DEC Adirondack Outdoor Recreation Bulletin
April 30, 2020

DEC Encourages Responsible Recreation During the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

DEC and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) are encouraging New Yorkers to engage in responsible recreation during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. DEC and State Parks recommendations incorporate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health for reducing the spread of infectious diseases and encourage New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice physical distancing, and use common sense to protect themselves and others. In addition, DEC and State Parks launched a new hashtag - #RecreateLocal - and encouraging New Yorkers to get outside and discover open spaces and parks close to home.

Getting outdoors to walk, jog, hike, ride a bicycle, fish, or visit a park or state lands is a healthy way to stay active, spend time with immediate household family members, and reduce stress and anxiety when practicing social distancing. While indoor spaces and restrooms at State Parks and DEC's public facilities may be closed out of an abundance of caution to prevent community spread of COVID-19, many parks, grounds, forests, and trails are open during daylight hours, seven days a week.

State parks, lands, forests, and facilities are monitored by park police, forest rangers, environmental conservation police officers (ECOs) and other staff. These parks, lands, forests, and facilities and visitors will incorporate physical distancing to limit potential spread of COVID-19. In addition, these officers and staff respond to, and assist, local agencies with search and rescue missions, wildfire suppression, and more. Following this guidance will prevent unnecessary burdens on, and dangers to, state resources and frontline emergency first responders during the ongoing COVID-19 response.

For the safety of all visitors and to reduce the community spread of COVID-19, DEC and State Parks are undertaking steps to reduce public density:

• Closing all playgrounds;
• Limiting access to athletic courts and sporting fields
• Canceling all public programs and events at state parks, lands, forests and facilities until further notice;
• Closing all indoor visitor facilities, such as nature centers, environmental education centers, visitor centers, and historic houses to the public until further notice;
• State Parks has closed all State Parks golf courses;
• DEC is closing access to DEC-controlled fire towers to the public. Trails and the summits to the towers remain open, but the towers themselves present a potential risk with multiple people climbing the stairs, in close quarters, unable to appropriately socially distance, and using the same handrails; and
• Limiting parking. If the parking lot is full, visit a different location to recreate responsibly. For visitor safety and the safety of others, do not park on roadsides, and only park in designated parking areas.
• New Yorkers are required to wear masks in public when appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained.

DEC Boat Launches

DEC boat launches are open for recreational use by individuals and households provided strict adherence to the CDC/New York State Department of Health guidelines for preventing the spread of colds, flu, and COVID-19 is followed:

• Try to keep at least six feet of distance between you and others.
• Avoid close contact, such as shaking hands.
• Wash hands often or use a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
• Avoid surfaces that are touched often, such as rails, posts, and tie off cleats.
• Wear a mask when appropriate social distancing cannot be maintained.

Adirondack Rock Climbing Route Closures

DEC has closed certain rock climbing routes in the Adirondacks to protect nesting peregrine falcons. Status of rock climbing routes:

• Chapel Pond Area
  • Upper Washbowl Cliffs – Closed
  •  Lower Washbowl Cliffs – Closed
  • Spider's Web – Open
• Wilmington Notch Area
  • Moss Cliffs – Open
  • Notch Mountain – Closed
• Poke-O-Moonshine - The climbing routes between and including Opposition and Womb With View are Open, all other routes are Closed.
• Crane Mountain – All climbing routes are Open, except the Amphitheater section of the Black Arches Wall is Closed including Torcher, Eatin Tripe and Lichen It, Hang Time, and Black Arch Arete.
• Shelving Rock – All routes on the Main Wall are Closed which includes routes #11. Lunar Manscape through #37 Princess Bride. All other routes on Shelving Rock are Open.
• Potash Mountain – All routes are Closed.
• Sleeping Beauty Mountain – All routes are Closed.

Once peregrine nest sites are determined, climbing routes that will not disturb nesting will be reopened. We anticipate reopening by the beginning of May although in some years it has taken longer to confirm nesting. Routes that remain closed will reopen after the young have fledged. Thank you for your cooperation. For more information please contact the Bureau of Wildlife at (518) 623-1240.

