Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan

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State of New York Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan

August 2019

STATE OF NEW YORK

ADIRONDACK PARK STATE LAND MASTER PLAN

August 2019

STATE OF NEW YORK Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor

ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY Terry Martino, Executive Director

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION Basil Seggos, Commissioner

ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY P.O. BOX 99, RAY BROOK, NEW YORK 12977 518-891-4050 www.apa.ny.gov

MEMBERS OF THE ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY

As of August 2019

Arthur Lussi, Essex County William H. Thomas, Warren County Daniel Wilt, Hamilton County John L. Ernst, New York County Chad P. Dawson, Onondaga County

EX-OFFICIO

Basil Seggos, Commissioner Department of Environmental Conservation Robert Stegemann, Designee

Rossana Rosado Howard A. Zemsky, Commissioner Secretary of State Department of Economic Development Lynne Mahoney, Designee Bradley Austin, Designee

Executive Director Terry Martino

CONTENTS

I. Introduction ...... 1 Legislative Mandate ...... 1 State Ownerships ...... 1 Private Ownerships ...... 2 Public Concern for the Adirondack Park ...... 4 Acquisition Policy Recommendations ...... 6 Land Exchange ...... 8 Plan Revision and Review ...... 8 Unit Management Plan Development ...... 10 Invasive Species ...... 12 Special Historic Area Unit Management Plans ...... 12 Interpretation and Application of the Master Plan ...... 13

II. Classification System and Guidelines ...... 14 Basis and Purpose of the Classification ...... 14 Definitions ...... 17 Wilderness ...... 22 Primitive ...... 28 Canoe ...... 32 Wild Forest ...... 34 Intensive Use ...... 41 Historic ...... 45 State Administrative ...... 46 Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers ...... 47 Travel Corridors ...... 50 Special Management Guidelines ...... 57

II. Area Descriptions and Delineations ...... 58 Wilderness Areas ...... 58 Primitive Areas ...... 84 Canoe Area ...... 102 Wild Forest Areas ...... 104 Intensive Use Areas ...... 119 Historic Areas ...... 121 State Administrative Areas ...... 123 Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System ...... 125 Travel Corridors ...... 127 Scenic Vistas ...... 129 Special Management Areas...... 131

APPENDIX I: Section 816 Master Plan for Management of State Lands ...... 133

APPENDIX II: State-held Conservation Easements within the Adirondack Park ...... 135

“As a man tramps the woods to the lake he knows he will find pines and lilies, blue herons and golden shiners, shadows on the rocks and the glint of light on the wavelets, just as they were in the summer of 1354, as they will be in 2054 and beyond. He can stand on a rock by the shore and be in a past he could not have known, in a future he will never see. He can be a part of time that was and time yet to come.”

from Adirondack Country

by William Chapman White

I. INTRODUCTION Park Agency Act (Article 27 of the Executive Law - "The Act") and its THIS DOCUMENT SETS FORTH legislative history, but also from a the master plan for all state lands within century of the public's demonstrated the Adirondack Park. The classification attitude toward the forest preserve and system and guidelines set forth in the Adirondack Park. Fortunately the Chapter II and the attached map are amount and variety of land and water designed to guide the preservation, within the Adirondack Park provide management and use of these lands by today and will provide in the future, with all interested state agencies in the careful planning and management, a future. Insofar as forest preserve lands wide spectrum of outdoor recreational protected by the "forever wild" and educational pursuits in a wild forest provisions of Article XIV, §l of the setting unparalleled in the eastern half Constitution are concerned, the of this country. provisions of the master plan are intended to be constitutionally neutral. While obviously no structure, im- LEGISLATIVE MANDATE provement or use held to be unconstitutional is permitted by this The legislative mandate of the Master Plan, no inference as to the Agency regarding this master plan for constitutional appropriateness or state lands was originally contained in inappropriateness of any given then Section 807 of the Act which is set structure, improvement or use should be forth in Appendix I. drawn from whether it is allowed or prohibited in a particular land classifica- In June 1972, following the statutory tion. This master plan is not intended to procedures and after extensive public make constitutional determinations hearings around the state, the Agency regarding unresolved issues under approved and submitted to Governor Article XIV, which are properly a matter Rockefeller the master plan for for the Attorney General and ultimately management of state lands which was the courts. The guidelines set forth in duly approved by him in July of that Chapter II allow certain structures, year. In 1973 the legislature improvements and uses in some land renumbered and then amended Section classifications and prohibit certain of 807 to Section 816, the text of which is them in other classifications. also set forth in Appendix I.

If there is a unifying theme to the master plan, it is that the protection and STATE OWNERSHIPS preservation of the natural resources of the state lands within the Park must be While the Act does not define the paramount. Human use and enjoyment term "state lands," the Agency has inter- of those lands should be permitted and preted it to mean land held in the name encouraged, so long as the resources in of, owned by or under long-term lease to their physical and biological context as the State of New York or a state agency. well as their social or psychological In addition, due to the extensive State aspects are not degraded. This theme is control in the form of a permanent drawn not only from the Adirondack easement over the North Elba Park

District lands on Mt. Van Hoevenberg, constitutionality of such legislative or these lands have also been considered administrative classifications of land as State lands for the purposes of the Plan. non-forest preserve. Applying this definition, the following inventory of state lands exists within the Lands under the jurisdiction of the Adirondack Park: Department of Transportation:

Lands under the jurisdiction of the These consist of the travel corridors Department of Environmental owned in fee, easement, or right-of-way Conservation: for state and interstate highways and certain railroad corridors within the Park, Substantially all of the including administrative headquarters, approximately 2.9 million acres of land storage areas and maintenance administered by the Department of facilities. Environmental Conservation form part of the Adirondack forest preserve and are Lands under the jurisdiction of other protected by the "forever wild" clause of state agencies: Article XIV, §l of the State Constitution. A small amount of acreage also These include a variety of administered by the Department of developed uses such as State Police Environmental Conservation is substations, the Adirondack Correctional considered non-forest preserve. This Facility, the Dannemora Correctional consists of: Facility, Camp Gabriels and the Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility and the -- lands in the Towns of Altona Sunmount Developmental Center. and Dannemora which are expressly Substantially all are immediately excluded from Article XIV, §l by the adjacent to public highways, and most terms of the Constitution; are in developed areas of the Park. The total acreage involved is approximately -- lands given or devised to the 12,000 acres of which the developed State for silvicultural or wildlife portion is approximately 1,000 acres. management purposes which by statute are not considered part of the forest These miscellaneous types of uses preserve; raise constitutional questions which, -- the Department's though sometimes addressed by the administrative headquarters; Attorney General, have never been resolved in the courts. -- certain historic areas;

-- certain lands acquired under PRIVATE OWNERSHIPS the 1960 and 962 Park and Recreation Land Acquisition Bond Act and other Land lands which have been administratively classified by the Department as The Act clearly recognizes the non-forest preserve lands. unique land ownership pattern within the Adirondack Park -- the intermingling of Nothing in this master plan should public and private lands in a be interpreted as supporting the checkerboard pattern -- and mandates

the Agency to reflect in this master plan Fish and wildlife resources on the actual and projected uses of private private lands complement those lands within the Park. In 1973 the available on the state land, particularly Legislature enacted, in Section 805 of in the many instances where groups of the Act, the Adirondack Park Land Use sportsmen lease hunting and fishing and Development Plan to guide rights on large private tracts. development on private lands within the Park. Conservation Easement Lands

This mixture of public and private The State has acquired over the lands is a distinguishing feature of the years a variety of conservation Adirondack Park. At the present time, easements and less than fee interests state ownerships account for some which serve an important public purpose forty- four percent of the 6,000,000 in preserving the natural character of the acres of land within the Park, the land for the benefit of the Park. Although balance being in private hands. This the State owns various rights on these ownership poses many problems in that lands, the land remains in private development in the private sector often ownership and is therefore not subject has a dramatic impact on the use of to the State land classification system nearby state lands. Conversely, major and guidelines of the Master Plan. public facilities, such as a campground or ski center, directly affect land uses on These less-than-fee interests are an related private lands. important element in the relationship between state and private lands. In This land relationship also has many addition to state-held easements, advantages. The more intensive private conservation organizations hold recreational and service facilities on conservation easements over a private lands permit both a broader significant acreage of private land, spectrum of recreational opportunities which also help preserve the natural, and wider public enjoyment of the state open-space character of the Park. This lands. The economic viability of these master plan for state lands has therefore private facilities should be a major attempted to take into account, both in concern in the development of pricing the basic classification system and in and operating policies for state intensive the guidelines for future land use areas. The siting of new state acquisitions, this intermingling of private intensive use areas and the expansion and public lands within the Park. of existing areas also must take into full account the existence of similar and Appendix II of the Master Plan possibly competing private recreational provides a brief description of the facilities and should not be competitive 699,432 acres of more important with such private facilities. In addition, conservation easement acquisitions. the economy of the entire Adirondack region is vitally affected by the vast Water acreage of private lands that are devoted to multiple use forestry. To a The water resources of the Adiron- much lesser extent, mining on private dacks are critical to the integrity of the lands is also important to the area's Park. The protection of the major water- economic well-being. sheds of the state was a major reason

for the creation of the forest preserve promulgated by the Agency. Existing and continues to be of significant power and authority of the state or local importance. Waters, particularly lakes governments over state waters should and ponds, have their carrying capacity be reviewed with consideration given to from a physical, biological and social legislative needs to more accurately standpoint just as do tracts of public or define authority over these waters. private land. The use made of state waters also has a direct impact on adjacent land holdings. PUBLIC CONCERN FOR THE ADIRONDACK PARK A genuine need exists to insure that the scale and intensity of water-oriented The people of the State of New York uses are consistent with uses of have shown a deep and abiding concern adjoining state and private lands and the for the management and use of state general character of the Park, lands in the Adirondacks for more than a particularly so far as the type, speed century. This concern was evidenced by and number of boats are concerned. the passage of the "forever wild" amendment to the state constitution in 1894 to A comprehensive study of prevent the ravages of the Adirondack Adirondack lakes and ponds should be forests and the dissipation of the state's conducted by the Department of land-holdings, which typified the closing Environmental Conservation to decades of the 19th century. determine each water body's capacity to withstand various uses, particularly Article XIV, §1 of the New York motorized uses and to maintain and State Constitution reads in part as enhance its biological, natural and follows: aesthetic qualities. First emphasis should be given to major lakes and THE LANDS OF THE STATE, ponds totally surrounded by state land NOW OWNED OR and to those on which state intensive HEREAFTER ACQUIRED, use facilities exist or may be proposed. CONSTITUTING THE FOREST The importance of the quality of these PRESERVE AS NOW FIXED resources cannot be overemphasized. BY LAW, SHALL BE FOREVER KEPT AS WILD FOREST The Department of Environmental LANDS. THEY SHALL NOT BE Conservation has the authority LEASED, SOLD OR independent of the master plan to EXCHANGED, OR BE TAKEN regulate uses of waters and uses of BY ANY CORPORATION, wild, scenic and recreational rivers PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, NOR running through state land, but may not SHALL THE TIMBER have such authority to regulate certain THEREON BE SOLD, uses of waters where all or part of the REMOVED OR DESTROYED. shoreline is in private ownership. The Agency has the authority to regulate It is significant that, although motorized use of wild, scenic and renumbered, this exact wording has recreational rivers and their river been a part of the State Constitution corridors on private lands. Regulations since 1895. exercising this authority have been

Article XIV protects both the The attitude of the voters of the Adirondack and Catskill forest state has similarly been reflected in the preserves, and covers in all some rulings of the Attorney General and the 3,000,000 acres of state lands in the relatively few court decisions that define twelve Adirondack counties and four the limits and applicability of Article XIV. Catskill counties both within and without By and large these legal rulings have the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. taken a conservative attitude towards However, of the Adirondack acreage, the scale and character of better than ninety-nine percent is developments permitted on the forest contained within the so-called "Blue preserve. Line" that delineates the boundaries of the public and private lands constituting Finally, the administration of the for- the Adirondack Park today. The est preserve has been in the hands of enormous tracts of forest preserve the Department of Environmental provide a public resource for recreation Conservation and its predecessor in a wild setting that is unique in the agencies since the "forever wild" eastern half of the United States and amendment was first enacted. complements the more developed Placed in the national perspective, the facilities of the excellent state park stewardship of the Department and its system in the rest of the state. predecessors has few equals.

Between 1895 and 1985 there were In 1961 the Legislature established over 130 proposed amendments the Lake George Park, consisting of introduced in the state legislature to some 200,000 acres in Warren, change Article XIV, but only nineteen Washington and Essex Counties, which have been successful in passing both includes all of the watershed of Lake the legislature and public referendum. In George. The purpose of the law is to eighteen of the successful measures, provide special protection for the Lake the forest preserve lands involved were George Park with particular emphasis restricted to small acreage and were on preserving water quality and the quite precisely delineated. The unique natural and scenic values of the nineteenth successful measure (the Park. Perkins Clearing land exchange approved by the voters in 1979) while Over time, increasing attention has authorizing the conveyance of been focused on the Adirondack forest approximately 8,500 acres in the towns preserve. Pioneering studies were of Lake Pleasant and Arietta, required undertaken in the late 1950's and early legislative approval of actual tracts to be 1960's by the Joint Legislative Com- exchanged. This long history clearly mittee on Natural Resources under the indicates that the majority of voters in successive chairmanships of Senators the state, for over a century, have Wheeler Milmoe and R. Watson expressed their desire to protect the Pomeroy. More recently the public has forest preserve against intrusions and recognized that if the character of the retain these public lands as a wild forest Adirondack forest preserve is to be preserve. retained in the face of a growing

population, better transportation facilities -- the preparation of a land use and the soaring demand for outdoor and development plan for all private recreation, not only will past manage- lands within the Park. ment practices on the forest preserve require reassessment, but also the integrity of the Adirondack Park as a ACQUISITION POLICY whole must be assured. Thus attention RECOMMENDATIONS to other critical state ownerships, such as the major travel corridors, and The Agency has an important appropriate controls over development interest in future state land acquisitions on private lands are as important to the since they can vitally affect both private future of the forest preserve today as and public land within the Adirondack the passage of the forever wild Park. As a result the Agency amendment was generations ago. recommends that the following guidelines should govern future These new problems were acquisitions of state lands within the highlighted by Governor Rockefeller in Park: naming the Temporary Study Commission on the Future of the 1. Future state acquisitions Adirondacks in 1968 to assess and within the Adirondack Park should make recommendations for the future generally be restricted to the acquisition use of both state and private lands of forest preserve lands. Where special within the Adirondack Park. The state purposes are such that non-forest Commission's report, issued in preserve land might be acquired (if such December, 1970, is the most acquisitions are constitutionally comprehensive study ever made of the permissible) the amount acquired for Adirondack Park. Among its major other than forest preserve purposes recommendations are: should be kept to the minimum necessary. Thus, should the state -- the creation of the acquire a 100-acre tract on which it Adirondack Park Agency; wishes to place a hospital, a prison, an office building or another facility only -- the preparation by the that part of the tract, say twenty-five Agency of a master plan for state lands; acres, that is actually necessary for the facility should be classified as non-forest -- the classification of these preserve. lands "according to their characteristics and capacity to withstand use"; 2. As a general guideline, the state should avoid acquiring lands for -- a set of extensive guidelines non-forest preserve purposes (if such for the care, custody and control of state acquisitions are constitutionally lands under the master plan, with permissible) within the Park where: particular emphasis on stricter controls over proposed wilderness and primitive -- the tract is not contiguous to areas; and, a public highway; or,

-- the tract is of a native forest conservation easements providing character, i.e., stocked with any size, public use or value or rights of first native tree species with twenty-five refusal over, (i) key parcels of private percent crown cover (plantations are not land, the use or development of which considered to be native forest land); or, could adversely affect the integrity of vital tracts of state land, particularly -- the tract involved consists of wilderness, primitive and canoe areas more than 150 acres; or, and (ii) key parcels which would permit the upgrading of primitive areas to -- the tract is contiguous to wilderness areas. existing forest preserve land; or, 5. High priority should also be -- the tract is within one-half given to acquisitions of fee title which mile of a block of forest preserve land of permit the consolidation of scattered over 1,000 acres; or, tracts of state land.

-- the tract lies at an elevation 6. Fee title or appropriate greater than 2,500 feet; or, conservation easements should also be acquired to protect critical wildlife areas -- the proposed use of the tract such as deer wintering areas, wetlands, will materially alter the surrounding habitats of rare or endangered species environment; or, or other areas of unique value, such as lands bordering or providing access to -- the tract is of significant classified or proposed wild, scenic and scenic, ecological or geologic value or recreational rivers. interest. 7. Efforts should be made, by 3. Save for (i) the two existing conservation easement or fee alpine skiing centers at Whiteface and acquisition, to protect the major scenic Gore mountains and the Mt. Van resources of the Park along travel Hoevenberg area; (ii) rustic state corridors, with particular attention to the campsites, a long accepted intensive Adirondack Northway and those scenic use of the forest preserve; (iii) memorial vistas specifically identified on the highways, beaches and boat launching Private Land Use and Development sites; and (iv) historic areas (guidelines Plan Map and listed in Chapter III of this for which are provided elsewhere in this document. master plan), the state should rely on private enterprise to develop intensive 8. The acquisition of fee title to recreational facilities on private lands or rights-of-way across private lands within the Park, to the extent that the that effectively prevent access to character of these lands permits this important blocks of state land should be type of development, and should not pursued, except where such acquisition acquire lands for these purposes. would exacerbate or cause problems of overuse or inappropriate use of state 4. Highest priority should be lands. given to acquiring fee title to, fee title subject to a term of life tenancy, or

9. Canoe route easements following acquisition and in any case should be purchased to reopen classification of new acquisitions will be Adirondack canoe routes for non- done annually; and, motorized access in appropriate areas of the Park. -- prior to classification by the Agency, lands acquired by the 10. The highly successful fishing Department of Environmental rights easement purchase program of Conservation or any other state agency the Department of Environmental will be administered on an interim basis Conservation should be continued and in a manner consistent with the char- expanded on appropriate streams. acter of the land and its capacity to withstand use and which will not foreclose 11. Due to the importance of the options for eventual classification. forest products industry to the economy of the Adirondack region, bulk acreage purchases in fee should not normally be LAND EXCHANGE made where highly productive forest land is involved, unless such land is The exchange of state lands for threatened with development that would private lands within the Park poses curtail its use for forestry purposes or its obvious constitutional problems, in that value for the preservation of open space any given exchange must be approved or of wildlife habitat. However, by the people in a constitutional conservation easements permitting the amendment. While this process is continuation of sound forest cumbersome on a case-by-case basis, management and other land uses serious difficulties are likely to be compatible with the open space encountered in attempting to obtain ap- character of the Park should be proval of a constitutional amendment acquired wherever possible to protect permitting wholesale land exchanges, and buffer state lands. the merits of which are questionable. Careful consideration should be given, While the Agency has not been however, to the desirability of a given authority to review proposed constitutional amendment providing a acquisitions before title has vested in land bank of modest acreage that would the state, once new lands have been allow the legislature to permit small acquired the Act requires the master scale land exchanges. This would avoid plan to be revised by classifying the the difficult amendment process for lands and setting guidelines for their minor exchanges such as the Saranac management and use pursuant to the Lake town dump and the Piseco airport statutory procedures (consultation with parcels, now part of Article XIV, §1 of the Department of Environmental the New York State Constitution. Conservation and submission to the Governor for approval). The following procedures for revisions of the master PLAN REVISION AND REVIEW plan will be followed in connection with new acquisitions: The Act states that if amendments are made to the master plan, they shall -- land acquisitions should be be effectuated in the same manner as classified as promptly as possible

the plan was initially adopted. Changes master plan, the Act mandates periodic in existing land use may require periodic reviews of the master plan. Planning is amendments to the plan. Such changes an on-going process and, as public use essentially involve a shift in of the state lands expands or changes in classification of lands from one major years ahead, land use controls may classification to another and would require re-analysis. The Agency will include, but are not limited to: undertake annual reviews of the master plan to address such issues as the -- the proposed construction of classification of recent acquisitions, a new campground on land previously reclassification resulting from the classified as wild forest; or, removal of non-conforming uses, modest boundary adjustments, minor -- the upgrading of a primitive technical changes, clarification or area to a wilderness area as a result of corrections and similar matters. To the removal of non-conforming uses assist in this process, the Department and/or of the acquisition of an inholding will provide, annually, to the Agency the of private land; or, following information:

-- the designation of a new wild, -- a list of new state land scenic or recreational river. acquisitions together with a summary statement of the applicable acquisition In addition, material changes in the policy guidelines, the objectives served guidelines applicable to each by each acquisition and background classification will also constitute a plan information necessary for the revision. classifications of the acquisitions.

