This bulletin provides only the most recent notices. Check the Adirondack Backcountry webpages for more detailed information on access, outdoor recreation infrastructure, and conditions.
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, 833-NYS-RANGERS.
Welcome to the Adirondacks. The Welcome to the Adirondacks webpage provides information about the Forest Preserve, conservation easement lands, outdoor recreation, and Leave No Trace™.
Love Our New York Lands: All New Yorkers and visitors should be able to access, enjoy, and feel welcome on state lands. While enjoying these shared spaces, be respectful of other visitors. Share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as you found them for others to enjoy. All of us have a responsibility to protect state lands for future generations. Learn more about how you can Love Our New York Lands.
In this issue:
The following are only the most recent notices pertaining to public lands in the Adirondacks. Please check the Adirondack Backcountry webpages for a full list of notices, including seasonal road statuses, rock climbing closures, specific trail conditions, and other pertinent information.
Follow @NYSDECAlerts on X for updates about DEC-managed lands across New York State! The @NYSDECAlerts X feed provides real-time info on the most crowded places, especially when those places and parking areas are at capacity.
NEW THIS WEEK
If you notice any damage or hazardous areas not listed below, please report to info.r5@dec.ny.gov.
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All snowmobile gates in Clinton, Franklin and Essex Counties are open as of Monday, 1/13.
High Peaks
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Weekly Lake Colden Snow Report: As of Wednesday, 1/15, snow depths were recorded to be 67cm (26in) at the stake.
LAST WEEK
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Weekly Lake Colden Snow Report: As of Wednesday, 1/8, snow depths were recorded to be 57cm (22in) at the stake.
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The gate on Corey’s Road: The gate is currently open, however the private property at the end of the road will be trucking logs, starting in January 2025, and the gates will be closed when they do. Specific dates are undetermined, so please plan accordingly and use caution while traveling along the Corey’s Road in the month of January.
Fire Danger: Check the fire rating map for daily updates.
Sunrise/Sunset: Sunrise = 7:25 a.m.; Sunset = 4:45 p.m. Pack at least one headlamp (two headlamps recommended) even if you expect to finish your activity before sunset. Phone batteries drain quickly and are discouraged.
Water Crossings: Water levels are mostly average for this time of year throughout the Adirondack region. Expect water levels to rise with new rainfall. Check the USGS Current Water Data for New York for stream flow of selected waters. (Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs aka lifejackets) are required from November through May.)
Temperatures: These are forecast temperatures for base elevations throughout the region.
Weekend temperatures in the region at base elevations will produce highs in the mid-30s and lows in the single digits, remaining below freezing all of Friday and Sunday, and only rising slightly above freezing Saturday during the day. Potential snow showers Saturday afternoon, but otherwise mostly cloudy.
Check the National Weather Service’s Mountain Point Forecast for more accurate forecasts at elevation on or near your intended route.
Reminder: These forecasts are for low elevations. Anticipate losing 5 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
Even with sunny skies, inclement weather is always a possibility and can change very quickly. Remember – hypothermia is always a risk in wet conditions, even when it feels warm outside. Be prepared with extra dry layers and keep an eye on the weather.
Conditions: As always, unpredictable storms and general winter weather can create unexpectedly hazardous conditions. Be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for snow, ice, and cold to ensure a safe winter experience. Snow depths range greatly throughout the Adirondacks, with the deepest snow at higher elevations in the High Peaks region and other mountains over 3,000 feet. Lower elevation trails have mixed conditions potentially ranging from snow, ice, slush, and mud.
Check the Weather: Check the forecast for your destination and pack and plan accordingly. Check the National Weather Service Northern Adirondacks and Southern Adirondacks Mountain Point Forecasts for select summit forecasts. Check both daytime and nighttime temperatures and remember that temperatures will drop as you gain elevation.
Snowmobiles: Visitors are advised to plan ahead and check local club, county, and State webpages and resources, including the NYSSA Snowmobile web map, for up-to-date snowmobile trail information.
Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) Forecast: If the AQI is forecast to exceed 100, DEC and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) will issue an Air Quality Health Advisory with precautionary recommendations for affected areas. View DEC’s current AQI forecasts and real-time air pollution data from DEC’s monitoring network.
