pond Road is open to public motor vehicle use.
  • The following roads remain closed to public motor vehicle use:
    • Minerva Club Road
    • O'Neil Flow Road
    • Barker Pond Road
• Black River Wild Forest: Wolf Lake Landing Road to the gate just before Woodhull Lake is now open.
  • Beaver had flooded and damaged road
  • Roadway may still be soft in places. Stay in center of roadway surface.
• Essex Chain Lakes Complex: Chain Lakes Road South to the Outer Gooley Parking Area is open.
  
• Fulton Chain Wild Forest: Carey Lake Road is open for public motor vehicle use.
  
• Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest: All seasonal access roads are open including the access road to Lows Lake/Hitchens Pond Waterway Access Site.
  
• Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract: Mountain Pond Road remains closed due to muddy conditions.
  
• Perkins Clearing Conservation Easement Tract: the following roads remain closed:
  
  • Mud Lake Road
  • Old Military Road (access to the Pillsbury Mountain Trailhead)
  • Jessup River Road beyond the Sled Harbor Sand Pit (access to the Spruce Lake Trailhead)
• Pharaoh Lake Wilderness: The bridge over Alder Brook on the Goose Pond Trail has been repaired and ready for use.
• Saranac Lakes Wild Forest:
  
  • Connery Pond Road is open for public motor vehicle use.
• Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Tract:
  
  • D&H Road is closed to public motor vehicle use due to a logging operation. The road will reopen when the logging operation finishes in late June.
  • Piney Ridge Road will remain open while logging is occurring – drivers should use caution and be aware of logging equipment and trucks on the road.
• Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tract: The following roads remain closed:
  
  • Robbs Creek Road
  • Hatchery Brook Road
  • Cave Hill Road
  • Pine Lakes Road

Highlighted Hike: Baldface Mountain, Indian Lake, NY

Baldface Mountain (2,230 feet), part of the Jessup River Wild Forest, is located in Indian Lake and is a great sunny day adventure that includes paddling and hiking.

The trail is accessed on the northeast shore of Indian Lake. This hike requires a canoe paddle to reach the trailhead in Norman's Cove, the shortest (1.0 mile) from the Clarks Indian Lake Marina off Lakeshore drive in Sabael. There is a charge for the use of the marina. You may also paddle 7.5 miles from the DEC Indian Lake Campground boat ramp to reach the trailhead. As you enter Norman's cove, look for the trailhead to the left of the cove, where a DEC trailhead sign is prominently displayed next to a large rock. The sheltered bay has a great picnic area, where you can leave your boat and start your hike. The trail ascends 580 feet and 1.3 miles from the shore to the summit.

View map

Indian Lake Islands Campground Boat Launch is located off State Route 30 in Lake Pleasant. It has parking for 50 cars and trailers. (43.652142°N, 74.387922°W) 

Clarks Indian Lake Marina is located off Lakeshore Drive in Sabael. There is a charge for use of the marina.