Revisions will be undertaken as -- a list of non-conforming uses needs dictate and may be requested by removed during the previous year. the Agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Major reviews of the master plan will Department of Transportation or any take place every five years by the other interested state agency. Requests Agency in consultation with the from local governments or responsible Department of Environmental private persons or organizations for plan Conservation, as required by statute, revision will be given due and fair and with other interested state agencies. consideration. Such revisions will be Any state agency may call for such a made by the Agency, in consultation review at more frequent intervals. In with the Department of Environmental keeping with this recommendation, Conservation, and will be the subject of starting in 1976, the Agency, in public hearings within and without the consultation with the Department of Park. Any resulting changes in the Environmental Conservation and other master plan will be submitted to the state agencies, conducted an in-depth Governor for his approval as provided review of the master plan leading to by the Act. various modifications therein, which were the subject of seven public Even in the absence of acquisitions hearings both within and without the or changes in land classification or Park and extensive consultation with a guidelines requiring modification of the wide variety of interest groups in late

1978 and early 1979 and which were UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN submitted to Governor Carey on April DEVELOPMENT 20, 1979, and approved by him on October 24, 1979. In 1984/85 the Section 816 of the Act directs the Agency, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Department of Environmental Conser- Conservation to develop, in consultation vation, undertook a similar review and with the Agency, individual unit consultation process. Proposed management plans for each unit of land modifications to the master plan were under its jurisdiction classified in the the subject of similar consultation with a master plan. Due to the widely wide variety of interest groups as well as dispersed nature of certain wild forest two public hearings within and without areas, the Department may establish for the Park and were submitted to unit management planning purposes, Governor Cuomo on September 22, individual sub-units of wild forest units 1986 and approved by him on which because of location, physical fea- November 4, 1987. tures, ecological systems and use patterns can be managed as an Strong public involvement in the individual unit. In accordance with whole process of revision and review statutory mandate, all plans will conform should be encouraged. The Act to the guidelines and criteria set forth in mandates that public hearings be the master plan and cannot amend the conducted prior to approval by the master plan itself. Unit management Agency and the Governor of revisions to plans will contain: the master plan. These public hearings are required to be held both within and -- an inventory, at a level of without the Adirondack Park in recogni- detail appropriate to the area, of the tion of the state-wide concern for both natural, scenic, cultural, fish and wildlife the forest preserve and the Park. (including game and non-game species) Appropriate publicity and sufficient and other appropriate resources of the notice about proposed changes in the area and an analysis of the area's master plan are also necessary to ecosystems; permit maximum public participation. In addition, the Agency will make every -- an inventory of all existing effort to publish and disseminate copies facilities for public or administrative use; of the master plan and to take other measures to foster greater public -- an inventory of the types and appreciation of the resources of the extent of actual and projected public use forest preserve and the Park as well as of the area; the nature of the planning process. -- an assessment of the impact Major revisions were conducted and of actual and projected public use on the master plan revisions were adopted in resources, ecosystems and public 1979, 1987, 2016, and 2019. enjoyment of the area with particular attention to portions of the area threatened by overuse; and,

-- an assessment of the -- the preservation and physical, biological and social carrying management of special interest areas capacity of the area with particular such as the habitats of rare, threatened attention to portions of the area or endangered species and areas with threatened by overuse in light of its the potential for the reintroduction of resource limitations and its classification extirpated species, unique geological under the master plan. areas and historic areas or structures;

Each unit management plan will -- the identification of needed also set forth a statement of the additions or improvements to, and plans management objectives for the for providing for further appropriate protection and rehabilitation of the public use of, the area consistent with its area's resources and ecosystems and carrying capacity; for public use of the area consistent with its carrying capacity. -- the removal of such non-conforming uses as may remain; These management objectives will and, address, on a site-specific basis as may be pertinent to the area, such issues as: -- the identification, in intensive use, historic and appropriate portions of -- actions to minimize adverse wild forest areas accessible by motor impacts on the resources of the area; vehicles, of measures that can be taken to improve access to and enjoyment of -- the rehabilitation of such these lands, and associated structures portions of the area as may suffer from and improvements, by persons with overuse or resource degradation; disabilities.

-- the regulation or limitation of Unit management plans will also public use such that the carrying address the administrative actions and capacity of the area is not exceeded and the minimum facilities necessary on a the types of measures necessary to site specific basis, as may be pertinent achieve that objective; to the area to attain the stated management objectives of such area. – the preservation of aquatic and terrestrial habitats of the area; Schedules for achievement of such objectives will be included in each unit -- the preservation and management plan. The land management of the fish and wildlife characteristics and the recommended resources (including game and objectives for each area will be related non-game species) of the area; to and integrated with the characteristics and management objectives for -- the preservation and adjacent public and private land areas. management of the lakes, ponds, rivers General recommendations for future and streams of the area, with particular acquisition will be included as attention to all proposed or designated appropriate. wild, scenic and recreational rivers;

An initial draft of the unit manage- INVASIVE SPECIES ment plan for each state land area including alternative management The negative impacts of invasive objectives, where appropriate, will be species on natural forest and aquatic submitted to the Agency for review and communities are well documented. comment, prior to the preparation of the Colonization and unrestrained growth of final draft plan for public review. invasive species cause the loss of biodiversity, interruption of normal Opportunity will be made for review hydrology, suppression of native and comment on the draft unit vegetation, and significant aesthetic, management plans by the public and human safety and economic impacts. other interested parties, and a public Terrestrial and aquatic invasive species meeting or meetings will be convened have been identified at increasing rates as appropriate for that purpose. of colonization along roadsides in campgrounds, and in water bodies of Final unit management plans will be the Forest Preserve. Some of these prepared by the Department of species have the potential to colonize Environmental Conservation after due backcountry lands, lakes and ponds and consideration of all comments and degrade natural resources of the Forest recommendations made on the public Preserve. review draft. The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Efforts should be made to restore Conservation will adopt each final unit and protect the native ecological management plan which will then be communities through early detection filed with the Agency. The Department and rapid response efforts to eradicate of Environmental Conservation will or control existing or newly identified report annually to the Agency on invasive species populations. Subject to progress made toward the im- existing policy and guidelines, the plementation of each adopted unit Department will use the basic tools management plan. needed to preserve, protect and restore the natural native ecosystems of the Any material modification in adopted Forest Preserve. unit management plans will be made following the procedure for original unit plan preparation. SPECIAL HISTORIC AREA UNIT MANAGEMENT PLANS The Department of Environmental Conservation has made significant This master plan also provides for progress in getting the unit management special historic area unit management planning process underway. This plans for the development and progress should be continued so that all management of state historic sites. This unit management plans will be special procedure is designed to completed before the next five-year address the unique problems associated review of the master plan in 1989/90. with these types of facilities. Such The Department of Environmental special historic area unit management Conservation should commit the plans will be the subject of public necessary resources for that purpose.

hearings and will be submitted to the and management of these lands in agency for its approval as being compliance with the guidelines and consistent with the master plan prior to criteria laid down by the master plan. their implementation. In accordance with its administrative and management responsibilities, the INTERPRETATION AND Department of Environmental APPLICATION OF THE MASTER Conservation is charged with the duty to prepare, in consultation with the PLAN Agency, individual unit management plans for the units of land classified in Decades of experience under the the master plan. The unit management master plan have confirmed that plans must apply the general guidelines questions of interpretation of the master and criteria in the master plan and plan as applied to a given activity or cannot amend the master plan itself. land use arise from time to time. This is Unit management plans shall be particularly the case in the context of regarded as a mechanism to refine and those guidelines that are quite general apply the general guidelines and criteria in character. During the public hearings in the master plan to specific conditions and consultations preceding the on the ground, at a level of detail ap- 1978/79 revision of the master plan, propriate to administration and manage- there was considerable public comment ment. When finally adopted by the on the need to clarify the relationship of Department, these unit management the Agency to the Department of plans will assist significantly in resolving Environmental Conservation and other questions of interpretation and state agencies on matters of application of the master plan. interpretation and application of the guidelines of the master plan. The 1979 revision of the master plan expressly extended the unit In this regard, it is well to remember management plan concept to the special that the legislature has established a case of historic areas. In addition, two-tiered structure regarding state neither the Act nor the master plan lands in the Adirondack Park. The excludes the possibility of preparation of Agency is responsible for long-range individual unit management plans for planning and the establishment of basic other land classifications such as state policy for state lands in the Park, in administrative areas -- an approach consultation with the Department of which would be fully consistent with the Environmental Conservation. Via the basic structure of the Act. master plan, the Agency has the authority to establish general guidelines In light of the above principles, the and criteria for the management of state following guidelines will apply to lands, subject, of course, to the approval questions of interpretation and of the Governor. On the other hand, the application of the master plan: Department of Environmental Conservation and other state agencies -- The Agency will be with respect to the more modest responsible, as a policy matter, for acreage of land under their jurisdictions, general interpretations of the master have responsibility for the administration plan itself either on its own initiative, at

the request of any interested state capacity to withstand use." This section agency, or, for state agencies other than of the master plan will describe the the Department of Environmental factors which the Agency has taken into Conservation, in connection with its account in formulating the classification review of state projects under Section system set forth in the balance of this 814 of the Act. chapter and will explain the basic purpose of the system and the guide- -- The Agency will be lines for management and use which fol- responsible for determining whether a low. This classification system reflects proposed individual unit management the work of the Temporary Study plan complies with the general Commission on the Future of the guidelines and criteria set forth in the Adirondacks as refined by additional master plan. field work and analysis by the Agency at the time the master plan was first -- The Department of prepared in 1972. In addition, a special Environmental Conservation (or other Department of Environmental Con- appropriate state agencies) will be servation task force set up in 1972 responsible for the application of the provided extremely valuable assistance master plan and individual unit in the formulation of this system. Many management plans with respect to years of experience under the master administration and management of the plan and considerable additional field state lands under its jurisdiction. work have led to certain additional refinements but the basic classification -- The Agency and the system remains intact. Department of Environmental Conservation (or other appropriate state A fundamental determinant of land agencies) will enter into memoranda of classification is the physical understanding designed to implement characteristics of the land or water these guidelines in actual practice. The which have a direct bearing upon the Agency and the Department of capacity of the land to accept human Environmental Conservation have use. Soil, slope, elevation and water are operated under such a memorandum of the primary elements of these physical understanding since 1982. characteristics and they are found in widely varied associations. For example, the fertility, erosiveness and depth of soil, the severity of slopes, the II. CLASSIFICATION elevational characteristics reflected in SYSTEM AND microclimates, the temperature, chemistry, volume and turnover rate of GUIDELINES streams or lakes, all affect the carrying capacity of the land or water both from the standpoint of the construction of BASIS AND PURPOSE OF facilities and the amount of human use CLASSIFICATION the land or water itself can absorb. By and large, these factors highlight the THE ACT REQUIRES the Agency to essential fragility of significant portions classify the state lands in the Park of the state lands within the Park. These according to "their characteristics and fragile areas include most lands above

2,500 feet in altitude, particularly the cover, the ruggedness of the terrain or boreal (spruce-fir), sub-alpine and alpine merely the views over other areas of the zones, as well as low-lying areas such Park obtainable from some vantage as bogs, fens, marshes and other point. Without these elements an area wetlands. In addition, rivers, streams, should not be classified as wilderness, lakes and ponds and their environs even though the physical and biological often present special physical problems. factors would dictate that the limitations of wilderness management are Biological considerations also play essential. an important role in the structuring of the classification system. Many of these are In such cases, as will be seen, a associated with the physical limitations primitive designation would be required. just described; for instance many plants Other classification determinants are of the boreal, subalpine and alpine more concrete, for example the zones are less able to withstand suitability of a given system of lakes and trampling than species associated with ponds for canoeing or guideboating, the lower elevation life zones. Wetland ability of larger bodies of water to ecosystems frequently are finely provide for adequately distributed balanced and incapable of absorbing motorboat use, or the accessibility of a material changes resulting from tract of land to a public highway, and its construction or intensive human use. In attractiveness, permitting the addition, wildlife values and wildlife development of a campground or other habitats are relevant to the intensive use facility. characteristics of the land and sometimes determine whether a particular Finally, the classification system kind of human use should be takes into account the established encouraged or prohibited, for example facilities on the land, the uses now being the impact of snowmobiles on deer made by the public and the policies wintering yards, the effect of numbers or followed by the various administering hikers or campers near the nesting agencies. Many of these factors are habitat of rare, threatened or self-evident: the presence of a highway endangered species like the bald eagle determines the classification of a travel or spruce grouse, or the problems corridor; the presence of an existing associated with motorized access to campground or ski area requires the bodies of water with wild strains of classification of intensive use. The native trout. extent of existing facilities and uses which might make it impractical to In addition, another significant attempt to recreate a wilderness or wild determinant of land classification forest atmosphere is also a involves certain intangible consideration. This is not to imply that considerations that have an inevitable when present uses or facilities are impact on the character of land. Some degrading the resource they should be of these are social or continued, but their presence cannot be psychological--such as the sense of ignored. The unique mixture of public remoteness and degree of wildness and private land within the Park also available to users of a particular area, requires that account be taken of which may result from the size of an facilities and uses being made on area, the type and density of its forest contiguous or nearby private lands.

Thus a large private inholding subject to forest reserve are permitted by these or threatened by some form of intensive guidelines and in many cases more use might prevent the designation of an restrictive management is provided for. otherwise suitable tract of state land as Obviously, these guidelines are subject wilderness. to any future legal rulings further restricting uses of the forest preserve The above described factors are and, as already noted, they are not to be obviously complex and their application considered as attempts to make legal is, in certain instances, subjective, since determinations on unresolved issues the value of resource quality or regarding the constitutional ap- character cannot be precisely evaluated propriateness of any such structures, or measured. Nonetheless, the Agency improvements or uses. believes that the classification system described below reflects the character In addition, the designation of state and capacity to withstand use of all state administrative areas and historic areas lands within the Adirondack Park in in the master plan should not be taken conformity with the provisions of the Act. as lending weight to the constitutional appropriateness of the general Nine basic categories result from treatment of these lands by the state, this classification: either legislatively or administratively, as non-forest preserve. These new Wilderness classifications seek only to reflect, in Primitive terms of land use, what has long existed Canoe in the Park irrespective of constitutional Wild Forest questions. A constitutional amendment Intensive Use should, however, be considered which Historic would put the propriety of these State Administrative non-forest preserve types of land uses Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers beyond question and provide a modest Travel Corridors land bank to permit future acquisitions of these types of lands by the state. The Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers and Travel Corridors Nothing in the guidelines for lands classifications are essentially corridor falling within each major classification overlays to the basic land shall be deemed to prevent the classification(s) through which the Department of Environmental corridor passes. Conservation, or any other state agency administering such lands, from providing Guidelines for the lands falling for more restrictive management where within each major classification and necessary to comply with constitutional various special management guidelines requirements or to protect the natural for unique resources within these major resources of such lands. classifications are set forth in the remaining portions of this chapter. While care has been employed in Insofar as forest preserve lands are compiling and depicting the information concerned, no structures, improvements shown on the map forming part of this or uses not now established on the master plan, it should be emphasized

that, due to possible base map 4. Bicycle -- a non-motorized, inaccuracies and the large scale of the human-powered, cycle designed or map the location of the classification used for cross country travel on roads or system boundaries are subject to trails. precise definition on the site by the Adirondack Park Agency, in consultation 5. Bicycle Trail -- a marked trail, with the Department of Environmental designated for travel by bicycles, Conservation, the Department of located and designed to provide access Transportation and such other state in a manner causing the least effect on agencies as may be involved. Similarly, the local environment. acreage and mileage statistics in this plan are not the product of actual 6. Boat Launching Site -- a site surveys and may vary when compared providing for the launching of trailered to data from other sources. boats, with ramp and attendant parking facilities.

DEFINITIONS 7. Campground -- a concentrated, developed camping area As used herein, the following terms with controlled access, not meeting the shall have the following meanings: standards for individual, primitive tent sites or lean-tos, which is designed to 1. Administrative Road -- an accommodate a significant number of improved way maintained by the overnight visitors and may incorporate Department of Environmental associated day-use facilities. Conservation for the principal purpose Campgrounds are commonly known as of facilitating administration of state "campsites" by the Department of lands or of allowing access for Environmental Conservation. firefighting equipment and not normally open for public use of motorized 8. Cross Country Ski Trail -- a vehicles. This type of road has been marked and maintained path or way for called a State Truck Trail in older cross country ski or snowshoe travel, editions of this Plan. which has the same dimensions and character and may also serve as a foot 2. Aircraft -- a device for trail, designed to provide reasonable transporting people or material that access in a manner causing the least travels through the air and is propelled effect on the surrounding environment by a non-living power source contained and not constructed, maintained or on or within the device. groomed with the use of motor vehicles.

3. All Terrain Vehicle -- a motor 9. Day-Use Area -- a developed vehicle designed or used for cross facility designed to accommodate a country travel on unimproved roads or significant number of visitors on a trails. The term includes jeeps or other day-use basis only. The term includes four wheel drive automobiles, dirt or trail such facilities as beaches, parkways, bikes and all forms of "ATVs", "ATCs", memorial highways, the Mt. Van and "ORVs", but excludes snowmobiles. Hoevenberg area, the alpine ski centers at Whiteface and Gore Mountains, boat launching sites and similar facilities.

10. Electric-assisted Bicycle -- 17. Horse Mounting Platform -- a bicycle equipped with fully operable a rustic structure constructed of natural pedals and an electric motor with an materials and designed for mounting a output of less than seven hundred fifty horse. watts (one horsepower) whereby such electric motor engages only when the 18. Horse Trail -- a path marked operator is pedaling and disengages or and maintained for travel by horses, ceases to function when such bicycle's located and designed to provide for brakes are applied, the operator stops reasonable access in a manner causing pedaling, or such bicycle achieves a the least effect on the local environment. speed of twenty miles per hour or more. 19. Improved Cross Country Ski 11. Fireplace -- a permanent Trail -- a marked and maintained path structure constructed of stone and for cross country ski use designed for cement designed to contain and control competitive or intensive use conditions camp fires. which may be constructed, maintained or groomed with the use of motor 12. Fire Ring -- a temporary vehicles. cluster of rocks designed to contain and control camp fires which may contain, in 20. Improvement -- any change fire sensitive areas, a cement slab. in or addition to land, which materially affects the existing use, condition or 13. Fish Barrier Dam -- a appearance of the land or any man-made device or structure used to vegetation thereon, including but not prevent the upstream or downstream limited to foot, horse, and bicycle trails, movement of fish for the purpose of roads, administrative roads, snowmobile protecting a high-value native fishery. trails, cross country ski trails, improved cross country ski trails, trail heads, 14. Fishing and Waterway picnic areas and individual primitive tent Access Sites -- a site for fishing or sites. other water access with attendant parking facilities which does not contain 21. Lean-to -- an open front a ramp for or otherwise permit the shelter made of natural materials launching of trailered boats. suitable for transient residence, constructed according to a standard 15. Foot Trail -- a marked and Department of Environmental Conser- maintained path or way for foot travel vation plan and located so as to accom- located and designed to provide for modate the need for shelter in a manner reasonable access in a manner causing least intrusive on the surrounding the least effect on the surrounding environment. environment. 22. Lean-to Cluster -- more than 16. Horse Barn -- a rustic two lean-tos within sight or sound of structure designed to provide temporary each other and generally separated by a shelter for a small number of horses. distance of less than one-quarter mile.

23. Motor Vehicle -- a device for comply with the guidelines for such transporting people, supplies or classification specified in the master material, incorporating a motor or an plan. engine of any type for propulsion and with wheels, tracks, skids, skis, air 28. Peripheral Visitor cushion or other contrivance Registration Structure -- a primitive for traveling on or adjacent to land and structure of natural materials open on at water or through water. The term least one side and not designed for includes such vehicles as automobiles, human habitation, located at the trucks, jeeps, motorbikes, dirt or trail periphery of units of state land, and bikes, any type of all-terrain vehicles, intended to provide information and, duffle carriers, snowmobiles, snowcats, where appropriate, control of access to bulldozers and other earth-moving such lands. equipment and motorboats. 29. Primitive Tent Site -- a 24. Motorboat -- a device for designated tent site of an undeveloped transporting people or material that character providing space for not more travels over, on, or under the water and than three tents, which may have an is propelled by a non-living power associated pit privy and fire ring, source on or within the device. designed to accommodate a maximum of eight people on a temporary or 25. Motorized Equipment -- transient basis, and located so as to machines not designed for transporting accommodate the need for shelter in a people, supplies or materials, or for manner least intrusive on the earth moving but incorporating a motor, surrounding environment. engine or other non-living power source to accomplish a task. The term includes 30. Rail Trails -- trails developed such machines as chain saws, brush within a railroad corridor where tracks saws, rotary or other mowers, rock drills, have been removed to accommodate cement mixers and generators. modes of travel other than rail car, including snowmobiles, horses and 26. Natural Materials -- bicycles, but excluding public use of construction components drawn from ATVs, automobiles, and other motor the immediate project site or materials vehicles. brought into the construction site that conform in size, shape and physical 31. Rails-with-trails -- trails within characteristics to those naturally present a railroad corridor that run alongside in the vicinity of the project site. Such railroad tracks. materials include stone, logs, and sawn and treated timber. Natural materials 32. Railbed -- the hardened may be fastened or anchored by use of surface, under or formerly under the bolts, nails, spikes or similar means. railroad tracks.

27. Non-Conforming Use -- a 33. Ranger Stations or Ranger structure, improvement or human use or Cabins -- enclosed buildings activity existing, constructed or constructed or maintained by the conducted on or in relation to land within Department of Environmental a given classification that does not Conservation, suitable for human

habitation and manned seasonally or 38. Snowmobiles -- a self- year-round by administrative personnel propelled vehicle equipped with a motor, to facilitate administrative control of originally manufactured and designed lands and public use thereof under the solely for travel on snow or ice, steered jurisdiction of the Department. by skis or runners and supported in whole or in part by one or more skis, 34. River -- a flowing body of belts, or tracked cleats. water, or a stream or a section, portion or tributary thereof, including a river, 39. Snowmobile Trail -- a marked stream, creek, run, kill, rill, branch or trail of essentially the same character as lake. a foot trail designated by the Department of Environmental 35. River Area -- a river and its Conservation on which, when covered immediate environs, including river by snow and ice, snowmobiles are banks and the land on both sides of the allowed to travel and which may double river up to a distance of at least as a foot trail at other times of year. one-quarter mile but not more than one-half mile. 40. Stream Improvement Structure for Fisheries Management 36. Road -- an improved or Purposes -- a structure and/or partially improved way designed for improvement, including but not limited travel by automobiles and which may to, fish barrier dams, small rock or log also be used by other types of motor dams, fish passage structures, minor vehicles except snowmobiles, unless diking, cribbing, bank stabilization and the way is a designated snowmobile stream deflectors and other structures trail; and is, or improvements designed solely for fisheries management purposes which (i) either maintained by a state do not materially alter the natural agency or a local government and open character or resource quality of the to the general public; water body, and which are made of natural materials wherever possible. (ii) maintained by private persons or corporations primarily for 41. Structure -- any object private use but which may also be open constructed, installed or placed on land to the general public for all or a segment to facilitate land use, including but not thereof; or, limited to bridges, buildings, ranger stations or ranger cabins, sheds, (iii) maintained by the lean-tos, pit privies, picnic tables, horse Department of Environmental barns, horse hitching posts and rails, fire Conservation or other state agency and towers, observer cabins, telephone and open to the public on a discretionary electric light lines, mobile homes, basis. campers, trailers, signs, docks and dams. 37. Roadbed – the part of the road on which vehicles travel.

42. Tent Platform -- a platform, with or without walls and other attachments, erected as a base for tenting or similar camping activity.

