DEC Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Bulletin
December 19, 2019

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

Check the Adirondacks Backcountry Information 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, and watch DEC’s HikeSmartNY video for more information.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Check weather, trail conditions, regulations, and advisories before you travel. Have an alternate plan ready to ensure you can make the most of your time in the Adirondacks. 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.

• Snowshoes are recommended in high elevations: Snow depths are greater in higher elevations and warrant the use of snowshoes. Snowshoes help to avoid “post holing” which can make trails more difficult and hazardous for other hikers and skiers.
• Ice crampons and traction devices should be carried on all hikes for use on icy portions of the trail including summits and other exposed areas.
• Use caution at stream crossings and on trails along fast flowing brooks and rivers. Rocks and other surfaces may be covered with ice from splashing water. Wear crampons and use steel or carbide pointed hiking sticks.

Practice Leave No Trace

Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace and proper trail etiquette to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Adirondacks while also ensuring an enjoyable outdoor experience for all visitors.

More Information on Principle #1- Plan Ahead and Prepare:

• Be aware of weather conditions. Check the weather before entering the woods. If the weather is poor, postpone your trip. If the weather worsens during your trip, head out of the woods immediately.
• Dress properly. Wear layers of wool, fleece, and other materials that wick moisture. Avoid cotton. Wear a wool or fleece hat, gloves or mittens, wind/rain resistant outerwear, gaiters, and insulated winter boots.
• Carry a day pack with the following contents: traction devices, plenty of food and water, extra clothing, map and compass, first-aid kit, flashlight/headlamp, sun glasses, sun-block protection, packable insulated pad, stove and extra fuel, and bivy sack or space blanket.
• Eat, drink and rest often. Being tired, hungry or dehydrated makes you more susceptible to hypothermia.
• Know the terrain and your physical capabilities. It takes more time and energy to travel through snow. Plan trips accordingly.
• Avoid traveling alone. The risks of injury, hypothermia, and getting lost are much higher this time of year. Always inform someone of your intended route and return time.

General Conditions/Notices

Learn the conditions you will encounter from the Adirondack Backcountry Information web pages.

All

• Travel: Check NY511 for road closures and conditions.
• Weather:
• Various amounts of sunshine are forecast through the weekend.
• Today’s bitter cold temperature will progressively warm over the next few days with Sunday’s daytime highs a little above freezing.
• Nighttime lows will remain below freezing but will also progressively warm from single digits to teens and twenties.
• Check the National Weather Service or NY Mesonow for updated hazardous weather notices and current conditions and forecasts for the location where you plan to recreate.
• Winter Conditions in the Adirondacks
• Winter conditions are present throughout the Adirondacks.
• Sunset is approximately 4:20 p.m.
• Snow depths range from:
  • 6-12 inches in the northern, western, and central Adirondacks
  • 2-6 inches in the eastern and southeastern Adirondacks
• Snow depths are deeper in higher elevations.
• The National Weather Service NERFC Snow Page provides maps depicting current snow depths and forecasts.
• Ice has begun to form on most water bodies.
  • No ice is currently safe to travel on.
  • Avoid ice over water which is covered by snow.
• Seasonal Access Roads:
• All seasonal access roads are closed to motor vehicle traffic.
• Designated snowmobile trails will open when snow depths allow.
• The roads will reopen after the spring mud season upon completion of all maintenance and repair work.
• Drones: Drones are motorized equipment, and operating drones on lands classified as wilderness, primitive, or canoe is prohibited.

Hikers & Campers

• General Information:
  • Hiking 
  • Backcountry Camping 
• Trail Conditions:
• Trails are covered in snow and may be icy in spots.
• Skiing conditions are fair to good depending on location and the trail surface.  Level, smooth trails have the best conditions.
• Many bridges were washed out or damaged in the Oct. 31 storm leaving some streams impassable. Use caution and be prepared to turn around.
• Designated Snowmobile Trails: Watch and listen for snowmobiles when traveling on designated snowmobile trails. Move to the side of the trail and allow snowmobiles to safely pass.
•  
• Mountain Summits:
  • Temperatures are below freezing, winds are stronger, snow is deeper, and ice is present.
  • Check the National Weather Service Mountain Point Forecasts. 

Snowmobilers

• General Information: Snowmobiling
• Trails:
  • Only a few snowmobile trails are reported open at this time.
  • View the New York State Snowmobile Association Interactive Trail Map or check with local snowmobile clubs and tourism offices to determine status and condition of trails.
• Safety:
  • Watch for skiers and snowshoers using snowmobile trails - slow down to safely pass.
  • View a video on snowmobile safety.

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.

• High Peaks Wilderness:
  
  • Corey’s Road will be open for winter access to the Seward Trailhead
    
    • Only four-wheel drive vehicles should use the road.
    • Do not block the road when parking.
    • Bring a shovel, and be prepared to shovel out off-road parking spots and your vehicle when you return from your hike or ski.
  • Lake Colden Caretaker Report
    • 12 inches (30 cm) of snow is present at the stake at the cabin
    • 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) of snow present below tree line - carry and use snowshoes on all hikes above 2,500 feet (762 m).
    • Only ice is present above tree line – You will need crampons on summits above the tree line and they may be required at other locations on trails.
    • Avalanche Lake and Lake Colden are frozen, but avoid the area around outlets and inlets where ice is thin or not present.
    • Meadows Lane and South Meadows Truck Trail are passable on skis.
    • VanHoevenberg Trail from the Loj Trailhead to Marcy Dam is not passable on skis.
      