Visit the main Adirondack Backcountry page for more trip-planning resources.
Seasonal Road Closures: Read DEC’s Adirondack Backcountry Information page for specific road conditions and information.
Adirondack Rail Trail: The Adirondack Rail Trail is a multi-use trail allowing for various types of recreational activities. To ensure safety for all while sharing the trail, all users should travel on the right side of the trail unless passing others. Groups should move in single file on the right when other users are passing. Cyclists should pass on the left and inform others prior to and while passing. Snowmobilers should pass slowly on the left and travel in single file, paying extra attention to those nearby at turns, intersections, and popular/congested areas. Lastly, pet owners must ensure that all waste is picked up and dogs are kept on leashes. For information on what sections of the trail are currently open or under construction, or what public motorized use is allowed, visit the Adirondack Rail Trail webpage.
Mount Colden Trapdike: The trapdike is considered a technical climb and not a hike. Climbers should be prepared with helmets, ropes, and climbing gear to ascend this route. Hikers looking to summit Mount Colden should do so via the hiking routes. Attempting to climb the trapdike unprepared can result in a rescue operation, serious injury, or death.
No Overnight Camping at Trailheads: Overnight camping is not permitted at trailheads or other roadside locations where a camping disc is not present. This includes individuals sleeping in cars, vans, and campers. Campers should seek out designated roadside campsites marked with a "Camp Here" disc or open campgrounds. When camping, always carry out what you carry in and dispose of trash properly. Use designated bathroom facilities, pack out human and pet waste, or dig a cat hole.
Travel: Plan on arriving at your destination early and have several back-up plans in place in case parking at your desired location is full. Check recent notices for road closure announcements.
When it comes to recreating on ice, safety should always come first. Remember that just because it’s winter and below freezing out doesn’t mean it’s ice fishing conditions! Keep these tips in mind when planning your next ice fishing trip.
- Four inches of clear, black ice is generally safe for if you’re venturing out on foot. However, ice thickness can vary on every waterbody.
- Be particularly cautious of areas with moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup.
- The presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions.
- Bait and tackle shops can be a great resource for information on current ice conditions. However, avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk.
- Test the thickness of ice with an auger or ice spud at various spots as you move around.
- Carry ice safety picks (two handles with spike points) to help you get out of the water should you break through the ice.
- Fore more info on ice fishing in NYS, visit Ice Fishing. If you never have before, visit the Learn How To Ice Fish webpage.
Even if you’re just hiking, this awareness could be invaluable. When trying to decide whether ice is safe to walk on, always err on the side of caution. Test ice before putting your full weight on it. Ice is always thinner where there are springs or other moving water, such as at the mouths of tributaries, near outlets and inlets and along shorelines. And remember, it's better to remain dry and warm than to cross questionable ice just to save time.
Hike Smart NY can help you prepare with a list of 10 essentials, guidance on what to wear, and tips for planning your trip with safety and sustainability in mind.
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to spend more time in nature, or to be more intentional about minimizing your impact and protecting our natural resources?
If so, DEC offers many ways that you can become a steward and be part of the solution, especially in the Adirondacks:
- Get involved with local trail crews to help build and maintain trail systems near you, and Adopt a Trailhead.
- Adopt a Trailhead provides training for interested volunteers to either speak with visitors at an assigned trailhead about Leave No TraceTM Principles, or clean up litter.
- Take a Leave No TraceTM workshop or become a Leave No TraceTM educator
- According to LNT’s official website, “One person trained in Leave No Trace goes on to educate 256 additional people resulting in 5.2 million others this year alone.”
- Explore becoming an Assistant Forest Ranger
- Assistant Forest Rangers are employed seasonally and provide support to DEC's Forest Ranger Division in field work, emergency response and administrative reporting.
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Volunteer with one of DEC's many natural resource programs
But the small, everyday actions are what really make the biggest difference. Being a steward is just as simple as practicing the 7 Principles of Leave No TraceTM consistently whenever you’re outdoors and making sure that if you’re recreating with loved ones, you share your Leave No Trace knowledge with them.
Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No TraceTM to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Adirondacks.
I Love My Park Day at Fish Creek Campground, 2017.
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