43. Trail Head -- a point of entrance to state land which may contain some or all of the following: vehicle parking, trail signs and peripheral visitor registration structures.

44. Wetlands -- any land annually subject to periodic or continual inundation by water and commonly referred to as a bog, fen or marsh, which is (i) one acre or more in size, or (ii) located adjacent to a body of water, including a permanent stream, with which there is free interchange of water at the surface, in which case there is no size limitation, and which (iii) meet the technical definition of 578.3(r) of the Adirondack Park Agency Rules and Regulations.

45. Wildlife Management Structure -- a structure or device designed for inventory or research purposes or for the protection or restoration of threatened or endangered species, including but not limited to animal enclosures or exclosures, traps, bat mine or cave gates, raptor hacking towers, nesting towers or boxes, that does not materially alter the natural character or resource quality of the land and that is made of natural materials whenever possible.

WILDERNESS official personnel that were incompatible with wilderness. However, the extent of Definition these non-conforming uses was very modest from the standpoint of the total A wilderness area, in contrast acreage involved. Since 1972 all but a with those areas where man and his few of those non-conforming uses have own works dominate the landscape, been removed by the Department of is an area where the earth and its Environmental Conservation. community of life are untrammeled by man--where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. A GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT wilderness area is further defined to AND USE mean an area of state land or water having a primeval character, without Basic guidelines significant improvement or permanent human habitation, which 1. The primary wilderness is protected and managed so as to management guideline will be to preserve, enhance and restore, where achieve and perpetuate a natural plant necessary, its natural conditions, and and animal community where man's which (1) generally appears to have influence is not apparent. been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's 2. In wilderness areas: work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for a) no additions or solitude or a primitive and expansions of non-conforming uses will unconfined type of recreation; (3) has be permitted; at least ten thousand acres of contiguous land and water or is of b) any remaining sufficient size and character as to non-conforming uses that were not make practicable its preservation and removed by the December 31, 1975 use in an unimpaired condition; and deadline provided for in the original (4) may also contain ecological, version of the master plan will be geological or other features of removed by March 3l, 1987; scientific, educational, scenic or historical value. c) non-conforming uses resulting from newly-classified Significant portions of the state wilderness areas will be removed as lands within the Park are in a wilderness rapidly as possible and in any case by or near-wilderness condition today. the end of the third year following These areas constitute nearly 20% of all classification; and, designated federal and state wilderness east of the Rocky Mountains and 85% of d) primitive tent sites that the designated wilderness in the eleven do not conform to the separation northeastern states. At the time of the distance guidelines will be brought into original enactment of this master plan, a compliance on a phased basis and in majority of these areas contained some any case by the end of the third year structures and improvements or were following adoption of a unit management subjected to uses by the public or by plan for the area.

3. No new non-conforming uses thereof. Any such lean- tos will be set will be permitted in any designated back a minimum of 100 feet from the wilderness area. mean high water mark of lakes, ponds, rivers or major streams. 4. Construction of additional conforming structures and 9. All pit privies will be located a improvements will be restrained to minimum of 150 feet from the mean high comply with wilderness standards for water mark of any lake, pond, river, or primitive and unconfined types of stream or wetland. recreation and to permit better maintenance and rehabilitation of Structures and improvements existing structures and improvements. 1. The structures and 5. No new structures or improvements listed below will be improvements in any wilderness area considered as conforming to wilderness will be constructed except in conformity standards and their maintenance, with finally adopted unit management rehabilitation and construction plans. This guideline will not prevent permitted: ordinary maintenance or rehabilitation of conforming structures or improvements, -- scattered Adirondack minor trail relocation, or the removal of lean-tos, not including lean-to clusters, non-conforming uses. below 3,500 feet in elevation;

6. All conforming structures and -- primitive tent sites below improvements will be designed and 3,500 feet in elevation that are out of located so as to blend with the sight and sound and generally surrounding environment and to require one-quarter mile from any other only minimal maintenance. primitive tent site or lean-to:

7. All management and (i) where physical and administrative action and interior biological conditions are favorable, facilities in wilderness areas will be individual unit management plans may designed to emphasize the permit the establishment, on a site- self-sufficiency of the user to assume a specific basis, of primitive tent sites high degree of responsibility for environ- between 3,500 and 4,000 feet in mentally-sound use of such areas and elevation, and, for his or her own health, safety and welfare. (ii) where severe terrain constraints prevent the attainment of the 8. Any new, reconstructed or guideline for a separation distance of relocated lean-tos or primitive tent sites generally one-quarter mile between planned for shorelines of lakes, ponds, primitive tent sites, individual unit rivers or major streams will be located management plans may provide, on a so as to be reasonably screened from site-specific basis, for lesser separation view from the water body to avoid distances, provided such sites remain intruding on the natural character of the out of sight and sound from each other, shoreline and public enjoyment and use be consistent with the carrying capacity

of the affected area and are generally -- wildlife management not less than 500 feet from any other structures on a temporary basis where primitive tent site; essential to the preservation of wilderness wildlife values and -- pit privies; resources.

-- foot trails; 2. All other structures and improvements, except for interior ranger -- cross country ski trails; stations themselves (guidelines for which are specified below), will be -- foot trail and cross country considered non-conforming. Any ski trail bridges constructed of natural remaining non-conforming structures materials and, where absolutely that were to have been removed by the necessary, ladders constructed of December 31, 1975 deadline but have natural materials; not yet been removed, will be removed by March 3l, 1987. These include but -- horse trails, except that any are not limited to: new horse trails will be limited to those that can be developed by conversion of -- lean-to clusters; appropriate abandoned roads, -- tent platforms; snowmobile trails, or administrative -- horse barns; roads; -- boat docks; -- storage sheds and other -- horse trail bridges buildings; constructed of natural materials; -- fire towers and observer cabins; -- horse hitching posts and -- telephone and electrical lines; rails; -- snowmobile trails; -- roads and administrative -- existing or new fish barrier roads; dams, constructed of natural materials -- helicopter platforms; and, wherever possible; -- buoys.

-- existing dams on established Ranger stations impoundments, except that, in the reconstruction or rehabilitation of such 1. No new interior stations will dams, natural materials will be used be constructed and all remaining interior wherever possible and no new dams will stations, other than Lake Colden, will be be constructed; phased out on a scheduled basis determined by the Department of -- directional, informational and Environmental Conservation, in favor of interpretive signs of rustic materials and stations or other facilities at the in limited numbers; periphery of the wilderness areas at major points of access to provide -- peripheral visitor registration needed supervision of public use. This structures; and, phase-out should be accomplished as soon as feasible, as specified in the individual unit management plans.

2. New methods of 4. Such use of motorized communication and supply, complying equipment or aircraft will be confined to with wilderness guidelines, will be off-peak seasons for the area in employed with respect to all ranger question and normally will be stations maintained by the Department undertaken at periodic intervals of three of Environmental Conservation after to five years, unless extraordinary December 31, 1975. conditions, such as a fire, major blow-down or flood mandate more 3. Due to heavy existing and frequent work or work during peak projected winter use in the Eastern High periods. Peak area and the presence of the most rugged terrain in the Adirondacks, the 5. Irrespective of the above Lake Colden station together with an guidelines, use of motorized equipment associated on-ground line (i.e., a line or aircraft, but not motor vehicles, for a laid on or just under the ground surface specific major research project which rapidly becomes covered by conducted by or under the supervision leaves) for telephone communication of a state agency will be permitted if may be retained indefinitely but their such project is for purposes essential to status will be periodically reviewed to the preservation of wilderness values determine if their eventual removal is and resources, no feasible alternative feasible. exists for conducting such research on other state or private lands, such use is Motor vehicles, motorized equipment minimized, and the project has been and aircraft specifically approved in writing by the Commissioner of Environmental 1. Public use of motor vehicles, Conservation after consultation with the motorized equipment and aircraft will be Agency. prohibited. 6. Irrespective of the above or 2. Administrative personnel will any other guidelines in this master plan, not use motor vehicles, motorized use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or aircraft for day-to-day equipment and aircraft will be permitted, administration, maintenance or by or under the supervision of research. appropriate officials, in cases of sudden, actual and ongoing emergencies 3. Use of motorized equipment involving the protection or preservation or aircraft, but not motor vehicles, by of human life or intrinsic resource administrative personnel may be values -- for example, search and permitted for a specific major rescue operations, forest fires, or oil administrative, maintenance, spills or similar, large-scale rehabilitation, or construction project if contamination of water bodies. that project involves conforming structures or improvements, or the 7. Written logs will be kept by removal of non-conforming structures or the Department of Environmental improvements, upon the written Conservation recording use of approval of the Commissioner of motorized vehicles, motorized Environmental Conservation. equipment and aircraft. The Department

will prepare an annual report providing -- maintenance of such roads details of such motorized uses and the and trails will be curtailed and efforts reasons therefore and file it with the made to encourage revegetation with Agency. lower forms of vegetation to permit their conversion to foot trails and, where Roads, snowmobile trails and appropriate, horse trails. administrative roads Bicycles 1. No new roads, snowmobile or administrative roads will be allowed. l. Public use of bicycles will be prohibited. 2. Existing roads and administrative roads that were to have 2. Administrative personnel will been closed by the December 31, 1975 not use bicycles for day-to-day deadline but have not yet been removed administration. Use of bicycles may be will be closed by no later than March 3l, permitted for specific major 1987. Any non-conforming roads, administrative research, maintenance, snowmobile trails or resulting from rehabilitation or construction projects newly classified wilderness areas will involving conforming structures or also be phased out as rapidly as improvements, or the removal of possible and in any case will be closed non-conforming structures in the by the end of the third calendar year discretion of the Department of following classification. In each case the Environmental Conservation. Department of Environmental Conservation will: Flora and fauna

-- close such roads and There will be no intentional snowmobile trails to motor vehicles as introduction in wilderness areas of may be open to the public; species of flora or fauna that are not historically associated with the -- prohibit all administrative use Adirondack environment, except: (i) of such roads and trails by motor vehi- species which have already been cles; and, established in the Adirondack environment, or (ii) as necessary to -- block such roads and trails by protect the integrity of established native logs, boulders or similar means other flora and fauna. Efforts will be made to than gates. restore extirpated native species where such restoration appears feasible. 3. During the phase-out period: Recreational use and overuse -- the use of motorized vehicles by administrative personnel for trans- 1. The following types of portation of materials and personnel will recreational use are compatible with be limited to the minimum required for wilderness and should be encouraged proper interim administration and the as long as the degree and intensity of removal of non-conforming uses; and, such use does not endanger the wilderness resource itself:

-- hiking, mountaineering, Boundary structures and tenting, hunting, fishing, trapping, improvements and boundary marking snowshoeing, ski touring, birding, nature study, and other forms of primitive and 1. Where a wilderness unconfined recreation. boundary abuts a public highway, the Department of Environmental Access by horses, including Conservation will be permitted, in horse and wagon, while permitted in conformity with a duly adopted unit wilderness, will be strictly controlled and management plan, to locate within 500 limited to suitable locations and trail feet from a public highway right-of-way, conditions to prevent adverse on a site-specific basis, trailheads, environmental damage. parking areas, fishing and waterway access sites, picnic areas, ranger 2. Each individual unit stations or other facilities for peripheral management plan will seek to determine control of public use, and, in limited the physical, biological and social instances, snowmobile trails. carrying capacity of the wilderness resource. Where the degree and 2. Where a wilderness intensity of permitted recreational uses boundary abuts a water body accessible threaten the wilderness resource, ap- to the public by motorboat, the propriate administrative and regulatory Department of Environmental measures will be taken to limit such use Conservation will be permitted, in to the capability of the resource. Such conformity with a duly adopted unit man- administrative and regulatory measures agement plan, to provide, on a may include, but need not be limited to: site-specific basis, for ranger stations or other facilities for peripheral control of -- the limitation by permit or public use or for the location of small, other appropriate means of the total unobtrusive docks made of natural number of persons permitted to have materials on such shorelines in limited access to or remain in a wilderness area instances where access to trailheads or or portion thereof during a specified the potential for resource degradation period; may make this desirable.

-- the temporary closure of all 3. Special wilderness area or portions of wilderness areas to permit boundary markers will be designed and rehabilitative measures. installed at major access points to enhance public recognition of 3. Educational programs wilderness boundaries and wilderness continue to improve public restrictions. understanding of backcountry use, including an anti-litter and pack-in, Designation of Wilderness Areas pack-out campaign, should be undertaken. Additional efforts should be The application of the wilderness undertaken where appropriate. definition and criteria described above results in the current designation under this master plan of twenty-one

wilderness areas scattered throughout improvements, or uses that are the Adirondacks. These areas inconsistent with wilderness, as encompass approximately 1,145,837 defined, and whose removal, though acres or about forty-two percent of the a long term objective, cannot be pro- forest preserve within the Adirondack vided for by a fixed deadline, and/or, Park. Virtually every Adirondack (b) contains, or is contiguous to, ecosystem is represented in these private lands that are of a size and wilderness areas, from the alpine, influence to prevent wilderness sub-alpine and boreal (spruce-fir) designation; or, communities of the higher mountains through various mixtures of hardwoods 2. Of a size and character not at the middle elevations to the lowland meeting wilderness standards, but lakes and ponds and a variety of where the fragility of the resource or wetland environments -- truly an other factors require wilderness unparalleled spectrum of wilderness management. resources for this and future generations of New Yorkers. The definition recognizes two basic types of primitive areas: (i) where the These areas are identified and their ultimate goal is clearly to upgrade the boundaries delineated on the map area to wilderness at some future time, forming part of this master plan. A however distant, when the general description of each designated non-conforming uses can be removed wilderness, identifying the principal and/or acquisition of private tracts is features and facilities of the area and accomplished, and, (ii) where eventual specifying the non-conforming uses that wilderness classification is impossible or were not removed by the original extremely unlikely. December 31, 1975 deadline or that exist as a result of recent acquisition An example of the first type would and, in each case, remain in existence be the existence of a fire tower and is contained in Chapter II. These associated structures and improvements descriptions also point out certain (observer cabins, telephone lines, etc.) resource concerns that may be whose precise date of removal cannot particularly relevant to the administration be ascertained until the new aerial of the area and the preparation of the surveillance program of the Department individual management plans by the of Environmental Conservation is fully Department of Environmental Conser- implemented and communication vation. systems modernized. Another example would be a private or minor public road traversing a tract otherwise suitable for PRIMITIVE wilderness designation or separating such an area from a designated Definition wilderness. Finally, an extensive private inholding or a series of smaller private A primitive area is an area of land inholdings whose eventual acquisition is or water that is either: desirable but cannot now be provided for, might so affect a potential 1. Essentially wilderness in wilderness area as to require primitive character but, (a) contains structures, designation.

The second type includes smaller (d) Non-conforming uses tracts that are most unlikely to attain resulting from newly classified primitive wilderness standards, such as a small areas will be removed as rapidly as island in close proximity to a highly possible, except for those described in c developed shoreline, or larger tracts above, and in any case by the end of with non-conforming uses, such as a the third year following classification. railroad or major public highway, that are essentially permanent, but where in (e) Primitive tent sites that each case the high quality or fragility of do not conform to the separation the resource requires wilderness distance guidelines will be brought into management. compliance on a phased basis and in any case by the third year following Guidelines for Management and adoption of the unit management plan for the area. Use

3. No new, non-conforming Basic guidelines uses will be permitted in any primitive

area. 1. The primary primitive

management guideline will be to 4. Upon the removal of all non- achieve and maintain in each conforming uses, a designated primitive designated primitive area a condition as area that otherwise meets wilderness close to wilderness as possible, so as to standards will be reclassified as perpetuate a natural plant and animal wilderness. community where man's influence is

relatively unapparent. 5. Construction of additional

conforming structures and maintenance 2. In primitive areas: of existing facilities and improvements

will follow the guidelines for wilderness (a) No additions or areas. expansions of non-conforming uses will

be permitted. 6. No new structures or

improvements in primitive areas will be (b) Any remaining constructed except in conformity with non-conforming uses that were to have finally adopted unit management plans. been removed by the original December This guideline will not prevent ordinary 31, 1975 deadline but have not been maintenance rehabilitation or minor removed will be removed by March 3l, relocation of conforming structures or 1987. improvements or the removal of non-

conforming uses. (c) Those non-conforming

uses of essentially a permanent nature 7. All conforming structures and whose removal, though anticipated, improvements will be located so as to cannot be provided for by a fixed blend with the surrounding environment deadline will be phased out on a and to require only minimal reasonable timetable as soon as their maintenance. removal becomes feasible.

8. All management and conditions, such as a fire, major blow- administrative actions and interior down, or flood mandate more frequent facilities in primitive areas will be work or work during peak periods. designed to emphasize the self-sufficiency of the user to assume a Structures and improvements high degree of responsibility for environmentally sound use of such 1. All structures and areas and for his or her own health, improvements that conform to safety and welfare. wilderness guidelines will be acceptable in primitive areas. 9. Any new, reconstructed or relocated lean-tos or individual primitive 2. In addition, existing tent sites located on shorelines of lakes, structures and improvements ponds, rivers or major streams will be located so as to be reasonably screened (a) whose removal, though from the water body to avoid intruding anticipated, cannot be provided for by a on the natural character of the shoreline fixed deadline, or, and public enjoyment and use thereof. Any such lean-tos will be set back a (b) in the case of areas not minimum of 100 feet from the mean high destined to become wilderness, whose water mark of lakes, ponds, rivers or retention is compatible with the major streams. character of the area and whose removal is not essential to protect the 10. All pit privies will be located a resource, will also be permissible, in minimum of 150 feet from the mean high each case as specified in a duly water mark of any lake, pond, river, adopted unit management plan. stream or wetland. 3. Non-conforming uses, other Primitive Recreational Trail than those that meet the criteria in section 2 above, will be removed by no In the Essex Chain Lakes later than March 3l, 1987. Primitive Area and the Pine Lake Primitive Area only, former all-season Ranger stations roads capable of withstanding such use may be designated as Primitive Ranger stations will be subject to Recreational Trails for use by foot, the same guidelines as in wilderness horse, horse and wagon, bicycle, ski, areas, except that in areas not destined snowshoe and other non-motorized to become wilderness or in other special recreational activities. The Department situations the indefinite retention of such may maintain a Primitive Recreational stations may be provided for as Trail by periodic, but not usual or specified by the Department of routine, use of motor vehicles and Environmental Conservation in a duly motorized equipment for specific major adopted unit management plan. maintenance, rehabilitation or construction purposes during off-peak seasons, unless extraordinary

Motor vehicles, motorized equipment case of primitive areas not destined to and aircraft become wilderness, whose presence is of an essentially permanent character; 1. All uses of motor vehicles, and, motorized equipment and aircraft permitted under wilderness guidelines -- existing roads now legally will also be permitted in primitive areas. open to the public may remain open for motor vehicles at the discretion of the 2. In the Essex Chain Lakes Department of Environmental and Pine Lake Primitive Areas, use of Conservation pending eventual motor vehicles and motorized wilderness classification, if their con- equipment will be permitted as tinued use will not adversely affect the described under “Primitive Recreational character of the resources of the Trail”. primitive area or impinge upon the 3. Additionally, the use of motor proper management of an adjacent vehicles, motorized equipment and wilderness area; aircraft by administrative personnel will be permitted to reach and maintain -- existing snowmobile trails existing structures, improvements or now legally open to the public may ranger stations: remain open for snowmobiles at the discretion of the Department of (a) whose eventual Environmental Conservation pending removal is anticipated but cannot be eventual wilderness classification if their removed by a fixed deadline; or, continued use will not adversely affect the character or resources of the (b) in primitive areas not primitive area or impinge upon the destined to become wilderness whose proper management of the adjacent presence is of an essentially permanent wilderness; in each case as specified in character; in each case as specified in a a duly adopted unit management plan. duly adopted unit management plan. 2. Upon the closure of any road, Roads, snowmobile trails and snowmobile trail or administrative road, administrative roads such routes will be effectively blocked as provided in the wilderness guidelines. 1. The guidelines specified for wilderness areas will also apply to Bicycles primitive areas, except that: The same guidelines will apply as in -- continued use of existing wilderness areas except that bicycles roads, snowmobile trails and may be used: administrative roads by administrative personnel will be permitted, to the extent (a) on existing roads legally necessary to reach and maintain open to the public and on administrative structures and improvements whose roads specifically designated for such removal, though anticipated, cannot be use by the Department of Environmental effected by a fixed deadline or, in the Conservation as specified in individual unit management plans; and,

(b) on former all-season roads CANOE in the Essex Chain Lakes Primitive Area, as described above under Definition “Primitive Recreational Trails.” A canoe area is an area where the Flora and fauna watercourses or the number and proximity of lakes and ponds make The same guidelines will apply as in possible a remote and unconfined wilderness areas. type of water-oriented recreation in an essentially wilderness setting. Recreational use and overuse The terrain associated with parcels The same guidelines will apply as in meeting the above definition is generally wilderness areas. ideally suited to ski touring and snowshoeing in the winter months. Boundary structures and improvements and boundary marking Guidelines for Management and Use The same guidelines will apply as in

wilderness areas. Basic guidelines

Designation of Primitive Areas 1. The primary canoe area management guideline will be to protect The application of the primitive the quality of the water and fishery definition and criteria described above resources while preserving a wilderness results in the current designation under character on the adjacent lands. this master plan of 40 primitive areas scattered throughout the Adirondack 2. In designated canoe areas Park. The objective for many of these that contain non-conforming uses: areas is to eventually upgrade them to wilderness. Some areas are extremely (a) No additions or unlikely to attain wilderness standards. expansions of such non-conforming A wide variety of terrain and ecosystems uses will be permitted. is represented in the designated primitive areas, though not to the same (b) Any remaining degree as with wilderness. non-conforming uses that were to have been removed by the December 31, All primitive areas are identified and 1975 deadline but have not yet been their boundaries delineated on the map removed will be removed by March 3l, forming part of this master plan. 1987.

A general description of each (c) Non-conforming uses designated primitive area is contained in resulting from newly classified canoe Chapter III. Each description specifies areas will be removed as rapidly as the goal for ultimate classification and possible and in any case by the end of non-conforming uses for each area. the third year following classification.