• Wilcox Lake Wild Forest: The Spruce Mountain Trail is open for public use.
• Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands:
  
  • All seasonal access roads are closed to motor vehicles until after the spring mud season.
  • All designated snowmobile trails are open for use except for the north end of Perkins Clearing Road which will be used as a haul road for timber operations this winter.
  • The Brister Brook Parking Area is closed this winter due to damage from the Halloween Storm. The Town of Lake Pleasant has created a larger parking area off NYS Rt 30 near the turn for Jessup River Road.
• Blue Mountain Lake Wild Forest/Township 19: Logging operations will continue this winter.
  
  • Snowmobilers will be sharing the road with logging trucks and other equipment.
  • Be alert and proceed with caution.
• Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness:
  
  • The Middle Branch Lake Trail flooded due to beaver activity between the Cedar Pond Trail and Middle Branch Lake.
  • DEC has removed the culvert on the Big Otter Lake East Trail and constructed a foot bridge over Indian Brook.
  • On the Big Otter Lake East Trail, beaver activity has ceased at South Inlet Flow and the trail is no longer flooded.
• Essex Chain Lakes: All seasonal access roads are closed to motor vehicles until after the spring mud season.

Highlighted Hike: First Day Hikes, Adirondack Park

“First day” hikes are planned for Jan. 1, 2020, in DEC’s Region 5. DEC encourages New Yorkers to connect with nature by getting outdoors on the first day of the New Year with DEC Region 5 staff and partners.

DEC Guided Hike Up Prospect Mountain
January 1, 2020, 10 a.m.

• Details: The hike is 1.5-miles and climbs 1,630-feet from the trailhead to the 2,030-foot summit. The spectacular 360-degree, 100-mile view of Lake George, the Queen of the American Lakes, the Southern Adirondack Mountains, the Green Mountains of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Adirondack High Peaks of New York, and on a clear day the Laurentian Mountains of Canada.
• Prospect Mountain: Trailhead on Smith Street, Village of Lake George (43.4254°N, 73.7197°W)
• Registration: For information and registration: e-mail Ben Thomas, or call (518) 623-1268.
• Be Prepared: This event is free of charge. All hikers must have appropriate clothing and footwear. Snow shoes or crampons are required. Weather conditions may make this trail extremely icy and require additional traction. Bring water, snacks or anything else you may need for a hike.

Paul Smith’s Guided Snowshoe at Paul Smith’s Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC)
January 1, 2020, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

• Details: Paul Smith’s Lead Naturalist will provide a guided two-hour, light-to-moderate walk on VIC trails. The guided walk will take visitors through a series of diverse Adirondack ecosystems. The experience is open for all ages, comfortable with a moderate level of difficulty on a well-maintained groomed trail. Hikes will begin at the VIC welcome center.
• Paul Smith VIC: 8023 NY-30, Paul Smiths, NY 12970.
• Registration: For more information and registration: call (518) 327-6241.
• Be Prepared: The event is free of charge. Participants will not need to purchase a day pass to go on the guided hike. Snowshoes are required. Bring your own or rent a pair at the VIC for a fee. Hot chocolate and warm drinks will be available for sale the VIC store.

SUNY ESF Guided Snowshoe at SUNY ESF’s Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC)
January 1, 2020, 10 a.m.

• Details: The hike around the AIC trails will be approximately 2 miles and will explore the many unique adaptations that allow mammals to survive the often cold and harsh Adirondack Winters. The walk will be on light-moderate terrain and the hike will take approximately 1.5 hours. Hike will begin at SUNY ESF’s Adirondack Interpretive Center.
• SUNY ESF AIC: 5922 State Route 28N, Newcomb NY, 12852.
• Registration: Registration is required. Call (518) 582-2000 to register.
• Be Prepared: This event is free of charge. Snowshoes are required and will be provided if participants do not have their own. Hot chocolate will be available at the Adirondack Interpretive Center.

SUNY ESF Guided Hike Up Goodnow Mountain
January 1, 2020, 10 a.m.

• Details: More intrepid first day hikers can join AIC naturalists and snowshoe the four-mile round trip trail up Goodnow Mountain. The hike will explore the natural and cultural history of Goodnow Mountain. The Goodnow Mountain trail ascends approximately 800 feet over two miles and features views of the high peaks from a 60 ft. Fire Tower on the summit. The hike will take approximately 3.5 hours and will begin at SUNY ESF’s Adirondack Interpretive Center.
• SUNY ESF’s AIC: 5922 State Route 28N, Newcomb NY, 12852
• Registration: Registration is required. Call (518) 582-2000 to register.
• Be Prepared: This event is free of charge. Snowshoes are required and will be provided if participants do not have their own. Hot chocolate will be available at the Adirondack Interpretive Center. All hikers must have appropriate clothing and footwear. Weather conditions may make this trail extremely icy and require additional traction. Bring water, snacks, or anything else you may need for a hike.