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.
High Peaks
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Weekly Snow Report: As of Wednesday, 4/16, snow depths were recorded to be 55cm (22in) at the stake at the Lake Colden Interior Cabin (~2,750 feet elevation). Deep snow is still present across much of the High Peaks backcountry at higher elevations. Visitors are advised to not be misled by potential snow-free conditions at trailheads. Any visitor headed to higher elevations (including Avalanche Pass) should carry snowshoes or skis and be prepared to use them. Also, areas of unsafe ice exist on Avalanche Lake/Lake Colden- and on backcountry lakes and ponds in general right now.
Southwestern
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Independence River Wild Forest: Water is turned off at the Otter Creek Assembly Area. The water will be turned back on in May.
LAST WEEK
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Boat Launch Maintenance: DEC will be conducting routine boat launch site maintenance/cleaning at Lake Flower (Saranac Lake) and will need to close it for the day on Friday, 4/11. The same applies to the Lake Placid boat launch on April 15-16.
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Lake George Wild Forest: Shelving Rock Road is open.
Fire Danger: Check the fire rating map for daily updates.
Sunrise/Sunset: Sunrise = 6:04 a.m.; Sunset = 7:45 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 are expected to produce highs in the upper-60s and lows in the low-30s, dropping to below freezing Sunday night with Friday night and Saturday being the warmest. Chance of rain Friday and Saturday.
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: There are areas of unsafe ice on backcountry lakes and ponds- remember that moving water is prone to thin ice and should be treated with caution. Be prepared for mud season and spring conditions at lower elevations, but know that it is still winter at high elevations with lots of snow still present up higher! Be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for varying conditions of snow, ice, and cold, as well as slush, mud, and mixed temperatures. Bring traction devices, wool socks and gaiters. Traction devices are crucial to navigate monorails and soft, melting snow which is prone to post-holing.
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.
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.
Annual Brush Burn in Effect: The annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning is in effect from March 16 through May 14. Read the press release for more information.
Ice Safety: Moving water is prone to thin ice and should be treated with caution.
Seasonal Road Closures: Read DEC’s Adirondack Backcountry Information page for specific road conditions and information.
Bear Canisters, Required Dates: NYSDEC requires the use of bear-resistant canisters by overnight users in the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness between April 1 and November 30. NYSDEC encourages campers to use bear-resistant canisters throughout the Adirondack backcountry. Bear canisters should be used to store all food, food garbage, toiletries, and other items with a scent. Canisters should be stored a minimum of 100ft from tents, lean-tos and cooking sites and kept closed whenever they are not being accessed. Learn more about bear canisters and avoiding human-bear conflicts.
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.
Join us for the 14th annual I Love My Park Day on Saturday, May 3, 2025. Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), in partnership with DEC and New York State Parks, hosts I Love My Park Day on the first Saturday in May. This event brings together thousands of volunteers from across the state to participate in cleanup and improvement events at New York State parks, historic sites, and public lands. Help celebrate and protect New York's park system and prepare our public lands for spring by cleaning up litter, planting native plants, restoring trail and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects. Gather your friends and family and join your community in helping to preserve and protect New York lands!
Adirondack locations:
- Ausable Point Campground (Clinton County)
- Paul Smith’s VIC (Franklin County)
- Lake George Battlefield Day Use Area (Warren County)
- Lake George Beach Day Use Area (Warren County)
- Moffit Beach Campground (Hamilton County)
- Lewey Lake Campground (Hamilton County)
- Rogers Rock Campground (Warren County)
- Cranberry Lake Campground (St. Lawrence County)
- Nicks Lake Campground (Herkimer County)
Volunteer registration for I Love My Park Day is now open! Register online at Parks & Trails New York.
I Love My Park Day is a Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Day event! Check out our other Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days and see how you can participate in stewardship and conservation year-round.
Following a few days of sunshine, the snow has struck again throughout some of the Adirondacks. But it’s important to remember that even when the snow in your yard melts (which it probably will with temperatures reaching up to almost 70 degrees F this weekend!), there is still going to be snow at higher elevations. Don’t be fooled by snow-free conditions at trailheads and base elevations.
For example, as of Wednesday, 4/16, snow depths were recorded to be 55cm (22in) at the stake at the Lake Colden Interior Cabin (~2,750 feet elevation).
Any visitor headed to higher elevations should carry snowshoes or skis and be prepared to use them. They are required when snow depths exceed 8 inches in the High Peaks Wilderness, to prevent dangerous post-holing and to protect yourself and other users.
No matter what form of outdoor recreation you're partaking in, 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.
Bears are waking up across NY, and it’s important to be #BearWise!
Black bears are hungry when they wake up from their winter slumber and will often search for easily obtainable, calorie-rich foods in residential areas, such as bird seed, suet, and garbage. This particular bear photographed below from someone’s home Ring Camera was checking out an empty bird feeder. Bird feeders are a bear magnet, which is why the wise thing to do is take them down completely after April 1. Even empty bird feeders attract bears to places where you might not want them – such as near doorways or windows, or on decks.
For birders, consider other ways to attract birds such as adding a bird bath to your yard, providing places for them to nest, offering shelter and perches, growing native plants, and more!
To learn more about being BearWise, a national program of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies centered around how to live responsibly among bears, visit DEC's Be BearWise webpage.
Follow the Seven Principles of Leave No TraceTM to maintain minimal impact on the environment and the natural resources of the Adirondacks.
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