(d) Primitive tent sites that located so as to be reasonably screened do not conform to the separation from the water body to avoid intruding distance guidelines will be brought into on the natural character of the shoreline compliance on a phased basis and in and public enjoyment and use thereof. any case by the third year following Any such lean-tos will be set back a adoption of the unit management plan minimum of 100 feet from the mean high for the area. water mark of lakes, ponds, rivers, or major streams. 3. No new non-conforming uses will be permitted. 9. All pit privies will be located a minimum of 150 feet from the mean high 4. Construction of additional water mark of any lake, pond, river, conforming structures and stream or wetland. improvements and maintenance of existing facilities will be on the same Structures and improvements basis as in wilderness areas but with particular emphasis on the water and 1. All structures and fishery resources. improvements that conform to wilderness guidelines will be permitted 5. No new structures or in canoe areas. improvements in canoe areas will be constructed except in conformity with 2. In addition, existing finally adopted unit management plans. administrative roads may be used and This guideline will not prevent ordinary maintained by administrative personnel maintenance, rehabilitation or minor in conformity with the guideline specified relocation of conforming structures and below. improvements, or the removal of non-conforming uses. Ranger stations

6. All conforming structures and The same guidelines will apply as in improvements will be designed and wilderness areas. located so as to blend with the surrounding environment and to require Motor vehicles, motorized equipment only minimal maintenance. and aircraft

7. All management and 1. All uses of motor vehicles, administrative actions and interior motorized equipment and aircraft facilities in canoe areas will be designed permitted under the wilderness to emphasize the self-sufficiency of the guidelines will also be permitted in user to assume a high degree of canoe areas. responsibility for environmentally sound use of such areas and for his or her own 2. In addition, motor vehicles, health, safety and welfare. motorized equipment and aircraft may be used by administrative personnel, but 8. Any new, reconstructed or only for purposes designed to preserve relocated lean-tos or individual primitive or enhance the water or fishery tent sites located on shorelines of lakes, resources of the area as specified in ponds, rivers or major streams will be duly adopted unit management plans.

Roads, snowmobile trails and Designation of Canoe Areas administrative roads The application of the canoe area The guidelines specified for definition and criteria described above wilderness areas will also apply to results in the current designation under canoe areas except that use of this master plan of only the St. Regis administrative roads by administrative Canoe Area. Certain private tracts in the personnel for purposes designed to Park may also qualify for canoe area preserve or enhance the water or fishery designation should they ever be resources of the area will be permitted acquired. as specified in duly adopted unit management plans. Such administrative The St. Regis area is depicted on roads will be closed to public use by the map forming part of this master plan. means of a gate or other similar It is described in narrative form in methods. Chapter III on the same basis as the wilderness and primitive descriptions Bicycles with an inventory of both the conforming and non-conforming structures and The same guidelines will apply as in improvements in the area. wilderness areas except that bicycles may be used on existing roads legally open to the public and on administrative WILD FOREST roads specifically designated for such use by the Department of Environmental Definition Conservation, as specified in individual unit management plans. A wild forest area is an area where the resources permit a Flora and fauna somewhat higher degree of human use than in wilderness, primitive or The same guidelines will apply as in canoe areas, while retaining an wilderness areas. essentially wild character. A wild forest area is further defined as an Recreational use and overuse area that frequently lacks the sense of remoteness of wilderness, The same guidelines will apply as in primitive or canoe areas and that wilderness areas with special emphasis permits a wide variety of outdoor on canoeing, fishing, ski touring and recreation. snowshoeing. To the extent that state lands Boundary structures and classified as wild forest were given or improvements and boundary marking devised to the state for silvicultural or wildlife management purposes pursuant The same guidelines will apply as in to statutory provisions specifying that wilderness areas. these lands will not form part of the

forest preserve (if such provisions are 2. In wild forest areas: constitutional), the following guidelines are not to be interpreted to prevent (a) No additions or silvicultural or wildlife management expansions of non-conforming uses will practices on these lands, provided that be permitted. other guidelines for wild forest land are respected. (b) Any remaining non-conforming uses that were to have Guidelines for Management and been removed by the December 31, Use 1975 deadline but have not yet been removed will be removed by March 3l, Those areas classified as wild forest 1987. are generally less fragile, ecologically, than the wilderness and primitive areas. (c) Non-conforming uses Because the resources of these areas resulting from newly classified wild can withstand more human impact, forest areas will be removed as rapidly these areas should accommodate much as possible and in any case by the end of the future use of the Adirondack of the third year following classification. forest preserve. The scenic attributes and the variety of uses to which these (d) Primitive tent sites that areas lend themselves provide a do not conform to the separation challenge to the recreation planner. distance guidelines will be brought into Within constitutional constraints, those compliance on a phased basis and in types of outdoor recreation that afford any case by the third year following enjoyment without destroying the wild adoption of the unit management plan forest character or natural resource for the area. quality should be encouraged. Many of these areas are under-utilized. For 3. No new non-conforming uses example the crescent of wild forest will be permitted in any designated wild areas from Lewis County south and east forest area. through Old Forge, southern Hamilton and northern Fulton Counties and north 4. Public use of motor vehicles and east to the Lake George vicinity can will not be encouraged and there will not and should afford extensive outdoor be any material increase in the mileage recreation readily accessible from the of roads and snowmobile trails open to primary east-west transportation and motorized use by the public in wild population axis of New York State. forest areas that conformed to the master plan at the time of its original Basic guidelines adoption in 1972.

1. The primary wild forest 5. Care should be taken to management guideline will be to protect minimize conflict of incompatible uses. the natural wild forest setting and to provide those types of outdoor 6. When public access to and recreation that will afford public enjoyment of the wild forest areas are enjoyment without impairing the wild inadequate, appropriate measures may forest atmosphere. be undertaken to provide improved

access to encourage public use 11. All pit privies, seepage pits or consistent with the wild forest character. leach fields will be located a minimum of 150 feet from any lake, pond, river or 7. No new structures or stream. improvements in wild forest areas will be constructed except in conformity with a Structures and improvements finally adopted unit management plan. This guideline will not prevent ordinary 1. All structures and maintenance, rehabilitation or minor improvements permitted under the maintenance of conforming structures or guidelines covering wilderness areas improvements, or the removal of will be allowed in wild forest areas. In non-conforming uses. addition, the structures and improvements listed below will be 8. All conforming structures and allowed and their maintenance, improvements will be designed and rehabilitation and construction located so as to blend with the permitted: surrounding environment and to require only minimal maintenance. -- small groupings of primitive tent sites below 3,500 feet in elevation, 9. All management and subject to the guidelines set forth below; administrative actions and interior facilities in wild forest areas will be -- nature and interpretive trails; designed to emphasize the self-sufficiency of the user to assume a -- trailheads adjacent to public high degree of responsibility for environ- highways; mentally sound use of such areas and for his or her own health, safety and -- stream improvement welfare. structures for fishery management purposes; 10. Any new, reconstructed or relocated lean-tos, primitive tent sites -- fishing and waterway access and other conforming buildings and sites adjacent to public highways and structures located on shorelines of complying with the criteria set forth lakes, ponds, rivers or major streams, below; other than docks, fishing and waterway access sites and similar water-related -- horse trails; and, facilities, will be located so as to be reasonably screened from the water -- picnic tables. body to avoid intruding on the natural character of the shoreline and the public The maintenance and rehabilitation enjoyment and use thereof. Any such of the following structures and leantos, ranger stations, storage sheds, improvements will be allowed to the horse barns and similar structures will extent essential to the administration be set back a minimum of 100 feet from and/or protection of state lands or to the mean high water mark of lakes, reasonable public use thereof but new ponds, rivers or major streams. construction will not be encouraged:

-- horse barns; -- bridges, constructed of natural materials whenever possible, following a -- small scale dams, minimum requirements approach constructed of natural materials analysis that fundamentally protects the wherever possible; wild forest character of the area.

-- boat docks, constructed of Ranger stations natural materials wherever possible; Existing ranger stations may be -- small fireplaces in retained and new ranger stations fire-sensitive areas; constructed, but only where absolutely essential for administration of the area, -- storage sheds and similar no feasible alternative exists, and no rustic buildings for use of administrative deterioration of the wild forest character personnel; or natural resource quality of the area will result. -- small-scale electronic communication and relay facilities for Motor vehicles, motorized equipment official communications; and aircraft

-- telephone and electrical lines 1. All uses of motor vehicles, to service permitted administrative motorized equipment and aircraft structures; permitted under wilderness guidelines will also be permitted in wild forest -- buoys; areas.

-- small-scale water supply 2. In addition, the use of motor facilities under permit from the vehicles, snowmobiles, motorized Department of Environmental equipment and aircraft will be allowed Conservation; as follows:

-- ranger stations as set forth (a) by administrative below; personnel where necessary to reach, maintain or construct permitted -- roads, and administrative structures and improvements, for roads as set forth below; appropriate law enforcement and general supervision of public use, or for -- snowmobile trails as set forth appropriate purposes, including below; research, to preserve and enhance the fish and wildlife or other natural -- fire towers and observer resources of the area; cabins as set forth below; and, (b) by the general public, -- wildlife management subject to basic guideline 4 set forth structures; and, above, but only on:

-- existing public roads;

-- Department of Environmental 2. Existing roads or snowmobile Conservation roads now or hereafter trails, now open to and used by the designated as open for public use by public for motor vehicle use in wild motor vehicles by the Department of forest areas, may continue to be so Environmental Conservation; and, used at the discretion of the Department of Environmental Conservation, -- on rivers, lakes and ponds provided such use is compatible with the now or hereafter designated by the wild forest character of an area. Department of Environmental Conserva- tion as suitable for such motorized uses; 3. Established roads or and, snowmobile trails in newly-acquired state lands classified as wild forest may (c) by snowmobiles on be kept open to the public, subject to snowmobile trails now or hereafter basic guideline 4 set forth above and in designated by the Department of the case of snowmobile trails to the Environmental Conservation in special guidelines for such trails set accordance with basic guideline 4 set forth below, at the discretion of the forth above, and with the special guide- Department of Environmental Conser- lines for such trails specified below. vation, provided such use is compatible with the wild forest character of the (d) by all-terrain vehicles area. but only on existing public roads or administrative roads open to such 4. No new roads will be vehicles, as specified in (b) above. constructed in wild forest areas nor will new administrative roads be constructed 3. The Department of unless such construction is absolutely Environmental Conservation may essential to the protection or restrict, under existing law and pursuant administration of an area, no feasible to authority provided in this master plan, alternative exists and no deterioration of the use of motor vehicles, motorized the wild forest character or natural equipment and aircraft by the public or resource quality of the area will result. administrative personnel where in its judgment the character of the natural Snowmobile trails resources in a particular area or other factors make such restrictions desirable. Snowmobile trails should be designed and located in a manner that Roads and administrative roads will not adversely affect adjoining private landowners or the wild forest 1. Continued use of existing environment and in particular: roads, snowmobile trails and administrative roads by administrative -- the mileage of snowmobile personnel in wild forest areas will be trails lost in the designation of permitted, to the extent necessary, to wilderness, primitive and canoe areas reach, maintain and construct permitted may be replaced in wild forest areas structures and improvements. with existing roads or abandoned wood roads as the basis of such new snow

mobile trail construction, except in rare these fire towers should be retained circumstances requiring the cutting of where consistent with their need from a new trails; fire control and communications standpoint. -- wherever feasible such replacement mileage should be located Tent platforms in the general area as where mileage is lost due to wilderness, primitive or The Department of Environmental canoe classification; Conservation having removed all tent platforms previously existing under -- appropriate opportunities to Department permit, erection of new tent improve the snowmobile trail system platforms will be prohibited. may be pursued subject to basic guideline 4 set forth above, where the Small groupings of primitive tent impact on the wild forest environment sites designed to accommodate a will be minimized, such as (i) provision maximum of 20 people per grouping for snowmobile trails adjacent to but under group camping conditions may be screened from certain public highways provided at carefully selected locations within the Park to facilitate snowmobile in wild forest areas, even though each access between communities where individual site may be within sight or alternate routes on either state or sound and less than approximately private land are not available and one-quarter mile from any other site topography permits and, (ii) designation within such grouping, subject to the of new snowmobile trails on established following criteria: roads in newly acquired state lands classified as wild forest; and, -- such groupings will only be established or maintained on a site -- deer wintering yards and specific basis in conformity with a duly other important wildlife and resource adopted unit management plan for the areas should be avoided by such trails. wild forest area in question;

Bicycles -- such groupings will be widely dispersed (generally a mile apart) and Bicycles may be permitted, in the located in a manner that will blend with discretion of the Department of the surrounding environment and have a Environmental Conservation, on roads minimum impact on the wild forest legally open to the public and on character and natural resource quality of administrative roads, bicycle trails, foot the area; trails, snowmobile trails and horse trails deemed suitable for such use as -- all new, reconstructed or specified in individual unit management relocated tent sites in such groupings plans. will be set back a minimum of 100 feet from the mean high water mark of lakes, Fire towers ponds, rivers and major streams and will be located so as to be reasonably The educational and informational screened from the water body to avoid aspects of certain fire towers should be intruding on the natural character of the encouraged and wherever feasible

shoreline and the public enjoyment and Any proposal to create a new fishing use thereof. or waterway access site will be accompanied by an adequate demonstration Fishing and waterway access sites that the above guidelines can be complied with. Fishing and waterway access sites may be provided on any body of water Flora and fauna irrespective of its size where the current or projected need for access clearly The same guidelines will apply as in warrants such a site. Such sites will wilderness areas, although exceptions comply with the following management may be made by the Department of guidelines: Environmental Conservation in accordance with sound biological -- Adequate public hand management practices, particularly launching facilities or private facilities where such practices will improve the open to the public are not available to wildlife resources. meet a demonstrated need. Recreational use and overuse -- The physical, biological and social carrying capacity of the water 1. All types of recreational uses body or other water bodies accessible considered appropriate for wilderness from the site will not be exceeded. areas are compatible with wild forest and, in addition, snowmobiling, -- The site and attendant water motorboating and travel by jeep or other uses will be compatible with the state motor vehicles on a limited and and private land use classifications and regulated basis that will not materially attendant management guidelines and increase motorized uses that conformed land use controls surrounding the water to the Master Plan at the time of its body. adoption in 1972 and will not adversely affect the essentially wild character of -- The site will be located in a the land are permitted. manner to avoid adverse impact on adjacent or nearby state and private 2. Certain wild forest areas offer lands. better opportunities for a more extensive horse trail system than in wilderness, -- Motor size limitations or the primitive or canoe areas and horse trails prohibition of motorized use as and associated facilities in these areas appropriate to the carrying capacity of should be provided where appropriate. the water body are provided for. 3. Although the nature of most -- There will be no adverse wild forest areas indicates that potential impacts on the physical, biological or recreational overuse will not be as scenic resources of the water body and serious as in wilderness, primitive and surrounding land. canoe areas, care must nonetheless be taken to avoid overuse, and the basic wilderness guidelines in this respect

apply also to wild forest lands. The Guidelines for Management and relatively greater intensity of use Use allowed by the wild forest guidelines should not be interpreted as permitting Basic guidelines or encouraging unlimited or unrestrained use of wild forest areas. 1. The primary management guideline for intensive use areas will be Designation of Wild Forest to provide the public opportunities for Areas family group camping, developed swimming and boating, downhill skiing, The application of the wild forest cross country skiing under competitive definition and criteria described above or developed conditions on improved results in the current designation under cross country ski trails, visitor the master plan of about 1.3 million information and similar outdoor acres of wild forest land, comprising recreational pursuits in a setting and on approximately 51 percent of the forest a scale that are in harmony with the preserve within the Adirondack Park. A relatively wild and undeveloped wide variety of terrain and ecosystems character of the Adirondack Park. is represented in these areas. 2. All intensive use facilities All wild forest areas are identified should be located, designed and and their boundaries delineated on the managed so as to blend with the map forming part of this master plan. Adirondack environment and to have the minimum adverse impact possible on Chapter III contains a general surrounding state lands and nearby description of 17 wild forest areas in the private holdings. They will not be Park. situated where they will aggravate problems on lands already subject to or threatened by overuse, such as the INTENSIVE USE eastern portion of the High Peaks Wilderness, the Pharaoh Lake Definition Wilderness or the St. Regis Canoe Area or where they will have a negative An intensive use area is an area impact on competing private facilities. where the state provides facilities for Such facilities will be adjacent to or intensive forms of outdoor recreation serviceable from existing public road by the public. Two types of intensive systems or water bodies open to use areas are defined by this plan: motorboat use within the Park. campground and day use areas. 3. Construction and These areas provide overnight development activities in intensive use accommodations or day use facilities for areas will: a significant number of visitors to the Park and often function as a base for -- avoid material alteration of use of wild forest, wilderness, primitive wetlands; and canoe areas.

-- minimize extensive 9. Since the concentrations of topographic alterations; visitors at certain intensive use facilities often pose a threat of water pollution, -- limit vegetative clearing; and, the state should set an example for the private sector by installing modern -- preserve the scenic, natural sewage treatment systems with the and open space resources of the objective of maintaining high water intensive use area. quality. Standards for the state should in no case be less than those for the 4. Day use areas will not private sector and in all cases any pit provide for overnight camping or other privy, leach field or seepage pit will be at overnight accommodations for the least 150 feet from the mean high water public. mark of any lake, pond, river or stream.

10. Any new, reconstructed or 5. Priority should be given to the relocated buildings or structures located rehabilitation and modernization of on shorelines of lakes, ponds, rivers or existing intensive use areas and the major streams, other than docks, complete development of partially primitive tent sites not a part of a developed existing intensive use areas campground (which will be governed by before the construction of new facilities the general guidelines for such sites set is considered. forth elsewhere in this master plan) boat launching sites, fishing and waterway 6. Additions to the intensive use access sites, boathouses, and similar category should come either from new water related facilities, will be set back a acquisitions or from the reclassification minimum of 150 feet from the mean high of appropriate wild forest areas, and water mark and will be located so as to only in exceptional circumstances from be reasonably screened from the water wilderness, primitive or canoe areas. body to avoid intruding on the natural character of the shoreline and the public 7. Any request for classification enjoyment and use thereof. of a new acquisition or reclassification of existing lands from another land use Campgrounds category to an intensive use area will be accompanied by a draft unit 1. All campgrounds will be of a management plan for the proposed rustic nature without utility hookups and intensive use area that will demonstrate other elaborate facilities customarily how the applicable guidelines will be provided by private campgrounds. Each respected. individual site will retain the natural character of the surrounding forest and 8. No new structures or contain only a fireplace or fire ring, a improvements at any intensive use area space for a single vehicle with trailer if will be constructed except in conformity needed, picnic table, and appropriate with a final adopted unit management sites. All facilities and appurtenances plan for such area. This guideline will are to be constructed of natural not prevent the ordinary maintenance, materials to the fullest extent possible rehabilitation or minor relocation of so as to blend with the natural en- conforming structures or improvements. vironment. Where a campground

involves the shoreline of a lake, pond, acres or more in area. A list of lakes river or major stream any new, meeting these criteria (including smaller reconstructed or relocated camping lakes in interconnected lake chains sites will be set back a minimum of 100 aggregating 1,000 acres or more which feet from the mean high water mark and are regularly used by motorboats) is set will be located so as to be reasonably forth in Chapter III. The fact that a lake screened from the shoreline and so as is set forth on this list does not neces- to avoid intruding on its natural sarily mean that additional boat character or public enjoyment and use launching sites on that lake are needed thereof. or desirable.

2. The maximum size of future 2. Boat launching sites will only campgrounds in the Park will be in the be provided on the above lakes where: range of 75 to 150 individual camping sites depending on site constraints, -- adequate public or private resource considerations and impacts on boat launching facilities open to the nearby lands. public are not available to meet a demonstrated need; 3. The older, existing campgrounds will be rehabilitated and -- the physical, biological and reconstructed as soon as possible to social carrying capacity of the lake, or a reflect modern site planning principles portion of the lake, or other water bodies that will better blend the facilities with accessible from the site will not be the environment and will comply with the exceeded; provisions of this master plan. In particular, priority should be given to the -- the boat launching site or rehabilitation and reconstruction of Fish attendant water uses will be compatible Creek Campground. with the state or private land use classifications and attendant management 4. Educational programs at guidelines as land use controls campgrounds should be encouraged. surrounding the water body;

5. Future campgrounds will be -- the boat launching site is located so as to encourage public use located in a manner to avoid adverse on presently underutilized tracts of state impact on adjacent or nearby state and land. private lands;

Boat launching sites -- motor size limitations appropriate to the carrying capacity of Launching sites for trailered boats the lake are provided; particularly for will only be provided by the state on lakes with embayment or shoreline con- Adirondack lakes in conformity with the figurations providing the character of following management guidelines: small lakes; and,

1. Boat launching sites will only -- there will be no material be provided on large lakes regularly adverse impacts on physical, biological used by motorboats. A large lake is or scenic resources of the water body defined as a lake approximately 1,000 and surrounding land.

