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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.
Emergency Situations: If you get lost or injured, keep calm and stay put. If you have cell service, call 911 or 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. Watch DEC's HikeSmartNY video for more.
Bear Advisory: 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, disposal of food waste, and what to do if you happen to encounter a bear. Learn more about avoiding nuisance bears.
Parking restrictions along Route 73: Be safe, enjoy your hike, and avoid a parking ticket. Do not park on the shoulders of State Route 73 in the four-mile section of 73 between Chapel Pond and the Rooster Comb Trailhead. Parking is allowed at trailheads and other designated pull-offs. Hikers planning to use the AMR parking lots and hike any of the nearby trails should identify alternate hikes before arriving as the lots fill quickly.
Plan Ahead
Check weather and trail conditions, regulations, and advisories before you travel. Have an alternative plan ready to ensure you can make the most of your time in the Adirondacks.
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The annual Lake Placid Ironman 70.3 is Sunday, September 8th. Road closures will affect roadside parking areas on Route 73 between Lake Placid and Keene as well as roadside parking areas between Lake Placid, Wilmington, and Ausable Forks.
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The annual Adirondack Canoe Classic (The 90 Miler) is being held September 6th, 7th, & 8th. The race begins Friday in Old Forge and ends Sunday in Saranac Lake. See general conditions below for more information on paddling locations.
Prepare
Properly prepare to better ensure a safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation experience. 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.
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Colder nights and early mornings: Adirondack nights and mornings are getting cold. Temperatures are dropping to the 40s. Start your morning hike in warm layers, and pack extra warm layers to prevent hypothermia, should an unexpected hike down in the dark or overnight in the woods happen. Higher elevations will be colder throughout the day as well. Pack a windbreaker to help keep you warm when on exposed overlooks and summits. Campers should be aware of these temperature drops, and pack warm clothes and sleeping bags rated for colder weather.
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Prevent Hypothermia: Dress properly, stay dry and add or remove layers to regulate your body temperature. Carry plenty of food and water. Eat, drink and rest often. Being tired, hungry or dehydrated makes you more susceptible to hypothermia. Pack extra non-cotton, warm and wind protectant layers including hat and gloves for summits.
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Keep an emergency essentials kit in your pack. A few things to include are; a pocket knife, duct tape to patch ripped jackets or broken poles, a headlamp for unexpected trips out in the dark or overnight stays, space blanket, emergency whistle, first aid kit, fire making tools, extra layers and socks. Learn more about hiking safety.
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.
Camping is a great way to unplug, experience peace and quiet, and enjoy the breathtaking stars in the Adirondack night sky. It can be difficult to do this however if a camper nearby is lighting up the area with their multiple camp lights, fires, or electronics. Don’t be that neighbor!
Follow these tips to minimize light pollution while camping:
- Choose warm colored lights. Camp lights that are warmer in color have less impact on wildlife and other campers.
- Limit use of light whenever possible. When you’re not in your tent or camper, there is no need to have the lights on. This will not only save the life of your lights, but have less impacts on wildlife and surrounding campers. Use a headlamp only when needed and avoid shining it directly at other people or campsites.
- Use lights that point in a more downward direction. This will maximize light where you need it most and avoid shining unnecessary light elsewhere.
- Think twice about a campfire in the backcountry. If a fire is necessary to cook food, try bringing a lightweight stove instead. This will not only limit unnecessary light pollution but will also help to minimize negative environmental impacts from campfires.
General Conditions/Notices
Learn the conditions you will encounter from Adirondack Backcountry Information.
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Travel: Check NY511 for road closures and conditions.
- The Lake Placid Ironman 70.3 takes place on Sunday. Check for road closures and alternate routes.
- Beginning September 13 through October 6, and Friday through Monday during Columbus Day Weekend, Essex County will run the Whiteface-Lake Placid Hiker Shuttle, providing free rides to and from four stops which access six hiking trails. Download shuttle schedule.