DEC Campgrounds

All DEC campgrounds remain closed, including campsites, bathrooms, playgrounds, pavilions, picnic sites, beaches, and other day use areas and facilities. The public may enter DEC campgrounds to access trails on the Forest Preserve or to walk or bike on the campground roadways. Motor and motorized vehicles are prohibited from entering DEC campgrounds. Visit in small groups limited to immediate household members and practice social distancing.

Trailhead Registers

Trailhead registers provide vital information, so please continue to sign in and out. During the COVID-19 public health crisis, special precautions should be taken while using trailhead registers to minimize spread of the virus through commonly touched surfaces, such as pencils and the registers themselves. Follow these guidelines when using trailhead registers to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

• Only one person per group should register. Others in the group should stay away from the register.
• If someone is at a register when you approach, stand at least six feet away and wait for them to leave before you approach.
• Bring your own pencil or pen.
• Minimize touching surfaces.
• Carry hand sanitizer and use it immediately before and after using the register.
• Don't cough or sneeze while at the register. If you must cough or sneeze, move away from the register and hand sanitize before returning.

Notices

• HIKE SMART NY by always being prepared for your trip, variable trail conditions, and unexpected weather when out on the trail.
• The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has recommendations for responsible outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 public health crisis. 
• DEC’s Lake Flower Boat Launch in Saranac Lake is closed to trailered boats due to construction at the site.
• DEC’s Otter Creek Horse Trail Facility is temporarily closed to overnight camping to help limit the community spread of COVID-19. Day-use of the area is still allowed but water and restroom facilities are not available.
• Adirondack Mountain Reserve (aka Ausable Club) has reduced the parking capacity on its lot near the intersection of Ausable Road and State Route 73 to a maximum of 28 vehicles in response to COVID-19. Parking is not permitted along Ausable Road, on Ausable Club lands, or along the nearby stretches of State Route 73.
• Adirondack Mountain Club’s High Peaks Information Center will remain closed through May 14 in response to COVID-19. Parking at Adirondak Loj Trailhead remains open to the public for a fee, but vehicles should be more than six feet apart. The restrooms on the back porch of the High Peaks Information Center are also open.
• Whiteface Mountain Ski Area is closed to public access. This blocks public access to Bear Den Mountain Trailhead and Trail.
• DEC-controlled fire towers are closed to the public to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 during the current public health crisis. Trails to the towers and the summits remain open.
• DEC and municipal seasonal access roads are closed for the spring mud season.
• Trails are a mix of mud, ice and snow. Mud and ice are present at low to moderate elevations. Ice and deep snow are present in the higher elevations. Trail crampons should be carried on all hikes. Snowshoes should be carried on high elevation hikes.
• Water levels in streams and rivers are high, currents are swift, and water temperatures are extremely cold.

#RecreateLocal

We could all use a little nature therapy right now. Immersing ourselves in the outdoors can benefit both our physical and mental health, and spending time in nature is a great way to relieve stress and refocus our minds. While we all continue to practice social distancing and recreate locally, many people are looking for new ways to get out and enjoy the outdoors close to home, making now the perfect time to try forest bathing.

Forest bathing can be done wherever trees are found – a forest, a park, or even your backyard. A popular practice in Japan, Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, focuses on using our physical senses to bridge the gap between ourselves and nature. Unlike running or hiking which often focus on physical exertion, the goal of forest bathing is just to be present in the outdoors, making it a suitable outdoor activity for all abilities.

Follow these four steps for your first forest bathing experience, and discover how simply being among the trees can transform your sense of well-being.

1. Pick a Spot – #RecreateLocal and choose a forested spot close to home. The more trees, the better. The quieter, the better. You want to be able to focus on nature without too many distractions.

2. Leave Your Phone – Forest bathing is no time for technology. Leave your phone, camera, laptop – any form of distracting technology – so you can fully engage with your surroundings.

3. Immerse Yourself – Whether you take a seat on a park bench or wander aimlessly amidst the trees, clear your mind of goals or expectations and focus on the nature around you. What do you hear, see, and smell?

4. Become an Observer – As your mind begins to settle, take note of the finer details. Watch a squirrel jump from branch to branch. Count how many different birds you can hear singing. Breathe deeply and try to identify the scents carried by the wind. There is so much happening around us in nature, yet we rarely take time to truly see and appreciate it. Take this opportunity to slow down and enjoy it.