3. Existing boat launching sites to be managed as primitive tent sites that do not meet the above guidelines according to Wild, Scenic and may be retained but their status will be Recreational River guidelines and periodically reviewed to determine if criteria of this Master Plan. their eventual conversion to fishing access sites is appropriate. The area is a continuous corridor two tenths of a mile wide, one-tenth mile 4. Any proposals to create a either side of the centerline of 23.9 miles new boat launching site will be of roads formerly part of the Moose accompanied by an adequate River Plains Wild Forest Area. demonstration that the above guidelines Specifically, it includes 17.3 miles of the can be complied with. Limekiln Lake-Cedar River Road from Wakely Dam to the intersection with Moose River Plains Camping Area Rock Dam Road, 4.3 miles of Rock Dam Road, 1.2 miles of Loop Road and a The history of use and character of total of 1.1 miles of four, shorter spur this camping area is unique in the roads in the areas of Bradley Brook, Adirondack Park, and it is to be Helldiver Pond, Lost Ponds and managed according to special camping sites #53 to #55. The Camping management guidelines within the Area initially provides 116 individual Intensive Use Area classification. camping sites, with approximately 33 These guidelines and criteria allow for sites that will be relocated due to camping opportunities intermediate environmental concerns. Intensive Use between primitive camping and camping camping areas may contain up to 150 in public campgrounds. The Camping individual camping sites, and more sites Area does not provide the types of may be added in the future to this area facilities normally associated with through additional, careful design Intensive Use Area Campgrounds. efforts. While drive-in camping and site separation distances of less than one- Use of the entire Limekiln Lake- quarter mile are generally provided, the Cedar River Road for public motor Camping Area is largely primitive in vehicle access from Inlet and Indian character and does not include facilities Lake to the Moose River Plains such as bathhouses, water supply, Camping Area is essential and should paved roads and similar amenities. be preserved, as should the road’s Some facilities are designed to provide gravel surface and its wild, forested universal access for persons with corridor free of extensive roadside disabilities. Individual camping sites will clearings. Driving this and the other be located or restored to be adequately interconnected, winding roads of the screened from roads, water bodies and Plains for tens of miles through Forest other camping sites. Most camping sites Preserve is, for some, a highly valued may include space for a single vehicle recreational experience in itself – one with a trailer, a tent site if needed, a pit reminiscent of earlier times when such privy, picnic table and small fireplace or roads were common in the Adirondacks fire ring. Those sites within the corridors and the eastern U.S. Heavy recreational of rivers classified “Scenic” are required use of the road system is made in winter

months by snowmobilers, some aspects Designation of Intensive Use of which may have negative effects on Areas the wintering deer population (possibly including negative physiological effects The intensive use areas are and habituation to feeding) that deserve delineated on the map forming part of assessment. this master plan and are described in Chapter III. They include (i) day use Ski areas and the Mt. Van areas, which include: boat launching Hoevenberg Recreation Area sites, the two downhill ski centers at Gore and Whiteface, one beach not 1. Existing downhill ski centers associated with a campground, all of the at Gore and Whiteface should be facilities at the Mount Van Hoevenberg modernized to the extent physical and Recreation Area, the Prospect Mountain biological resources allow. Cross Parkway and the Whiteface Memorial country skiing on improved cross Highway, and, (ii) campgrounds (certain country ski trails may be developed at of which have associated day-use these downhill ski centers. facilities which are considered a part of the campground). The Moose River 2. The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Plains Camping Area is unique in the Recreation Area should be maintained Adirondack Park and will be managed to as a year-round sports facility meeting restore and maintain the wild forest international standards for such sports setting of the drive-in camping as bobsled, luge, biathlon and cross opportunities provided there. The Lake country skiing on improved cross George Islands Campground, country ski trails under developed, Hearthstone Point Campground, Rogers competitive conditions. Rock Campground, Lake George Battleground Campground, Lake Recreation use and overuse George Beach, Prospect Mountain Highway, and Mossy Point boat launch Where the degree and intensity of are all located within the Lake George permitted recreational uses are Park. endangering the physical or biological resources of an area, appropriate administrative and regulatory measures HISTORIC will be taken to limit such use to the capability of the resources. Such Definition administrative and regulatory measures may include, but need not be limited to: Historic areas are locations of

buildings, structures or sites owned -- the prohibition of overnight by the state (other than the camping within a specified distance of a Adirondack Forest Preserve itself) designated campground to avoid that are significant in the history, overflow camping on adjacent, architecture, archeology or culture of undeveloped state lands; and, the Adirondack Park, the state or the

nation; that fall into one of the -- the temporary closure of all following categories; or portions of a designated intensive use area to permit rehabilitative measures.

-- state historic sites; -- limit vegetative clearing; and,

-- properties listed on the -- preserve the scenic, natural National Register of Historic Places; and open space resources of the historic area. -- properties recommended for nomination by the Committee on 4. Each historic area will be Registers of the New York State designed, managed and interpreted in Board for Historic Preservation; and conformity with a special historic area that are of a scale, character and unit management plan for the area, filed location appropriate for designation with and approved by the Agency after as an historic area under this master public hearing as being consistent with plan and the state has committed this master plan. Special unit resources to manage such areas management plans will be prepared in primarily for historic objectives. consultation with the Agency for the two existing historic areas as soon as Guidelines for Management and possible. No new structures or Use improvements at existing or proposed historic areas will be constructed prior to Basic guidelines the approval of such special unit management plans. Such structures and 1. The primary management improvements will conform to this guidelines for historic areas will be to master plan and special historic area preserve the quality and character of the unit management plans. historic resources, that is, to the greatest extent feasible, in a setting and Designation of Historic Areas on a scale in harmony with the relatively wild and undeveloped character of the Five historic areas, Crown Point, Adirondack Park. John Brown's Farm, Camp Santanoni, Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower and St. 2. All historic areas will be Regis Mountain Fire Tower result from designed, managed and interpreted so the application of the above criteria and as to blend with the Adirondack are delineated on the map forming part environment and have the minimum of this master plan. adverse impact possible on surrounding state lands and nearby private holdings. STATE ADMINISTRATIVE 3. Construction and development activities in historic areas Definition will: -- avoid material alteration of State administrative areas are wetlands; areas where the state provides facilities for a variety of specific state -- minimize extensive purposes that are not primarily topographical alterations; designed to accommodate visitors to the Park.

This category, like the travel corridor private holdings. Whenever possible, category with which it is closely such facilities should be adjacent to or associated, contains a wide variety of serviceable from existing public road developed uses related directly to the systems within the Park. activities of many state agencies. It includes the administrative offices of the 3. Construction and Department of Environmental development activities in state Conservation, Division of State Police administrative areas will: and the Adirondack Park Agency itself as well as the Department of Environ- -- avoid material alterations of mental Conservation fish hatcheries, wetlands; Department of Transportation offices and maintenance and storage sites, the -- minimize extensive Atmospheric Sciences Research Center topographical alterations; at Whiteface Mountain, the Sunmount Developmental Center, the Adirondack -- limit vegetative clearing; and, Correctional Facility, the Dannemora Correctional Facility, the Lyon Mountain -- preserve the scenic, natural Correctional Facility, Camp Gabriels and and open space resources of the state several sewage treatment plants administrative area. operated by the Environmental Facilities Corporation. All of these facilities are in 4. Additions to the state close proximity to public highways and administrative category should come are generally in developed areas of the either from new acquisitions or from the Park. reclassification of appropriate wild forest or intensive use areas (assuming such Guidelines for Management and acquisitions or reclassifications to be Use constitutional) and not from wilderness, primitive or canoe areas. Basic guidelines Designation of State 1. The primary management Administrative Areas guideline for state administrative areas should be to provide facilities for the State administrative areas are listed administration of state lands or in Chapter III and those of an programs in a setting and on a scale appropriate scale are designated on the that is, to the greatest extent feasible, in map forming part of this master plan. harmony with the relatively wild and undeveloped character of the Adiron- dack Park. WILD, SCENIC AND RECREA-

2. All state administrative TIONAL RIVERS facilities should be located, designed and managed so as to blend with the The Adirondack Park contains many Adirondack environment and to have the rivers which, with their immediate envi- minimum adverse impact possible on rons, constitute an important and surrounding state lands and nearby unusual resource. Classification of those portions of rivers that flow through state

land is vital to the protection of existing Guidelines for Management and free flowing streams. The classification Use system and the recommended Basic guidelines guidelines specified below are designed to be consistent with and 1. No river or river area will be complementary to both the basic intent managed or used in a way that would be and structure of the legislation passed less restrictive in nature than the by the legislature in 1972 creating a statutory requirements of the Wild, wild, scenic and recreational rivers Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act, system on both state and private lands. Article l5, title 27 of the Environmental Conservation Law, or than the Definitions guidelines for the management and use of the land classification within which the A wild river is a river or section of river area lies, but the river or river area river that is free of diversions and may be administered in a more impoundments, inaccessible to the restrictive manner. general public except by water, foot or horse trail, and with a river area 2. Rivers will be kept free of primitive in nature and free of any pollution and the water quality thereof man-made development except foot kept sufficiently high to meet other bridges. management guidelines contained in this section. A scenic river is a river or section of river that is free of diversions or 3. No dam or other structure impoundments except for log dams, impeding the natural flow of a river will with limited road access and with a be constructed on a wild, scenic or river area largely primitive and recreational river, except for stream undeveloped, or that is partially or improvement structures for fisheries predominantly used for agriculture, management purposes which are forest management and other dis- permissible on recreational and scenic persed human activities that do not rivers only. substantially interfere with public use and enjoyment of the river and its 4. The precise boundaries of shore. the river area will be determined by the Department of Environmental A recreational river is a river or Conservation, will be specified in the section of river that is readily individual unit management plans for the accessible by road or railroad, that river area or the unit of state land may have development in the river through which the river flows, and will area and that may have undergone normally be one-half mile from the mean some diversion or impoundment in high water mark of the river, but in any the past. case will not be less than one-quarter mile.

Wild rivers motor vehicle use by the public or administrative personnel will normally be 1. Wild rivers and their river located at least two miles apart. areas will be managed in accordance with the guidelines for wilderness areas 3. Other motor vehicle roads or except that no new, reconstructed or trails in the river area will not be relocated structures or improvements encouraged and, where permitted, will will be permitted other than: foot and normally be kept at least 500 feet from horse trails, foot trail bridges the river shore and will be screened by constructed of natural materials, primi- vegetation or topography from view from tive tent sites with fire rings, and pit pri- the river itself. vies. Existing lean-tos in wild river areas may be maintained for the balance of 4. The natural character of the their useful lives. Such lean-tos will not river and its immediate shoreline will be be reconstructed or replaced and will preserved. ultimately be phased out in favor of primitive tent sites as specified in 5. The following structures and individual unit management plans. improvements may be located so as to be visible from the river itself: 2. Such structures and improvements, other than foot and -- fishing and waterway access horse trails and foot trail bridges, will be sites; located so as to be completely screened by vegetation or topography from view -- foot and horse trails and foot from the river itself. and horse trail bridges crossing the river; and, 3. The wild character of the river and its immediate shoreline will be -- motor vehicle bridges preserved and enhanced. crossing the river.

4. Motorboat usage of wild 6. All other new, reconstructed rivers will be prohibited. or relocated conforming structures and improvements (other than individual Scenic rivers lean-tos, primitive tent sites and pit privies which are governed by the 1. Scenic rivers and their river regular guidelines of the master plan) areas will be managed in accordance will be located a minimum of 250 feet with the guidelines for the management from the mean high water mark of the of wild forest areas (except where such river and will in all cases be reasonably rivers flow through wilderness, primitive screened by vegetation or topography or canoe areas, where the more from view from the river itself. restrictive guidelines of the particular area will apply) and with the following 7. Motorboat usage of scenic additional guidelines. rivers will not normally be permitted but may be allowed by the Department of 2. Access points to the river Environmental Conservation, where shore or crossings of the river by roads, such use is already established, is fire truck trails or other trails open to consistent with the character of the river

and river area, and will not result in any --motor vehicle bridges crossing undue adverse impacts upon the natural the river. resource quality of the area. 5. All other new, reconstructed Recreational rivers or relocated conforming structures and improvements (other than individual 1. Recreational rivers and their lean-tos and primitive tent sites which river areas will be administered in are governed by the regular guidelines accordance with the guidelines for of the master plan) will be located a management of wild forest areas minimum of 150 feet from the mean high (except where such rivers flow through water mark of the river and will in all wilderness, primitive or canoe areas, cases be reasonably screened by where the more restrictive guidelines of vegetation or topography from view from the particular area will apply) and with the river itself. the following additional guidelines: 6. Motorboat use of recreational 2. Where a recreational river rivers may be permitted, as determined flows through an intensive use area, by the Department of Environmental structures, improvements and uses Conservation. permitted in intensive use areas will be permitted, provided the scale and Designation of Wild, Scenic and intensity of these intensive uses do not Recreational Rivers adversely affect the recreational character of the river and the river area. The application of the above definitions and criteria to rivers on state lands 3. The natural character of the in the Park results in the current river and its immediate shoreline will be designation under this master plan of preserved and enhanced. 155.1 miles of wild rivers, 511.3 miles of scenic rivers, and 539.5 miles of 4. The following structures and recreational rivers. A significant amount improvements may be located so as to of private lands not covered by this be visible from the river itself: master plan are included in these mileage figures. A brief description of -- fishing and waterway these rivers and their classification is set access sites; forth in Chapter III.

-- docks;

TRAVEL CORRIDORS -- foot and horse trails and foot and horse trail bridges crossing the Definition river;

Those lands within the -- snowmobile trails, roads, and Adirondack Park constituting either a truck trails; and, highway corridor or a railroad

corridor and those state lands

immediately adjacent to and visible

from these corridors.

A highway corridor is the responsible for some interpretive roadway, roadbed, surface, and lands signing; the State Police maintain owned in fee, easement or by right- various buildings in these highway of-way for the maintenance and use corridors; and there are also institutional of state or interstate highways. facilities maintained by the Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities A railroad corridor is the fee, and the Department of Corrections. easement, or right-of-way lands that Careful planning and coordination include the Remsen-Lake Placid among all interested agencies is railbed or any future acquisition that essential to provide distinction to the may be considered for classification travel corridors of the Adirondack Park. as a travel corridor, existing (1) for the operation of rail cars, and/or (2) The importance of the major travel to serve as a rail trail. corridors and the principal segments of the local highway network to the This category is unique in that the integrity of the Park cannot be beds of these travel corridors are over-emphasized. The lands adjacent to hardened and the natural topography these highways are the most visible to has been significantly altered. In the traveling public and frequently contrast to the majority of classification determine the image and entire categories set forth in this master plan, atmosphere of the Park for many these travel corridors were designed for visitors. In addition, due to the heavily and can withstand a higher degree of forested character of the Park, scenic public use. vistas from these travel corridors are relatively rare and their protection and This category, much like the state enhancement are important. administrative category, is also unusual in that several state agencies may be Considerable portions of travel involved in its administration. For corridors run through private lands instance, the Department of within the Park. While this plan is Transportation has obvious jurisdiction concerned with state lands, it is relating to highway construction, design, important for the state to set an example maintenance and accessory facilities, for the private sector in creating a and is also responsible for the design, park-like atmosphere through construction, maintenance, appropriate construction and signing management and operation of railroad standards, while protecting the natural and accessory facilities within railroad resources of the Park. corridors. The Department of Environmental Conservation is involved In many instances, the design and in the construction and maintenance of construction of major highways and the many signs, campgrounds, picnic areas, treatment of their immediate environs by trailheads and similar facilities adjacent state agencies has been enlightened. to the travel corridor, as well as Obvious examples are the Adirondack management, construction and Northway, which won two national maintenance of rail trails within those awards as America's Most Scenic railroad corridors, or portions thereof. In Highway, the reconstruction of Route 10 addition, the Education Department is from Arietta to Route 8 in Hamilton

County, the rebuilding of Routes 30 and 2. No new structures or 28 between Indian Lake and Blue improvements in any travel corridor will Mountain Lake, the rebuilding of Route be constructed except in conformity with 30 between Blue Mountain Lake and an adopted unit management plan for South Pond and the rebuilding of Route such area. This guideline will not 73 between Keene and the Adirondack prevent the ordinary maintenance, Loj Road. However, there are many rehabilitation, relocation and/or areas where more attention to the Park's reconstruction of conforming structures unique atmosphere is essential. The or improvements and is not intended to following guidelines are intended to hinder compliance with any state or achieve this objective. federal regulations.

On lands established as travel 3. Since the concentrations of corridors that originally served as visitors at certain travel corridor facilities operating railroads, recreational uses may pose a threat of water pollution, the such as rail trails may exist alongside of, state should set an example for the or in place of, traditional railroad private sector by installing modern transportation use. Jurisdiction over sewage treatment systems with the segments of a travel corridor where a objective of maintaining high water railroad is intended to operate, including quality. Standards for the state should in segments containing rails-with-trails, no case be less than those for the should be with the Department of private sector and in all cases any pit Transportation. Jurisdiction over privy, leach field or seepage pit will be at segments of the travel corridor which least 150 feet from the mean high-water are intended to be converted to a rail- mark of any lake, pond, river or stream. trail should be with the Department of Environmental Conservation. 4. State lands adjacent to and visible from the highway corridor and Guidelines for Management and railroad corridor are a travel corridor Use overlay and shall be managed in compliance with the guidelines for the Nothing in this master plan appropriate classification. In addition, regarding travel corridors shall no new structures or improvements supersede state and federal laws, rules within the travel corridor but outside of or regulations. Compliance with all state the right-of-way will be constructed and federal highway, transportation, and except in conformity with a finally safety standards shall remain necessary adopted unit management plan whether regardless of the provisions herein. for the travel corridor or the underlying land classification. This guideline will not Basic guidelines prevent ordinary maintenance or rehabilitation of conforming structures or 1. The primary travel corridor improvements or the removal of non-- guideline will be to achieve and maintain conforming uses. a park-like atmosphere on state lands within the travel corridor that 5. The Department of complements the total Adirondack Park. Transportation should employ its influence over highways under the jurisdiction of various local governments

to try and achieve similar objectives for which minimizes the need for the the other highway corridors within the erection of additional signs along travel Park. corridors and ensures compliance with the Agency's private sign standards;

HIGHWAY CORRIDORS -- wooden park entrance signs of the rustic style now used by the Design and construction Department of Environmental Conserva- tion at all major entrances to the Park, 1. Highway construction within with more modest signs of similar style the Park will concentrate on the at minor entrances; improvement of the existing highway network to provide a modern system of -- particular consideration to two-lane highways with appropriate modest landmark and vista signing, passing lanes, and significant pointing out to the traveling public the acquisitions of new highway corridors many and varied natural resources and will be avoided wherever feasible. historic sites of the Park;

2. All road designs and -- special design standards in standards will consider the need for the Park for all highway signs that do compatibility with a park environment to not relate directly to traffic safety; and be of equal importance with speed between communities. -- a plan for the removal of existing service station, food, lodging 3. Additional four-lane, limited and campsite signs visible from the access highways will not be located Northway that do not comply with the within the park. Agency's private sign standards, coupled with a plan to provide Signing policies standardized means for directing the traveling public to these facilities that 1. A comprehensive plan for all does not involve the erection of signing on state lands within travel additional signs on the Northway itself corridors will be prepared by the and is consistent with the Adirondack Park Agency jointly with the comprehensive visitor information Department of Environmental program for the Park. Conservation, the Department of Transportation and other interested 2. The elements of the plan state agencies, with the objective of referred to above will be incorporated in achieving uniformity and a high quality travel corridor unit management plans, of design for all signs within these prepared by the Department of corridors. Environmental Conservation or the Department of Transportation. This plan will include: 3. All state signs other than -- a comprehensive visitor highway signs relating directly to traffic information program designed to inform safety shall comply with the standards the traveling public of the availability of for private signs promulgated by the state and private services and facilities,

Agency pursuant to its statutory 2. These structures or facilities authority. will be located in developed areas of the Park wherever possible or they should Scenic vistas be screened from the motoring public's view. The Department of Transportation or the Department of Environmental 3. Sand, gravel and other Conservation should provide modest borrow pits and stockpiling areas will not pull-offs with appropriate signing along be located in travel corridors unless they the Park's travel corridors at important are screened from public view from the scenic vistas where traffic safety highway. As these excavations are permits. The current inventory of forty abandoned they will, wherever possible, such vistas, which may require further be back-sloped and re-vegetated. revision, is reflected on the map forming part of this master plan. 4. All future guiderail construction will be done in accordance Trailheads with federal and state engineering and safety regulations and guidelines. The Department of Environmental Consistent with such guidelines and to Conservation and the Department of the maximum extent practicable, all Transportation should provide modest guiderail construction and installation trailhead parking areas at or near the will support Adirondack Park branding beginning of important public trails. The and will use context sensitive design size of the facility will be governed by and materials. the carrying capacity of the land use area involved and will be consistent with 5. Utility companies will be finally adopted unit management plans. permitted and encouraged to bury their telephone and electric transmission and Trailheads should be located so as distribution lines in the highway corridor. to have the minimum adverse effect on the surrounding environment and, 6. Vegetative cover will be wherever feasible, the parking area will maintained on all cut and fill slopes be screened from view from the except in areas of rock outcroppings or highway. where gabions or retaining walls are essential. Trailhead construction or rehabilitation should be carefully considered in RAILROAD CORRIDORS connection with highway rehabilitation and preservation projects. 1. Public use of all-terrain vehicles and other motor vehicles, Roadside aesthetics except snowmobiles, is prohibited. Existing private rights will not be 1. All administrative and affected by this prohibition. Other maintenance structures or storage areas acceptable motorized uses may include, of any state agency will be designed but are not limited to: and constructed to harmonize with the character of the Park.

-- administrative personnel and designed and managed so as to blend utility companies where necessary to with the Adirondack environment and to reach, maintain or construct permitted have the minimum adverse impact on structures and improvements; and surrounding state lands and nearby private lands. Preferably, they will also -- appropriate law enforcement feature design aspects typical of or and general supervision of public use. reminiscent of railroad architecture and design. Rail trails may be constructed 2. Pesticide use for using non-natural materials. Signage vegetation management will be allowed, should be minimal and not obtrusive and to be specified in a finally adopted unit limited to state purposes. management plan. The following structures and 3. Tree cutting and other improvements are conforming: vegetation management practices aimed at protecting and preserving -- Train depots and stations – scenic vistas will be allowed, but must original or as reconstructed on original be done carefully and justified in an sites; adopted unit management plan. -- Bathroom facilities, including 4. Primitive tent sites and lean- pit privies, portable toilets, and larger tos or any other type of overnight bathroom buildings; accommodation will not be sited on state lands within 150 feet of the railroad -- Parking areas, rest areas, corridor. trailheads, and trailhead registration and informational kiosks; 5. Additions to the travel -- Road and railroad-crossing corridor category should come from new structures, lights, signals and signage acquisitions by the State of railroad corridors with existing tracks. important to or necessary for safety purposes, including tunnels and bridges; 6. The removal or reinstallation -- Bridges, culverts and other of railroad track in a railroad corridor will drainage structures made of natural or be identified as a management objective non-natural materials; in a unit management plan. A change in use of a railroad corridor from railroad -- Boardwalks, fencing or operations to use as a rail trail, or from railings, observation decks and use of a rail trail to railroad operations, platforms designed to minimize adverse including the removal or reinstallation of impacts on wetlands; railroad tracks or any other activities related thereto, shall only occur in -- “Whistle stop” and other conformity with an adopted unit markers, including mileage markers; management plan for the corridor. -- Interpretative or historical Structures and Improvements kiosks within village limits, or in other locations along the corridor, when Rail and rail trail structures and carefully reviewed for aesthetic and improvements should be located, natural resource impacts;

-- Bicycle racks, electric- 2. The Department of assisted bicycle racks, ski racks and Environmental Conservation will other basic structures used for the evaluate whether to preserve and/or purpose of temporarily storing or restore historic railroad structures securing recreational equipment, made remaining in the railroad corridor in primarily from natural materials; accordance with a historic preservation plan that is compliant with the State -- Picnic tables and benches; Historic Preservation Act and approved and by the State Historic Preservation Office. This will enable the public to -- Lighting designed to learn the history of the railroad and the illuminate the corridor within an importance of Adirondack railroads to incorporated village and to maintain the the history and culture of the Park and dark skies of the Adirondack Park. the United States.