- Whiteface Landing Trailhead
- Copperas Pond Trailhead
- Bear Den Mountain Trailhead
- Whiteface Mountain Ski Lodge
- Weather:
- Fall is arriving; leaves are changing color and temperatures are cooling.
- Partly sunny on Saturday, chance of showers on Sunday.
- Daytime high temperatures in the 60s and night time lows in the 40s.
- Check the National Weather Service or NY Mesonow for updated hazardous weather notices and for current conditions and forecasts for the location where you plan to recreate.
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Be Prepared:
- Dress and pack for weather conditions including proper footwear.
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Always carry the following items on any hike or paddle:
- Water
- Working headlamp or flashlight and extra batteries
- Map of the area
- Food or snack
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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, and 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.
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Biting Insects: Expect to encounter deer flies, mosquitoes, no-see-ums (biting gnats), and ticks. 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 repellent, and follow label directions.
- View these additional tips for tick prevention.
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Fire Danger:
- Low throughout the Adirondacks.
- Check the Fire Danger Rating Map to determine the Fire Danger Rating Area and updates to rating.
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Seasonal Access Roads:
- Seasonal access roads are dirt and gravel which can be rough.
- We recommend driving four-wheel drive SUVs, pick-up trucks, and other high clearance vehicles on these roads.
- Roads may be narrow – use caution, drive slowly, and watch for oncoming vehicles.
Hikers & Campers
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General Information:
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Trail Conditions:
- Due to recent heavy rains trails are wet and muddy especially in low areas and along water.
- Wear footwear suitable for hiking through wet and muddy areas.
- Protect trails and trailside vegetation – stay in the center of the trail and walk through mud and water, not around it.
- Be aware that water levels will increase during and immediately after significant rain events - low water crossings may be difficult to cross.
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Bear Resistant Canisters:
- Using bear-resistant canisters ensures campers don’t lose food, prevents creating nuisance bears, and is required for overnight users in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness until 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.
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Mountain Summits:
Bikers
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General Information: Biking
- Trail Conditions:
- Due to recent heavy rains trails are wet and muddy especially in low areas and along water.
- Please don’t ride on 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.
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E-bikes: Electric-powered bikes are prohibited on all bike trails on the Forest Preserve.
Boaters, Paddlers, and Anglers
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General Information
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Boat Launches: DEC will begin closing the gates overnight at the Mossy Point and
 Rogers Rock Boat Launches on Lake George on Friday Sept. 6 as part of a pilot program to increase protection from aquatic invasive species on the lake. The overnight closure will continue to the end of October.
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Events: The annual Adirondack Canoe Classic (aka The 90 Miler) long distance paddling race takes place this weekend. Expect to encounter hundreds of paddlers on the Adirondack Canoe Route between Old Forge and Saranac Lake as follows:
- Friday (Old Forge to Blue Mountain Lake): waters include First through Eighth Lake of the Fulton Chain of Lakes, Brown Tract Inlet, Raquette Lake, Marion River, Utowana Lake, and Blue Mountain Lake.
- Saturday (Long Lake to "The Crusher" Boat Launch near Tupper Lake) waters include Long Lake and the Raquette River
- Sunday (Fish Creek Campground to Saranac Lake) waters include: Fish Creek Ponds, Upper Saranac Lake, Middle Saranac Lake, Lower Saranac Lake, First Pond, Second Pond, Saranac River, Oseetah Lake, and Lake Flower
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Conditions:
- Due to the recent heavy rains water levels in many rivers and streams have risen to average and even above average levels.
- Check the USGS Current Water Data for New York for stream flow of selected waters.
- Water temperatures are warm, though high elevation brooks will be cool.
- DEC strongly recommends anglers, boaters and paddlers wear personal flotation devices (PFDs aka lifejackets).
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Heat Stressed Trout and Salmon: Trout and salmon can experience physical stress whenever water temperatures climb above 70 degrees.