Railroad Corridors with rails 3. The Department of Environmental Conservation will seek to 1. The railroad corridor will be maximize the recreational and managed for the operation of rail cars environmental benefits of any rail trail by and other compatible modes of providing year-round opportunities for a transportation and recreational uses, wide variety of outdoor recreational including snowmobile use. travel within the railroad corridor, as well as the opportunity to commute between 2. The State should study the homes and workplaces. To minimize full potential value of the railroad travel user conflicts, rail trails may feature corridor as an asset to the Park and its multiple trails within the railroad corridor communities, especially with respect to and alongside each other. tourism and the environmental benefits of modern rail lines and recreational Designation of Travel Corridors uses. The State should manage the railroad corridor to maximize these The application of the travel corridor benefits and protect the natural classification results in the designation resources of the Park. of approximately 1,220 miles of travel

corridors, of which approximately 1,100 Trails may parallel the existing railroad are highway corridors and 119 miles are tracks, subject to an approved unit railroad corridor. management plan.

Railroad Corridors without rails In addition to the delineated highway corridors, the Department of 1. Bicycling, hiking, cross- Transportation has a considerable country skiing and other non-motorized degree of influence over other highways means of travel, as well as under the jurisdiction of various local snowmobiling and riding electric- governments. This influence, coupled assisted bicycles are conforming uses. with the example of the state highway network, can have a very positive effect on the Park's appearance and atmosphere.

SPECIAL MANAGEMENT independently or as part of the unit GUIDELINES management plan for the major land classification in which they lie. The nine previously described classifications reflect the minimum 2. Special interest areas will management constraints for the lands receive appropriate publicity and affected. Certain parcels of land often particular attention will be given to require special management to reflect interpretive signing. unusual resource or public use factors. Examples of these include: 3. Where overuse or destruction of unique and fragile resources is a -- special interest areas threat, special measures will be taken to deserving of public attention, such as: protect their integrity, such as prohibiting motorized access to the area, where -- scenic areas, places of such access would otherwise be geologic interest providing information allowed, re-routing foot and horse trails, on the formation of the Adirondacks or or discouraging overnight camping to unusual mineral deposits or rock reduce public pressures. Illustrative formations, historic buildings, structures examples of certain areas requiring or sites not part of a designated historic special management are set forth in area, and particularly interesting natural Chapter III. areas;

-- nature preserves, such as habitats of rare, threatened or endangered species of plants or wildlife where protection to prevent overuse or destruction of a unique resource may be required; and,

-- lakes and ponds whose size, character, inaccessibility, or fishery resources require special protective measures.

Guidelines for Management and Use

1. In no instance will the management of any of these lands be less restrictive than that of the major land classification in which they lie, but more restrictive measures may be employed where desirable. Specific unit management plans should be developed for appropriate special management areas, either

III. AREA DESCRIPTIONS third of the area. Nevertheless, large portions of the Wilderness exhibit the AND DELINEATIONS characteristics of old growth forest, having been largely untouched by windstorms and logging. WILDERNESS AREAS The Blue Ridge Wilderness is easily BLUE RIDGE accessible along most of its perimeter. A portion of the Northville-Lake Placid foot This area is located in the Towns of trail runs north from Wakely Pond past Arietta, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake and Stephens Pond and Lake Durant. A Indian Lake in Hamilton County. The major rerouting in 2009 moved six miles area is roughly bounded on the north by of trail from along Cedar River Road to a Route 28; on the east by Route 28/30 new trail along the southern boundary of and private lands; on the south by the Wilderness. Campers from the Lake Cedar River Road and private lands Durant public campground make use of immediately north and west of Cedar the trails in the vicinity while the chief River, Wakely Mountain Primitive Area use of the foot trails in the Wilson Pond and Moose River Plains Wild Forest; section appears to be by anglers, and on the west by the Lake Kora and hunters and summer visitors to the Sagamore Lake properties and the community of Blue Mountain Lake. Most Moose River Plains Wild Forest. use near the south boundary of this area is concentrated along the Northville- The area is dominated by Blue Lake Placid trail and around Sprague Ridge, a height of land ranging from Pond. 2,700 to 3,683 feet in elevation and running in a general east-west direction Great Camp Sagamore, a National for a distance of more than six miles. On Historic Landmark, stands on the west the lower north slopes of the ridge there shore of Sagamore Lake at the western are a number of attractive little trout boundary of the Blue Ridge Wilderness. ponds with foot trails leading to them An area of the Wilderness around from Route 28/30. The forest cover is a Sagamore Lake is included in the typical mix of hardwoods and softwoods, Historic Great Camps Special with the higher elevations predominantly Management Area. The area was covered with red spruce and balsam fir. designated to recognize the historic Most of the old growth spruce and connection between the Great Camps hemlock in the northwestern part of the and the Forest Preserve. area suffered heavy damage in the 1950 blow down, which affects the character Approximately 5.5 miles of jeep of the area even to this day. Parts of the trails and 5.5 miles of snowmobile trails blowdown area were affected by have been closed. A modest subsequent, legislatively authorized, stream-gauging station which was salvage logging. Also, a microburst in installed in 1978 at the confluence of the 1995 felled trees across the northern East Inlet and Lost Brooks on the former Sagamore property has been removed.

A Unit Management Plan was Young's Road in Star Lake the Wild adopted for this area in 2006. Forest and Wilderness boundary is the Tamarack Creek snowmobile trail and Blue Ridge area statistics: the South Access Trail from Youngs Road. Land south and east of this State Lands 47,848 Acres boundary will be classified Wilderness Bodies of Water (38) 346 Acres upon acquisition of inholdings. Elevation (minimum) 1,676 Feet In 1975, the Oswegatchie River was (maximum) 3,744 Feet classified as a wild river by the Wild, Foot Trails 23 Miles Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act, and Lean-tos 3 in 1977 was closed to motorboat use. Non-conforming Uses: The fire truck trail that once served High Golden Beach Campground Septic Falls from Wanakena was closed in Blue Mountain Cemetery Access 1976. Within the former Oswegatchie Road Primitive Area, approximately 7.2 miles of snowmobile trails were closed and two tent platforms were removed. These FIVE PONDS actions made the reclassification of the Oswegatchie Primitive Area possible, This area is located in the Towns of adding 16,920 acres to the Five Ponds Fine, Clifton, Colton and Piercefield in Area. St. Lawrence County, the Town of Webb in Herkimer County and the Town of The Broadhead Gore was acquired Long Lake in Hamilton County. The by the State in 1976. Prior to that, this lands of this unit are bounded on the parcel was considered State land from north by Cranberry Lake, a portion of about 1890 to 1947 when the State lost the Oswegatchie River, and the road it in a lawsuit brought by the late from NYS Route 3 leading to Inlet and Augustus Low. The Gore, which private lands; on the northeast by the contained original growth timber, was Cranberry Lake Wild Forest and the logged soon after the lawsuit and was southern edge of Otter Brook Road; on then sold to the Onondaga Council of the southeast by the 2.4 mile road from the Boy Scouts of America. Although the the Otter Brook Road to the Lows Upper Gore was only about 300 acres in size, Dam and the 2.2 mile road from the it extended from Mud Pond westward a road to the Lows Upper Dam (providing distance of about eight miles, coming to deeded access to a large inholding on a point in the Wilderness. This the north shore of Lows Lake owned by acquisition offers significant additional the Boy Scouts and private lands) and protection to the Five Ponds Wilderness. south across Lows Lake to easement lands near Long Pond and down to and In 1979 the State purchased 15,850 including Bog Lake and Clear Pond; on acres in the Towns of Webb and Long the south by private lands in the vicinity Lake, 8,635 acres of which became part of Gull Lake, and the Stillwater of this Wilderness. The remainder of the Reservoir; on the southwest by the tract lies on the opposite side of the Pepperbox Wilderness; and on the west railroad and the road leading to Partlow by Watson’s East Triangle and Aldrich Lake which became the Lake Lila Pond Wild Forests. In the vicinity of Primitive Area. In 2000, approximately

1,340 acres of the Lake Lila Primitive The terrain is low, rolling and Area lying westerly of the railroad were interspersed with many small ponds. added to the Five Ponds Wilderness Wetlands and small brooks are Area. The State accepted the gift of a numerous. The forest cover varies from conservation easement over 6,646 hardwoods in the sections that were acres of land surrounding Nehasane heavily logged and burned more than Lake, as well as fee interest subject to a forty years ago to virgin pine and spruce 50-year estate over 3,664 acres in the stands. vicinity of Gull Lake. This latter parcel is due to become part of the Five Ponds This is one of the few locations in Wilderness in 2029. the northeastern United States where stands of virgin timber can be found. In 1982 the State purchased 6,676 Early logging efforts avoided the area acres of land in the Town of Webb, because it was found to be impractical seller’s retained timber cutting rights to haul huge logs by horse and oxen out were extinguished in 1990. This land to the landing on Wolf Creek. The old was classified as Primitive and named growth pine and red spruce stand on the Wilderness Lakes. Upon expiration of esker between Big Five, Little Five and the timber rights, the Primitive Area was Big Shallow, Little Shallow and merged into the Five Ponds Wilderness. Washbowl ponds is an example of this A private inholding remains and the virgin timber. The pure pine stand at ROW associated with the private road is Pine Ridge along the Oswegatchie is a Primitive Area. another well-known spot where examples of original growth timber may In 2000, approximately 13,220 acres be seen. However, portions of the Pine of land acquired in Watson’s East Ridge stand were completely blown Triangle and land classified Wild Forest down in the 1950 hurricane and, as part of the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest pursuant to legislation, the timber was were reclassified Wilderness and added salvaged by a logging contractor. to the Five Ponds Wilderness. This area Additional pines on Pine Ridge and the contains the Middle Branch of the esker through the Five Ponds were Oswegatchie River, Brindle Pond, blown down in the 1995 Derecho. Grassy Pond and Upper South Pond. The area also contains an inholding on In addition to these spots, other the north shore of Bear Pond, which, if points of interest to the hiker, camper acquired, should be added to this unit. and angler are: High Falls on the Oswegatchie River; Alder Bed Flow on In 2005, 1,100 acres of land the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie acquired in the vicinity of Bog Lake and River; Cat Mountain; "The Plains," which Clear Pond were classified Wilderness are very similar in soil and cover type to and added to the Five Ponds that of the Moose River Plains; and Wilderness providing a more direct numerous, clear, spring-fed ponds, most Wilderness canoe route to Lows Lake of which support brook trout. The from the Remsen to Lake Placid Travel Oswegatchie River was long considered Corridor and the waters of Lake Lila in the top brook trout stream in the State, the William C. Whitney Wilderness.

with catches of three to four pound extent prohibited by the Wilderness brook trout common during the summer classification. Public float plane use will months. This distinction was lost when be eliminated December 31, 2011. perch were, apparently, introduced accidentally into Cranberry Lake in A Unit Management Plan was 1945. Despite the adverse impacts to adopted for this area in1994. the brook trout population, the area is popular with hunters and anglers who Five Ponds area statistics: frequent the interior ponds. State Lands 124,710 Acres The Oswegatchie is a fine canoeing Private Inholdings (7) 13,092 Acres stream and is commonly used as such Bodies of Water (263) 3,460 Acres to reach interior wilderness points of Elevation interest. The river has received (minimum) 1,386 Feet increasing use in recent years and care (maximum) 2,489 Feet must be taken that such use does not Foot Trails 68 Miles result in resource degradation. The Lean-tos 14 existing lean-tos on the river will be Non-conforming Uses: phased out and ultimately replaced by Gravel Pit 1 primitive tent sites.

The Five Ponds area is accessible GIANT MOUNTAIN to the public from the north and also from the south if one has a boat or This area lies in Essex County, in canoe. The area can also be reached the Towns of Elizabethtown and Keene, from the southwest via the Raven Lake and is roughly bounded by Route 9N on Road and from the east, by boat via the the north; by Route 73 on the west and Bog River/ Low's Lake tract. The south; and Route 9 on the east. western boundary in Herkimer County is accessible from the Bear Pond Road in During 1903, one of the major forest the Watson’s East Triangle Wild Forest. fires of the Adirondacks swept over the greater part of this area, burning the top- The Mt. Electra observation tower soil down to bare rock and leaving the was removed in September 1989, two dominant mountains of this area, bringing this area into compliance with Giant and Rocky Peak Ridge, practically Wilderness standards bald. A few pockets on the lower slopes escaped the intense burn and are easily In 2009, portions of the lands distinguishable as they now contain old belonging to the former Lows Lake growth white pine and hemlock stands Primitive Area were reclassified to with some mixed hardwoods. Wilderness and added to the Five Ponds Wilderness. In light of the The topography of the area is steep Wilderness and Primitive classifications and rocky with a considerable number of of the land surrounding Lows Lake and vertical or near vertical cliffs. A number Bog River, DEC will manage the waters of landslides have occurred on the west as Wilderness, precluding both public side of Giant Mountain, exposing bare and administrative use of motor rock. Numerous small brooks cascade vehicles, motorboats and aircraft to the down from the upper slopes.

The tops of the higher mountains number of similar brooks in the area are still bare rock but aspen, white birch, provide scenic spots as well as trout balsam and spruce are slowly filling in fishing pools. the upper slopes. The primary users of the area are From the eastern boundary of Route hikers who frequent it during all seasons 9, a few miles south of Elizabethtown, to of the year to enjoy the excellent views the top of Giant Mountain, the elevation from numerous vantage points on the changes about 4,000 feet in a horizontal tops and sides of the mountains. distance of approximately six (6) miles. Hunters also make considerable use of This represents the greatest differential the area. in elevation per horizontal mile of any Wilderness area in the Park. Access to the State lands around the perimeter is excellent, with Because of the great difference in trailheads available on each of the four temperatures and soil conditions sides. between these two elevations, the forest cover type ranges from stunted spruce, A 2002 addition to the area in the balsam and white birch near the Town of Keene created a 1.25 acre mountain tops, to excellent quality oak, inholding with an access road. maple, basswood and white ash at the lower elevations. There are also some A Unit Management Plan was excellent stands of hemlock on the adopted for this area in 2004. Keene Valley side near the AuSable River. Giant Mountain area statistics:

Two of the three small ponds are State Lands 23,688 Acres rather unique because of their location Bodies of Water (2) 7 Acres and attractiveness. Giant's Washbowl Inholdings (1) 1.25 Acres lies in a small depression near the 2,300 Elevation foot level on the lower south slope (minimum) 580 Feet of Giant Mountain and has a surface (maximum) 4,627 Feet area of slightly over five acres. A lovely Foot Trails 33 Miles little tarn near the summit of Rocky Peak Lean-tos 1 Ridge, known as Lake Marie Louise, is Non-conforming Uses: reminiscent of the subalpine lakes of the Road (private) 0.23 Miles western United States. The sharp col between Giant Mountain and Rocky Peak Ridge, referred to as Gusty Gap, HA-DE-RON-DAH is another attractive feature of the area. This area is located in the Town of Many small brooks cascade down Webb, Herkimer County, and the Town from the upper slopes. One in particular, of Greig, Lewis County. Roaring Brook, has a scenic waterfall and can be seen from Route 73, about It is bounded on the north by private one mile north of Chapel Pond. A lands in the vicinity of North Pond, Hitchcock Pond, Moose Pond and the

headwaters of the Independence River; at the Big Otter Trail entrance near on the east by private lands along the Thendara and the Big Otter Lake road in Remsen to Lake Placid Railroad Independence River Wild Forest from right-of-way; on the south by private the west. lands along Route 28 and by the wood road leading to the Copper Lake The following non-conforming uses property; and on the west by Pine Creek have been removed from this area: 6.5 and a Department of Environmental miles of a truck trail, 2.3 miles of Conservation maintained foot trail from snowmobile trails, one fire tower, one Pine Creek to Pine Lake, East Pine observer cabin and 1.8 miles of Pond and Big Otter Lake. The present telephone line. This area now fully Wilderness boundary was established complies with Wilderness standards. recognizing the well-established motorized access in the adjacent A Unit Management Plan was Independence River Wild Forest. adopted for this area in 1995.

The terrain consists of low rolling Ha-De-Ron-Dah area statistics: hills with many beaver meadows and wetlands. State Lands 24,892 Acres Bodies of Water (43) 405 Acres Although the area is forest covered, Elevation extensive forest fire damage in the (minimum) 1,437 Feet southern half has resulted in much of it (maximum) 2,353 Feet now being covered with brush, pin Foot Trails 35 Miles cherry, aspen and bracken fern. Lean-tos 2 Non-conforming Uses: None In the northern half, a mix of relatively small diameter hardwood and softwood stands predominate. The HIGH PEAKS exceptions are the scattered individual white pine trees just north of the former This area is the Park’s largest truck trail which remained following the Wilderness area and it is located in last logging operations prior to the State three counties and seven Towns: the acquiring this area in the early 1900's. Town of Harrietstown in Franklin Some of these trees exceed 100 feet in County, the Towns of North Elba, height and are more than 40 inches in Keene, North Hudson, Elizabethtown diameter. The probable reason they and Newcomb in Essex County and the escaped logging operations was that the Town of Long Lake in Hamilton County. final cut was for hardwoods. The It is roughly bounded on the north by scattered pines represented insufficient Route 3, the Kelly Road, which runs revenue in relation to the logging costs from Oseetah Lake to Averyville Road, to fell and haul them. the Adirondack Loj property at Heart Lake, the Mount Van Hoevenberg Public access from the north and Intensive Use Area and Route 73 near south is nearly all blocked by private the Cascade Lakes. The Adirondack lands. The same is true for most of the Northway, Route 73, and private lands eastern and western boundaries except in the Towns of Keene and North

Hudson form the eastern boundary. hardwoods and softwoods. The higher The southern boundary is formed by elevations at and near most mountain State University of New York College of tops have thick stands of stunted Environmental Science and Forestry’s balsam with some spruce, white birch Huntington Wildlife Forest, and yellow birch. Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest, Great Camp Santanoni Historic Area, The tops of Mount Marcy and and private lands in the Towns of Algonquin Peak are above the Newcomb and North Hudson. Much of timberline and a number of other these private lands along the southern mountain tops are at, or close to, boundary are actively managed for timberline. The subalpine and alpine forest products and are encumbered by vegetation on the tops of these conservation easements held by the mountains has been of interest to many State. This Wilderness is bounded on people, including students of botany, the west by Long Lake and the Raquette ecology and zoology, as well as River. recreationists willing to hike to the mountain tops for superb views of the Topographic features vary High Peaks region and close dramatically. Extensive low-lying observation of unique plant wetlands in the vicinity of Marcy Swamp associations. Overuse threatens the and Boreas Ponds contrast with continued existence of some of these precipitous mountain crags, many associations. The Department has a exceeding 4,000 feet in elevation. The long-standing partnership with The broad dome of Mount Marcy, the highest Nature Conservancy and the point in New York State, rises above a Adirondack Mountain Club which places rugged collection of steep granitic peaks stewards on a number of these alpine on all sides. Scoured bedrock slides on summits to educate hikers, interpret the every aspect are the result of vegetation alpine ecology, and monitor plant and soil swept away in catastrophic populations. This partnership has landslides. significantly improved conditions on a number of the high peaks. Like the topography, the forest cover also varies. It ranges from young Evidence of old road beds is found hardwoods, to mature, large diameter on the periphery of the unit and hardwood and softwood stands, to the penetrating some of the river valleys. spruce-fir of the subalpine region and As they are reclaimed by natural forces, the alpine meadows above timberline. their presence continues to diminish. Some of the old road beds are Forest fires near the turn of the 20th maintained as foot trails and horse trails. century were intense enough in some Trails located at higher elevations in the locations, such as the Cascade Range interior are typically steep, wet, and and the Dix range, to destroy both rugged. These are some of the most vegetation and topsoil, leaving bare scenic and popular Wilderness foot trails rock. It will take many years for enough in the Northeastern United States. soil to develop to support a forest. Outside of the most popular routes However, the greater part of this area is through the Great Range, the predominantly forested with mixed Macintyre’s, and Mount Marcy, the

regularity of human encounters in 1999, the Department developed a decreases significantly. Opportunities comprehensive campsite plan for the for solitude in a wild and remote busiest areas in the unit. landscape are available for those who seek it out. The ranger station at Marcy Dam will be phased out in accordance with Many crystal-clear streams cascade the policy of achieving peripheral from the mountain slopes, providing control. Due to the expected degree of numerous scenic waterfalls, deep pools use of the Lake Colden area, particularly and brook trout fishing opportunities. in the winter months, Wilderness Such streams as the North and South guidelines permit the indefinite retention Forks of the Bouquet River, Opalescent of the Lake Colden station. The ranger River, Johns Brook, Klondike Brook, station at Raquette Falls on the extreme Marcy Brook, Cold River, Moose Creek western boundary of this Wilderness is and Cold Brook are photographers' considered a peripheral control facility favorites. Lake Tear of the Clouds, the as the Raquette River is open to source of the Hudson River, lies at motorboats. While the necessity to about 4,300 feet above sea level on a retain the Lake Colden and Raquette flank of Mount Marcy. Falls ranger stations has been identified in the existing UMP for the area, their Hikers and mountaineers probably continued usefulness will be subject to outnumber all other user groups. Skiing periodic review. and snowshoeing throughout the area had increased in popularity in the late An on-ground telephone line exists 1960’s through the 1980’s, and is between The Garden Parking Lot and currently experiencing resurgence in the Johns Brook Ranger Station to popularity. Winter mountaineering and provide reliable communication. All winter camping continue to be highly other on and above ground telephone popular. Hunting in this rugged and lines in the unit have been removed. remote area offers a unique challenge. Adequate communication is now Anglers who prize wild waters are possible between other stations using enticed by protected, remote locations. the Departments’ VHF radio network or the existing private land cellular The most heavily used trails in the network. At such time as cellular entire Adirondacks are those to Mount coverage is available at the Johns Brook Marcy from Adirondack Loj via Marcy Ranger Station, the remaining lines will Dam or Lake Colden. The heavy public be removed from this area. use near Marcy Dam, Lake Colden and in the John's Brook Valley threatens to South Meadows Road is a town destroy the wilderness character of maintained public road which extends these sections. Management about a mile east into the Wilderness recommendations adopted in the 1999 from Adirondak Loj road. This road Unit Management Plan (UMP) have should be closed to conform to identified appropriate management Wilderness guidelines. The Department actions to minimize or eliminate many of of Environmental Conservation has the threats to the resource. Subsequent committed to work with the Town of to the adoption of the UMP for this unit

North Elba towards this closure. Closure establish any one of several of South Meadows Road will enhance non-compatible land uses that might the wilderness character of the South serve their particular interests. Meadows area, which is frequently used as an access point into the north and Fee title or conservation easements central portions of the Wilderness Area. should be acquired by the State on other key parcels of privately held land The level of public use in the most within or adjacent to this Wilderness as popular areas within the Wilderness has outlined in the New York State Open attained levels where trail erosion, soil Space Conservation Plan. compaction and generalized resource problems are readily apparent. Group The following non-conforming uses camping in the Lake Colden/Flowed have been removed from the area: 19.3 Lands area has already been restricted miles of administrative roads, 35.1 miles in peak periods by the Department of of jeep trails, two fire towers, two Environmental Conservation and this observer cabins, two ranger cabins measure has been generally accepted telephone lines, four tent platforms, two by users. Measures to control or limit lean-to clusters, and ten lean-tos above public use in particular areas were 3,500 feet in elevation. adopted in 1999 through the Unit Management Plan. A minor change in the boundary of this area was made in 1979 recognizing In 1978 and 1980, the State a small segment of a public road near acquired 9,308 acres of land in fee from Walton Brook in the Town of Keene. the Adirondack Mountain Reserve Also in 1979, two sub-lots adjacent to (AMR). Approximately 6,039 acres have the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Recreation become part of the High Peaks Area consisting of approximately 260 Wilderness, including the following acres were reclassified from Wilderness summits: Haystack, Little Haystack, to Intensive Use in recognition of an Basin, Saddleback, Sawtooth, Gothics, improved cross country ski trail that has Armstrong, Upper Wolfjaw and Lower been mechanically maintained in this Wolfjaw mountains. Approximately area since 1966. 3,269 acres became part of the former Dix Mountain Wilderness (now High In 2009 New York State acquired Peaks Wilderness) including the 6,806 acres from the Open Space following summits: Noonmark, Bear Conservancy, Inc. (OSC). These lands Den, Dial, Colvin, and Pinnacle. The were classified as Wilderness and State received, by gift, a conservation included in the High Peaks unit. Within easement on the remaining AMR lands, this addition are 3 inholdings: one parcel limiting future development while contains a fire tower on the summit of permitting public access across AMR Mt. Adams, the second contains property to reach adjacent State land. remnants of two fire tower observer cabins, and the third is a shoreline A number of remaining interior parcel along Upper Preston Pond with a private parcels (generally located in the small log cabin. Each of these John’s Brook Valley) could pose a threat inholdings will be subject to a to the surrounding State lands, if the conservation easement held by the owners or future owners decide to State of New York. The State holds a

purchase option for the Upper Preston *Non-conforming uses whose removal Pond parcel. A fourth private parcel, cannot be scheduled by a fixed which adjoins the Tahawas/Henderson deadline. Lake tract, includes the Masten House on Henderson Lake. DEC will manage the waters of Henderson Lake as HOFFMAN NOTCH Wilderness. This area is located in the Towns of In 2016, New York State acquired Schroon, North Hudson and Minerva in from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Essex County. It is bounded on the the 20,543 acre Boreas Ponds tract, the north by private lands lying south of the 6,060 acre MacIntyre East Tract, and Blue Ridge Road and the Sand Pond the 7,368 acre MacIntyre West tract. Mountain tract donated to the State by These lands were classified as a Finch, Pruyn and Company for fish and mixture of Wilderness, Wild Forest and wildlife management, silvicultural Primitive. The location of the Boreas research and experimentation purposes; Ponds tract between the High Peaks on the east by the Adirondack Northway and the former Dix Mountain Wilderness and private lands immediately west of areas provided a unique opportunity to the Northway; on the south by private combine the Dix Mountain Wilderness lands lying north of the Loch Muller Area with the High Peaks Wilderness Road; and on the west by the jeep road area. and trail that extends from Irishtown along Minerva Stream northward to the Public access to the perimeter of the Blue Ridge Road near Cheney Pond. area is generally good. The area is mountainous and A Unit Management Plan was rugged, dominated by three north-south adopted for this area in 1999. ridges in excess of 3,000 feet: Blue Ridge, Texas Ridge and Washburn High Peaks area statistics: Ridge.

State Lands 272,143 Acres Sixteen bodies of water are located Private Inholdings (10) 4,265 Acres within the area. Cheney Pond, a former Bodies of Water (198) 2,654 Acres flow created for the purpose of driving Elevation logs down the Boreas River, lies (minimum) 860 Feet adjacent to the area. (maximum) 5,344 Feet Foot Trails 277 Miles The forest cover ranges from Horse Trails 48 Miles second growth hardwoods saplings to Lean-tos 75 nearly solid conifer stands of near ma- Impoundments 2 ture size at the higher elevations. On some of the better soil, exceptionally Non-conforming Uses: large diameter hardwoods occur. Ranger Cabins* 2 (Marcy Dam and Lake Colden) Hoffman Mountain, which is the Miles highest point in the area and a part of Roads (public) 1 Mile the Blue Ridge Range, was selected by Town of Schroon officials as a potential

ski area, but their proposal was There are two foot trails within this defeated in the 1967 referendum. area that have long been designated for Subsequent studies by independent public use by the Department. From the experts have revealed that the mountain south, a trail leads from Route 28 to is not suited for a major ski center. Whortleberry Pond, with short spur trails to Ross and Big Bad Luck Ponds. From Three fairly extensive Department of the north, a trail begins on Northwoods Environmental Conservation Club Road and ends at Blue Ledge on snowmobile trails, totaling 17.5 miles, the Hudson River. There are no public were removed: one running north to roads or other access routes to this south through Hoffman Notch; one section of the Hudson River. In the past running from Big Pond northward, then relatively few people were successful in eastward; and another extending from navigating the waters by canoe, boat or Loch Muller northward by Baily Pond to raft. These factors had served to retain Washburn Ridge. A 2.5-mile jeep trail this portion of the river and its was also removed, bringing this area immediate surroundings in a near fully into compliance with Wilderness wilderness condition. River access has standards. significantly increased with the development of commercial rafting since Public access to the area is easily the early 1980’s. gained, and its present use comes chiefly from hunters and anglers. Although no established foot trails parallel this section of the Hudson River, A Unit Management Plan was the two above-mentioned trails, adopted for this area in 2012. particularly the Blue Ledge Trail, receive considerable use. Unlike the majority of Hoffman Notch area statistics: the Adirondack Park, much of the underlying bedrock in this area is State Lands 38,234 Acres calcareous, which is reflected by the Private Inholding (1) 3 Acres species and natural communities that Bodies of Water (30) 247 Acres occupy these lands and waters. The Elevation river corridors along the Hudson and (minimum) 900 Feet Cedar Rivers, along with limey cliffs and (maximum) 3,700 Feet wetlands, feature a diversity of Foot trails 15 Miles bryophytes and vascular plants that may be unmatched in the Park. In addition to Non-conforming Uses: None its biological diversity, Blue Ledge provides dramatic cliffs enjoyed by those who run the river or hike to the HUDSON GORGE river or ledges. Opportunities for good fishing are available along the river and This Wilderness Area is in the at several interior ponds. Towns of Newcomb and Minerva, Essex County, and the Town of Indian Lake, The distance between Newcomb Hamilton County. It encompasses the and North River is the most dramatic wildest and most remote section of the white water trip in the Adirondacks, if not Hudson River, as well as a spectacular the State as a whole, and one of the white water gorge. most demanding and hazardous. Since

the early 1980’s, commercial white Wilderness Area by the Jay Mountain water rafting, utilizing a release from the Road, a rough road not plowed in the Lake Abanakee dam which permits rafts winter. Should the road ever be closed to gain access via the Indian River, has or abandoned, all or a major portion of increased dramatically on the lower this area could be consolidated with the portion of this route. This type of use Jay Wilderness. has reached about the maximum level consistent with the carrying capacity of Spectacular views of Giant the resources of the river banks and wild Mountain and High Peaks regions to the character of the river and care should be south, as well as the Champlain Valley taken not to exceed present use levels. and the Green Mountains of Vermont to the east, are afforded the hiker who This area was originally classified as scales Hurricane. There are three trails Primitive because of substantial private to Hurricane Mountain, permitting inholdings in the vicinities of the access by all types of hikers. Hikers can confluence of the Hudson and Indian also traverse the fairly open circuit trail Rivers, and Blue Ledge and the critical from Big Crow Mountain across Weston relationship of those lands to the river Mountain, down to Lost Pond and back gorge. The area was upgraded to to the starting point while enjoying the Wilderness in 2013 after most of the panorama of the High Peaks to the private lands – including their entire river southwest. frontage – were acquired. In 2010, 13,948 acres of the area The Department developed an were reclassified as Wilderness from Interim Access Plan for this area in June Primitive when 0.5 acres of land 2013. associated with the Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower was reclassified to Historic. This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan. A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2010. Hudson Gorge area statistics: Hurricane Mountain area statistics: State Lands 22,906 Acres Bodies of Water (52) 419 Acres State Lands 14,222 Acres Foot Trails 7 Miles Bodies of Water (1) 4 Acres Non-conforming Uses: None Inholdings (2) 41 Acres Elevation (minimum) 810 Feet HURRICANE MOUNTAIN (maximum) 3,694 Feet Foot Trails 13.7 Miles This area is located in the Towns of Lean-tos 2 Elizabethtown, Jay, Keene and Lewis, Non-conforming Uses: None Essex County. It is predominantly steep, rocky ground with thin soils. Hurricane Mountain, 3,694 feet in elevation, dominates the area. On the north the area is separated from the Jay

JAY MOUNTAIN Jay Mountain area statistics:

This area lies within the Towns of State lands 7,896 Acres Jay and Lewis in Essex County. It is Elevation bounded by the Jay Mountain Road on (minimum) 1,420 Feet the south and private land boundaries (maximum) 3,600 Feet elsewhere, except where the road west Foot Trails 3 Miles of Mt. Fay severs an appendage of Non-conforming Uses: None State lands.

The high and precipitous mountains LITTLE MOOSE in this area are generally similar in character to the Hurricane Range and This area lies in Hamilton County, in require careful management in order to the Towns of Arietta, Morehouse and avoid natural resource degradation. The Lake Pleasant. To the north it is vistas from Jay, Saddleback and Slip bounded by the Moose River Plains Mountains make the climb to the Intensive Use Camping Area (along the vantage points well worthwhile. The Limekiln Lake – Cedar River Road) and AuSable Valley can be seen as well as the South Branch of the Moose River; to the Champlain Valley and the High the west by the Moose River Plains Wild Peaks. Forest near the Otter Brook Road; and on the south and east by the Moose The Jay Mountain Road, a River Plains Wild Forest corridor along seasonally maintained road, separates the routes of the former Otter Brook this area from the Hurricane Mountain Truck Trail and former Wilson Ridge Wilderness. A drive along this rough Road. The area does not include Little gravel road offers both attractive views Moose Lake, its boundary looping of the upland region above Keene around the lake and crossing its outlet Valley and access to lovely stands of just west of where the outlet – the South white birch on the lower slopes. Branch of the Moose River – begins at the lake. Although this area is below 10,000 acres in size and was originally Comprised almost entirely of the classified as a Primitive Area, it is large slopes of Little Moose and Manbury enough to provide a sense of Mountains, this Wilderness exists remoteness and to be maintained in an between the upper reaches of the South unimpaired condition and therefore was Branch of the Moose River and that reclassified as Wilderness in 1985. river’s first major tributary, Otter Brook. Should the Jay Mountain Road be Both these rivers are designated closed, this area could be extended to “Scenic” rivers. The terrain is encompass all, or a major portion, of the predominantly steep and rugged, the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness. only notable areas of exception being some wetland flats in the upper river A Unit Management Plan was area of the South Branch of the Moose adopted for this area in 2010. River. Sly Pond, at an elevation of 2,872

feet above sea level, is more than 1,000 Armand, North Elba and Wilmington. In feet higher than nearby Beaver Lake or general, the Saranac River and Franklin Icehouse Pond down in the Moose River Falls Reservoir border on the north; the Plains and is one of the highest water Wilmington- Franklin Falls Road, the bodies in the Adirondacks. Nearly 800 Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway feet upslope from Sly Pond is the 3,634- and the west branch of the AuSable feet summit of Little Moose Mountain, River form the eastern boundary; the the highest point in the area. Some Saranac Lake-Lake Placid Road, Route restricted but rewarding views are 86 between Lake Placid and Ray Brook, afforded from a small ledge near the forms the southern boundary; and the spruce-fir forested summit. The spruce- Saranac River forms the western fir forest here, which also encompasses boundary. the higher elevations of nearby Manbury Mountain, is potential breeding habitat McKenzie Mountain, sometimes for the Bicknell’s thrush. referred to as Saddleback, and Moose Mountain, sometimes called St. Armand While the entire perimeter of the Mountain, are the dominant area is accessible via either the Forest topographical features of the area. Preserve road network of the Moose River Plains or the mountain bike trail of McKenzie Pond, from which the the Moose River Plains Wild Forest Village of Saranac Lake obtains its corridor, the South Branch of the Moose water supply, forms part of the boundary River on the north and west lacks foot on the west side as does Moose Pond. bridges and can be challenging to cross, However, few ponds are fully and no foot trails lead into the area from encompassed within the boundaries of the corridor. Public use of this area is this area. Bartlett Pond, lying at about low and the opportunities for solitude 2,800 feet altitude on the southeast side very high. of McKenzie Mountain, and Loch Bonnie which is at about 2,900 feet altitude on This area does not yet have an the southeast side of Moose Mountain, adopted Unit Management Plan. are completely within the Wilderness boundary. Little Moose area statistics: The area is densely forested with State Lands 12,201 Acres softwoods. Spruce and balsam dominat- Bodies of Water (9) 52 Acres e the forests above the 2,500 feet and Elevation mixed hardwoods and softwoods (minimum) 1,840 Feet dominate the lower elevations. (maximum) 3,634 Feet Foot Trails 4.6 Miles During the 1950 hurricane, heavy Horse Trails 3.3 Miles blow down occurred in a number of Non-conforming Uses: None spots, chiefly in the saddle between Whiteface Mountain and Mount Alton to the west. MCKENZIE MOUNTAIN In the legislatively authorized timber This area is located in western salvage operation conducted after 1950, Essex County in the Towns of St. log roads were bulldozed along Lincoln

Brook from the north and at the head of and Whiteface Mountain, are crystal Lake Placid from the south. Most of clear trout streams with many scenic these log roads have now become spots along their courses. overgrown with dense, second growth hardwoods. The Adirondack Mountain Club originally maintained a foot trail from the Although the area is in close vicinity of Wolf Pond near Route 86 to proximity to the Villages of Saranac the top of McKenzie Mountain. To avoid Lake on the southwest and Lake Placid private land conflicts, the trail was on the southeast, the interior has relocated in 1984 and now begins at the retained its wilderness atmosphere. This pull-off east of the Saranac Lake Golf is due to the steep and rugged terrain Course on Route 86. which effectively prevented motor vehicle penetration prior to its Public access to the area is Wilderness designation in 1972. relatively good from all but the northern side. The area is used to a considerable In the 1800’s, when logging was at extent by hikers to climb the mountains, its peak in the Adirondacks, a road was by anglers to try their luck in the small constructed from the vicinity of the brooks and by hunters chiefly during the Whiteface Toll Gate southwestward big game season. following the 2,400 foot contour for several miles along the side of Esther Approximately six miles of Mountain and Whiteface Mountain. The snowmobile trails have been closed and road was well built, with culverts and four tent platforms removed from this ditches, for horsedrawn sleds to area. The former drive-in theater site transport logs to the head of Red Brook, adjacent to Route 86 was added to this where a small pool of water, known as Wilderness in 1979. After temporary use Lake Stevens, formed the start of a log as a vehicle parking area and storage flume that ran approximately three miles area for the 1980 Winter Olympics, this to the Ausable River. Once at the river, area was allowed to revegetate. the logs were floated down to the pulp mill in Ausable Forks. Although the old This area does not yet have an road is gradually being reclaimed by se- adopted Unit Management Plan. cond growth hardwoods, its location will likely remain in evidence for many McKenzie Mountain area statistics: years. State Lands 37,214 Acres The attractiveness of the area is Private Inholdings (1) 184 Acres enhanced by the excellent views that Bodies of Water (17) 96 Acres may be obtained from the top of Elevation McKenzie Mountain and Moose (minimum) 1,320 Feet Mountain. Also, there are numerous (maximum) 4,869 Feet spring-fed brooks in the area. Lincoln Foot Trails 18.4 Miles Brook and French Brook, with their Lean-tos 1 tributaries originating high on the Non-conforming Uses: None northwest slopes of Esther Mountain

PEPPERBOX The area is classified as Wilderness The Pepperbox Wilderness lies because of its remoteness and its within the Town of Webb in Herkimer extensive wetland ecosystems. The County and the Town of Watson, Lewis flora and fauna associated with wetland County. Stillwater Reservoir and the ecosystems, such as found in the Beaver River form the southern Pepperbox, exhibit great species boundary, while the north bank of the diversity. Bird life and small mammals West Branch of the Oswegatchie River are especially abundant and the generally forms the northern boundary. protection afforded Wilderness will The western boundary is primarily the ensure this areas significant biological county line, and the eastern boundary is importance. the Raven Lake Road Primitive Area and the Five Ponds Wilderness Area. The remnant of the deserted Beaver Lake Mountain fire tower has been In 2000, approximately 7,935 acres removed and the rough road, 2.5 miles of lands classified Wild Forest were in length, has been closed. There is very classified Wilderness and added to this little use of the area at present, except unit. This area included the West for some light hunting. Access is Branch of the Oswegatchie River, Tied moderately difficult because of the Lake, and Buck Pond. There are three distance from public roads and the lack inholdings within this area that, if ever of a trail system except for the trail to acquired, should be included in this unit. Jakes Pond in a portion of the area that was reclassified from Wild Forest to In 2006, the State acquired the Wilderness in 2000. There is little or no gravel extraction rights in the Beaver demand for a trail system and this offers River Primitive Area, thus eliminating an opportunity to retain a portion of the the non-conforming use of that area. Adirondack landscape in a state that The Beaver River Primitive Area has even a purist might call Wilderness. been reclassified as Wilderness and added to the Pepperbox area. A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 1985. The terrain is generally flat with a few small, rolling hills. Wetlands Pepperbox area statistics: predominate along with spruce, fir and red maple. Alder thickets, marsh and State Lands 23,813 Acres beaver flows are also common. The Bodies of Water (70) 617 Acres drier sites are vegetated with northern Inholdings (3) 594 Acres hardwoods. The entire area appears to have been heavily burned over and logged in the past and is not particularly Elevation scenic by usual standards. It is, (minimum) 1,360 Feet however, ideally suited for snowshoeing (maximum) 2,168 Feet and cross country skiing. Foot Trails 2.0 Miles Non-conforming Uses: Utility ROW Several ponds are found in the area. They are generally of low productivity and some may even be sterile.

PHARAOH LAKE the smaller hills have very steep sides and cliffs, presenting more of an The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area impression of relief than actually exists. is located in the Towns of Schroon and Ticonderoga in Essex County and in the This area was expanded in 1979 by Towns of Horicon and Hague in Warren the reclassification of the Crane Pond County. The area is bounded on the Primitive Area to Wilderness, with the west by East Shore Road and private exception of the right-of-way Crane land; north by Route 74, the great lot Pond Road. The 3.5 miles snowmobile line between Eagle and Pyramid Lakes trail leading from Route 74 to the Crane and private land; east by Bald Ledge Pond Road, was closed in 1975 by the Primitive Area, Putnam Pond Public Department of Environmental Campground and private land; and Conservation, making this south by Route 8 and private land. Part reclassification possible. On December of the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area 4, 1989, Environmental Conservation lies within the Lake George Park. Commissioner Jorling issued an order pursuant to Highway Law 212 closing Pharaoh Lake, an extremely Crane Pond Road. The closure order attractive body of water, is one of the was subsequently upheld in State largest lakes in the Adirondack Park Supreme Court and the Appellate totally surrounded by forest preserve Division, Third Department. The lands. Due to its configuration, it can Department and the Agency will work provide a wilderness experience to together with local government officials relatively large numbers of people. In and others to resolve continuing public addition, the numerous crystal-clear use issues in the Crane Pond Road ponds, vistas resulting from rock corridor. outcrops and severe fires, and intriguing geographic names such as Grizzle In 2007, the State acquired a 101 Ocean, Thunderbolt Mountain, Oxshoe acre parcel along the eastern boundary Pond and Desolate Brook, make this of the area. This acquisition one of the most appealing of all extinguished a right-of-way, enabling an Adirondack areas. adjacent parcel of 210 acres to be reclassified from Primitive Area to Fires have burned over most of the Wilderness, thus extinguishing the region in the past. Coupled with the Hague Brook Primitive Area. relative dryness of the area, there is a proliferation of conifers mixed with some Because of the proximity to the white birch. The white pine-white birch Adirondack Northway and the mixture along the shores of several of population pressures of the Capital the lakes and ponds adds immeasurably District, the thin soils left on the burned to their attractiveness. Stands of some slopes, and the relatively small size of of the best quality Adirondack the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, restrictive hardwoods exist in the cove-like pockets management is necessary to protect the of the unburned area in the northeast. resources in this area. In addition to peripheral control, called for in the Pharaoh Mountain is the only guidelines, increasing levels of public mountain of significant size, although use and associated resource impacts

indicate that limitations on public access The terrain consists of low, rolling will be required to protect the fragile hills, with the exception of West character of the area in the future. Mountain near the eastern boundary. There are many brook trout ponds and The following non-conforming uses streams and a considerable expanse of have been removed from the area: 8.5 wetlands along the courses of Sucker miles of jeep trails, 5.3 miles of Brook and Beaver Brook. snowmobile trails, a fire tower, an observer cabin and telephone lines. The forest cover is composed of mature or near-mature mixed softwoods A Unit Management Plan was and hardwoods, with some dense adopted for this area in 1992. spruce-balsam near the summit of West Mountain and in the wetlands. Old Pharaoh Lake area statistics: growth white pine in the vicinity of Pigeon Lake and a few other places State Land 44,411 Acres adds to the wilderness character. Bodies of Water (97) 1,612 Acres Elevation The area is easily accessible to the (minimum) 820 Feet public from the south, southeast and (maximum) 2,556 Feet southwest, but to a lesser extent from Foot Trails 63 Miles the west and north because of posted Horse Trails 14 Miles private lands. The chief attractions for Lean-tos 13 the public are the trout ponds, which Impoundments 1 entice anglers as well as campers who Non-conforming Uses: frequent scenic spots around Cascade Road (public) 1 Mile Lake, Queer Lake, Constable Pond, Pigeon Lake and Gull Lake. It is also a popular area for hunters during the big PIGEON LAKE game season.