- In streams, heat-stressed fish will seek deep pockets of cold water, small feeder streams, or water released from deep reservoirs.
- These refuges allow trout to avoid or recover from potentially fatal levels of heat stress.
- Anglers can help trout and salmon by taking the following precautions during warm-weather fishing trips:
- Avoid catch-and-release fishing for heat-stressed trout on hot days.
- Do not disturb trout where they have gathered in unusually high numbers.
- Fish early in the day.
- Always have an alternate fishing plan in case water temperatures are too high at the intended destination.
Climbers
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Rock Climbing Route Closures: All rock climbing routes are open. DEC appreciates the cooperation and understanding of the climbing community during the closure period. Rock climbers also volunteer to identify nesting pairs, nest sites, and observe nest sites until the young fledge.
Recent Notices
Notices below reflect recent changes in conditions and recreation infrastructure work completed by DEC and its partners. Check the Adirondack Backcountry Information web pages for ongoing issues and more detailed information.
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Boreas Ponds Tract: Beginning Friday 9/6, Gulf Brook Road is open to motor vehicle use to the Four Corners Parking Lot.
- Hikers and horseback riders may travel one mile between the parking lot to the Boreas Ponds dam.
- Hikers and horseback riders may also travel on any of the numerous miles of roadway.
- Bicyclists may ride on Gulf Brook Road and the roadway to Boreas Ponds as far as the gate which is located 500 feet from the Boreas Ponds dam.
- Paddlers may carry one mile to access the water near the Boreas Ponds dam or
- Drop off canoes/kayaks, and equipment at a waterway access site on LaBier Flow, 0.1 mile away from the Four Corners Parking Lot before parking.
- Paddlers may then paddle halfway down LaBier Flow and carry 0.3 mile to access the water near Boreas Ponds dam.
- Campers can camp at large providing they are more than 150 feet from any road, trail, or surface water.
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Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest: A major dam rehabilitation project is currently being planned for the Lows Lower Dam (aka Bog River Dam) – the paddlers access site for Hitchens Pond and Lows Lake. The project will likely begin in Spring of 2020. Possible impacts to public access include:
- Temporary road and access closures
- Traffic controls including flag persons, construction fence, etc.
- Shared road/parking areas with construction vehicles
- Different parking, drop-off, and launching schemes
- Increased informational signage
- More details will be provided as they become available.
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High Peaks Wilderness:
- Garden Trailhead parking lot will remain closed until late September.
- Hikers can only access the Garden Trailhead using the shuttle from Marcy Field until then.
- Check the Town of Keene for the shuttle schedule and additional information.
- There continues to be high bear activity from Marcy Dam through Avalanche Pass to Lake Colden and Uphill Lean to/campsites. Campers should make every effort to avoid problems with bears:
- Be sure lids on bear resistant canisters are secure.
- Store canisters at least 100 feet away from sleeping areas.
- Do not cook or eat in sleeping areas!
- Bear spray is an effective option for unexpected close encounters.
- If using bear spray, be sure it is always accessible.
Highlighted Trip - Kunjamuk River, Speculator, NY
The village of Speculator hand launch site on the Sacandaga River is located at the Speculator Ball Field Parking Area. Paddlers can access paddle routes on both the Sacandaga River and Kunjamuk River. The Kunjamuk Hand Launch on Pine Lakes Road provides paddlers direct access to the Kunjamuk River.
It is approximately 1.5 miles down the Sacandaga River to the mouth of the Kunjamuk River. Almost 4 miles up the Kunjamuk is Elm Lake. A paddle to the north side of Elm Lake and back to the launch site makes this a 12-mile round trip. Paddlers will need to portage over or around beaver dams and other obstacles. The Kunjamuk River is a calm, meandering paddle with stunning scenery.
Speculator Ball Field Parking Area located off State Route 30/8 across from the public beach on Lake Pleasant has a hand launch site. (43.4961°N, 74.3595°W).
Watch highlight video.
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