This area lies in the Town of Webb, The Department of Environmental Herkimer County, and the Towns of Conservation maintains Brown Tract Long Lake and Inlet in Hamilton County. Pond Campground on the southeast It is bounded on the north by Stillwater perimeter. Motorboats are now banned Reservoir and large blocks of private from operating on the Brown Tract land in the vicinity of Rose Pond, Ponds to provide a more compatible Shingle Shanty Pond and Upper Sister situation for canoes and other Lake; on the east by a private road from non-motorized boats utilized by Brandreth Lake to North Point and campers. This site makes a fine starting Raquette Lake; on the south by private location for wilderness users. lands along the Uncas Road; and on the west by the Big Moose Road, private Lands formerly owned by Anne lands near Big Moose Lake, Thirsty LaBastille, renowned Adirondack author, Pond, Twitchell Lake, Razorback Pond, long serving APA board member and and the Remsen to Lake Placid Travel steadfast advocate for the Forest Corridor. Preserve were bequeathed to New York State in 2016 and added to this Wilderness area in 2018.

A Unit Management Plan was features, including Trout, Little Trout and adopted for this area in 1992. High Ponds.

Pigeon Lake area statistics: The terrain consists of low and rolling hills interlaced with streams and State Lands 49,251 Acres wetlands. Forest cover ranges from Bodies of Water (99) 1,668 Acres predominately moist beech-maple cover Elevation in the uplands to complexes of spruce-fir (minimum) 1,686 Feet flats, evergreen wetlands and shrub (maximum) 2,928 Feet swamps in the lower lying areas. Foot Trails 42 Miles Lean-tos 5 Round Lake is impounded by a Horse trails 1.6 Miles man-made dam. The area around the Non-conforming Uses: lake has been logged since the 1800’s Powerline ROW 0.3 Miles first as part of Whitney Park and later by International Paper Corporation. This lake formed part of the historic route for ROUND LAKE floating logs that traveled from Little Tupper Lake into Round Lake, then The area is located in the Town of down the Round Lake Outlet and Bog Long Lake, Hamilton County and in the River into Tupper Lake. A network of Towns of Piercefield and Colton, St. logging roads and landings are evidence Lawrence County. It is bounded on the of the logging activities that occurred on north by the Bog River; on the east by the property prior to State acquisition. private lands; on the south by the The roads also provided access to Sabattis Road; and on the west by the hunting clubs that leased the property. privately-owned Loon Pond tract and the The cabins built by the clubs have been Remsen to Lake Placid Travel Corridor. removed from the property, along with Created in 2006, as the result of re- storage facilities and the Sabattis Forest classifying a portion of the Horseshoe Ranger Station. Lake Wild Forest and classifying the more recently acquired Round Lake This same route now offers a tract, this area provides an important challenging trip for advanced canoeists linkage between the William C. Whitney and kayakers. It features a run through Wilderness and the Eastern Five Ponds the gorge cut by the Round Lake Outlet Access Primitive Area to the north. This down to the Bog River, as well as a linkage serves to protect important series of rapids and carries around ecological connections as well as rapids and falls on the Bog River below primitive recreational opportunities for the Lower Dam. In addition to the public. opportunities for boating, the waters of the area provide good fishing and Portions of the Bog River and primitive camping opportunities. Foot Round Lake Outlet classified as Scenic trails from the Lower Dam and Sabattis according to the Wild, Scenic and Road provide hiking access to Trout Recreational Rivers Act of 1975 flow Pond. These trails were closed to through the area. Round Lake and a snowmobile use after the area was number of ponds with large, associated reclassified from Wild Forest to wetland complexes are important water Wilderness.

This area does not yet have an Forest cover restricts the views from adopted Unit Management Plan. the highest summits in the unit. However, good views may be obtained Round Lake area statistics: from Pitchoff Mountain and some of the lower mountains on the periphery of the State Lands 10,310 Acres unit. Excellent views of Whiteface Bodies of Water (21) 1,126 Acres Mountain and the Wilmington Notch can Elevation be obtained from Copperas Pond. (minimum) 1,575 Feet (maximum) 2,277 Feet Circa 1930, a ski trail was Trails 2 Miles constructed from the west boundary to Impoundments 1 South Notch, and a lean-to was Non-conforming uses: None constructed at the terminus in the Notch. The ski trail formed a loop with the adjacent North Notch Ski Trail and was SENTINEL RANGE used for the 50 kilometer ski race in the 1932 Winter Olympics. The lean-to in This area is located in the Towns of the South Notch was built in 1931 for Wilmington, Jay, North Elba and Keene, the Olympics. Both the South Notch and Essex County. It is bounded by Route North Notch Trails were very popular ski 86 on the north; Route 73 on the south; trails up until World War II. These trails and private lands on the east and west. were retained primarily as hiking trails until the early 1990's when abandoned The Sentinel Range and its slopes by the Department due to lack of use. dominate the area and five small ponds The lean-to in the South Notch was are situated near the northern and removed around this time as well. northwestern boundaries. The northern portion of this area Pitchoff Mountain and the lower around the ponds is used to a mountains and ridges in the northern considerable extent by campers and and eastern portions of the unit are anglers. characterized by bare rock outcropping that resulted from forest fires in the early The major portion of the perimeter is 1900’s. The terrain is steep and rugged, readily accessible to the public from with some vertical cliffs facing north and highways but has not been as northeast. susceptible to penetration as some of the less rugged State land because of The eastern slopes of the area have its terrain. a hardwood forest that regenerated after the forest fires. There are mixed In 1979, a very minor change in the hardwood and softwood stands, eastern boundary of this area was made primarily along brooks on the eastern to more accurately reflect the location of slopes. The remainder of the area has a a public road. In 1985, 1,120 acres were mixed hardwood-softwood cover with added to the area extending the eastern some small pockets of white pine boundary, in part, to the East Branch of between ledges near the northern the AuSable River. boundary.

The jeep trail, 0.7 miles in length, level, including Bullhead, Eleventh, has been closed and two tent platforms Puffer and South Pond. In addition, the have been removed from this area. The area contains a large number of beaver Old Military Road, a Town road 3.5 meadows and wetlands. miles in length, has been closed and the area now fully conforms to wilderness Most of the area was heavily logged standards. nearly a century ago and some sections, particularly in the southeastern part, This area does not yet have an were burned over in forest fires. Much of adopted Unit Management Plan. the forest cover has been re-established and in some locations there are Sentinel Range area statistics: excellent quality stands of both hardwoods and softwoods. On most of State Lands 23,989 Acres the higher elevations, except those in Bodies of Water (9) 114 Acres severely burned spots, spruce and fir predominate, while mixed hardwoods Elevation and softwoods cover the remainder of (minimum) 660 Feet the area. (maximum) 3,880 Feet Foot Trails 7.1 Miles This large block of State land is Lean-tos 1 unbroken by public roads and has been Non-Conforming Uses: None generally protected from wheeled motor vehicle use. Old roads from logging days, most of which have been brushed SIAMESE PONDS in, are still evident.

The Siamese Ponds area is located This area has an approximately 33 in the Towns of Lake Pleasant, Wells square mile trail-less area in its southern and Indian Lake in Hamilton County and region which provides users a unique the Towns of Johnsburg and Thurman in opportunity to experience a remote Warren County. It is one of the largest experience. Wilderness areas, extending about 23 miles from north to south and about 17 The area is known for its lovely miles from east to west at its widest natural features. Some of the more part. popular attractions are: Thirteenth Lake, Chimney Mountain, Puffer Pond, It is roughly bounded by Route 28 Siamese Ponds, Auger Falls on the on the north; by private land tracts near West Branch of the Sacandaga River, Thirteenth Lake, Gore Mountain and the East Branch of the Sagandaga Bakers Mills and Route 8 on the east; by River, and John Pond. Chimney Route 8 on the south; and by Route 8, Mountain has ice caves that usually Speculator Tree Farm conservation retain snow and ice through the summer easement lands and Indian Lake on the months and provide an interesting spot west. for visitors.

The topography consists of Some of the unique streams and relatively low rolling hills with a few water bodies in this area are tannic and mountain summits above the 3,000 foot tea-like in color as a result of

surrounding vegetative material, while Oxbow Lake, Hamilton Lake, Sand Lake others are crystal clear. Water bodies and Lake Pleasant; on the east by range from stagnant ponds and Route 30; on the south generally by the seasonal vernal ponds to swift-flowing Hamilton County line; and on the west waters such as County Line and Peaked by Route 10, the West Branch of the Mountain Brooks. Sacandaga.

Thirteenth Lake has a small sand The terrain is relatively low with beach at the northern end that makes a rolling hills and only four mountain very desirable spot for picnics, bathing, summits that exceed 3,000 feet boating and camping. Additional elevation. There is considerable desirable camping spots can be found acreage of coniferous wetland as well around this lake. as some beaver meadows along the streams. A portion of the eastern shoreline of Indian Lake, formerly classified as Inten- The forest cover is chiefly mixed sive Use, has been reclassified and hardwoods and softwoods with some added to this Wilderness. A very minor nearly pure stands of large diameter change in the western boundary of this hemlocks. Although the entire area was area was made in 1979, resulting in the logged at some time in the past, much creation of the Dug Mountain Primitive of the standing timber, both hardwoods Area, a legal, private right-of-way and softwoods, is now at or near separating it from the remainder of the maturity. In the wetland area along Siamese Ponds Wilderness. streams as well as the higher elevations around the mountain tops, the forest A Unit Management Plan was cover is predominantly spruce and adopted for this area in 2005. balsam.

Siamese Ponds area statistics: The famous Northville-Lake Placid Trail runs from the southern edge of the State Lands 112,883 Acres area through its center in a northerly Private Inholdings (2) 141 Acres direction, crossing the northern Bodies of Water (99) 1,318 Acres boundary near Piseco Lake. This trail Elevation was established by the Adirondack (minimum) 1,048 Feet Mountain Club in 1922, but was (maximum) 3,472 Feet subsequently taken over by the Foot Trails 61 Miles Department of Environmental Lean-tos 5 Conservation for marking and Non-conforming Uses: None maintenance. Two steel suspension bridges are on this trail, one crosses the West Branch of the Sagandaga River SILVER LAKE and the second crosses the Hamilton Lake Stream Outlet. This area is located in the Towns of Lake Pleasant, Benson, Hope, Wells Silver Lake is the principal attraction and Arietta in Hamilton County. It is near the center of this area, chiefly for roughly bounded on the north by Route brook trout anglers. Mud Lake, Rock 8 and private lands near Piseco Lake, Lake and Canary Pond are also popular

trout fishing spots. Big Eddy on the vicinity of Little Moose Lake, Squaw West Branch of the Sacandaga River Brook, Snowy Mountain and Squaw also attracts visitors to the area. Hunters Mountain; on the east by Route 30, frequent the area during the big game Perkins Clearing conservation easement season. lands and the Northville-Lake Placid trail; on the south by lands of the Jessup The perimeter of the area is quite River Wild Forest Area, private lands accessible to the public except for a few north of Route 8, the South Branch of parcels of private, posted land. In 1979 West Canada Creek and an access Great Lot 121, consisting of road to private lands; and on the west approximately 200 acres, was re- by West Canada Creek and private classified from Wilderness to become lands east of Honnedaga Lake. the Cathead Mountain Primitive Area. The terrain ranges from wetlands The following non-conforming uses and rolling hills to steep mountains such have been removed from the area: 12 as Snowy Mountain. Water drains from miles of jeep trails, 1.3 miles of the area into three major watersheds: snowmobile trails, one fire tower, two the Hudson, the Mohawk and the Black. observer cabins and five miles of telephone lines. Among the area's chief attributes are its numerous ponds, lakes and A Unit Management Plan was streams, most of which support a brook adopted for this area in 2006. trout population. Although there are many good trout fishing waters in this Silver Lake area statistics: area, the ones that are most frequented by anglers are Big Rock Lake, Whitney State Lands 107,995 Acres Lake, Phillsbury Lake, Spruce Lake and Private Inholdings (5) 1,748 Acres Cedar Lake. The river area originating at Bodies of Water (76) 725 Acres the source of the Indian River to the Elevation South Branch of the Moose River is a (minimum) 807 Feet designated Wild River under the New (maximum) 3,250 Feet York State Wild, Scenic and Foot Trails 21 Miles Recreational Rivers Act. West Canada Lean-tos 3 Creek and Cedar River are also Non-conforming Uses: designated rivers. The forest cover Suspension Bridges 2 consists chiefly of mixed Powerline ROW 0.2 Miles hardwood-softwood species with large diameter trees of both types on the more fertile soils. There is also WEST CANADA LAKE considerable acreage of spruce-balsam wetlands and beaver meadows. This Wilderness is located in the Town of Ohio in Herkimer County and Among the spots that attract hikers the Towns of Morehouse, Arietta, Lake and campers, in addition to the Pleasant and Indian Lake in Hamilton previously mentioned lakes, are the County. It is bounded on the north by Northville-Lake Placid Trail, West the Moose River Plains Wild Forest area Canada Creek, Snowy Mountain and and conservation easement lands in the the eastern shore of Cedar River Flow.

Many campers from the three public In 1994, 9,925 acres of land were campsites on Piseco Lake and the reclassified from the Buell Brook campsites at Lewey Lake, as well as Primitive Area to Wilderness and added those in the Moose River Plains Wild to this area. Forest, utilize the foot trails in the area to reach points of special interest. Since In 2010, approximately 2,398 acres the Moose River tract was purchased by of the Moose River Plains Wild Forest the State, there has been increased use were reclassified and added to the of the foot trail from that area to Brook Wilderness at the same time the Moose Trout Lake and vicinity by both hunters River Plains Intensive Use Area was and anglers. created. These lands included Little Moose Lake and some significant low- Enforcement problems, stemming elevation wetland complexes in the east from the remoteness of the area, have and north that extends toward and been encountered in attempts to prevent include some of the shoreline of Cedar snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle River Flow. Following the construction of penetration into the Wilderness area. a parking area, a 2.3 mile section of the Physical barriers have been erected Indian Lake Road will be closed allowing within the Moose River Plains Wild the public to drive approximately one Forest Area at key locations to diminish half mile from Squaw Lake. this problem. On October 1, 2019, the remaining In 1979, a 700-acre tract of the 14 acres of the Buell Brook Primitive Moose River Plains Wild Forest Area Area will become part of this Wilderness was reclassified to become part of this Area. Wilderness. This tract lies to the west and south of Indian Lake. Also in 1979, This area does not yet have an the western boundary was modified due adopted Unit Management Plan. to the identification of a private right-of-way adjacent to the West West Canada Lake area statistics: Canada Mountain Primitive Area. State Lands 172,025 Acres In 1984, 14,458 acres were added Private Inholdings (4) 2,027 Acres to the Wilderness as a result of the Bodies of Water (223) 3,364 Acres Perkins Clearing land exchange. This Elevation land was previously classified as (minimum) 1,390 Feet Primitive, Wild Forest and Resource (maximum) 3,899 Feet Management. Five more lakes and the Foot Trails 67.2 Miles remainder of Whitney Lake were added Lean-tos 16 to the Wilderness, as were one lean-to Impoundments 1 and 11 miles of trail. Non-conforming Uses: None

In 1985, the former Fort Noble Mountain Primitive Area of 450 acres WILLIAM C. WHITNEY was reclassified to Wilderness as a result of the removal of the fire tower, This Wilderness Area is located in observers cabin and phone line. the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. It is bounded on the east by

County Route 10; on the south by lands forest and is dominated by northern of Whitney Industries; on the west by hardwoods, mixed woods, pine, and private lands; on the northwest by the spruce flats. Remsen to Lake Placid Travel Corridor; and on the north by other private land The vast expanses of the area are holdings. This Wilderness encompasses important to larger species of mammals, approximately 14,700 acres of land most notably white-tailed deer, black acquired from Whitney Industries in bear, and moose. Other species of 1998, as well as the reclassified portions mammals known to inhabit the area of the former Lake Lila Primitive Area include beaver, river otter, fisher, lying south of the Remsen to Lake coyote, bobcat, pine marten, red fox, Placid Railroad Travel Corridor. gray fox, and snowshoe hare.

The terrain is comprised of lakes, According to the NYS Breeding Bird ponds, wetlands, and low forested hills Atlas, the area abounds with bird life, with a few modest mountains ranging as listing 125 species of birds breeding high as 2,297 foot Antediluvian within, or adjacent to, the area. Little Mountain. The centerpieces of this area Tupper Lake is the natal home to a are 2,300 acre Little Tupper Lake and genetically unique strain of brook trout 1,400 acre Lake Lila, respectively, the that has proven itself to be superior in seventeenth and twenty-second largest terms of longevity, survival, growth, and water bodies in the Adirondack Park. reproductive capability. The Little The area also includes twelve smaller Tupper Lake strain of brook trout is water bodies, including Rock Pond, Bum present in Little Tupper Lake, Rock Pond, Hardigan Pond, Doctors Pond, Pond, and Bum Pond. Unfortunately, the Antediluvian Pond, and Lily Pad Pond. illegal introduction of bass has The area also includes a short section of diminished the native brook trout the Beaver River, Rock Pond Outlet, population. Salmon Lake Outlet, Charley Pond Outlet, and numerous other small The property contains an extensive streams and flows. There are extensive network of logging roads which provide wetland complexes within the area, prime cross-country ski trails. However, particularly along the western end of the primary access to the interior of this Little Tupper Lake and the southeastern area is by water. The DEC’s Little portions of Lake Lila. Tupper Lake Headquarters provides direct access to Little Tupper Lake, The lands within the William C. whereas a 0.25 mile carry to a put-in Whitney Area are almost entirely provides canoe access to Lake Lila. forested, but the newly acquired lands Although it would require a series of have been significantly impacted by difficult carries, it is possible to timber harvesting (prior to State undertake a point-to-point canoe route acquisition) and both the former Whitney between Lake Lila and the Little Tupper lands and the former Lake Lila Primitive Lake Headquarters via Lily Pad Pond, Area lands have been heavily impacted Little Salmon Lake, Hardigan Pond, by blow down. The area falls within an Rock Pond, and Little Tupper Lake. In ecological transition zone between light of the Wilderness classification of temperate deciduous forest and boreal the surrounding lands, DEC will manage

Little Tupper Lake as Wilderness, *Non-conforming uses whose removal precluding both public and cannot be scheduled by a fixed administrative use of motor vehicles, deadline. motorboats and aircraft to the extent prohibited by the Wilderness classification. All other water bodies are surrounded by lands classified as Wilderness and will be managed accordingly.

This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan.

William C. Whitney area statistics:

State Lands 16,041 Acres

Bodies of Water (16) 4,548 Acres Elevation (minimum) 1,713 Feet (maximum) 2,280 Feet

Foot Trails 17.4 Miles Horse Trails 4.2 Miles Non-conforming Uses: Steele Bridge 1

WILDERNESS STATISTICAL PARK WIDE TOTALS:

State Lands 1,186,821 Acres Private Inholdings (36) 22,096 Acres Bodies of Water (1,363) 18,782 Acres Foot Trails 780 Miles Horse Trails 71 Miles Lean-tos 141 Impoundments 5

Non-conforming Uses: Ranger Cabins* 2

Roads (public) 2.73 Miles Steel Bridge 1 Suspension Bridge 2 Gravel Pit 1 Power Line 0.6 Miles

PRIMITIVE AREAS relocate this important trail in the St. Lawrence County snowmobile trail system so that this area can become ALDER CREEK part of the Wilderness Area.

This area lies in the Town of Webb, This area does not yet have an Herkimer County and consists of a right- adopted Unit Management Plan. of-way to an inholding of private land in the Pepperbox Wilderness. Should Alice Brook area statistics: problems with motorized trespass on wilderness lands develop, this primitive State Lands 18 Acres corridor should be gated at the State Non-conforming Uses: land boundary and its use limited to Snowmobile Trails private access. While the inholder has (public)* 3.5 Miles used this right-of-way as access, the legal status of this right-of-way is unclear. At such time as the inholding AMPERSAND may be acquired, or at such time as the Department of Environmental This area consists of a small belt of Conservation determines that there is forest preserve between Ampersand no legal right-of-way, this Primitive Area Brook up to and including ampersand should be added to the Pepperbox Park Road in the Town of Harrietstown, Wilderness Area. Franklin County. It extends from the Ampersand Lake property westward to This area does not yet have an Stony Creek and northward to Stony adopted Unit Management Plan. Creek Ponds.

Alder Creek area statistics: The road, used as access to a large private parcel, prevented this area from State Lands 23 Acres being classified as part of the High Non-conforming Uses: Peaks Wilderness. Should this parcel Roads (private)* 1.9 Miles become State property at some future time, the road should be terminated at or west of Stony Creek and the Primitive ALICE BROOK Area together with the private inholding should then be added to the High Peaks This area is located in the Town of Wilderness. Ampersand Brook is a Fine and consists of a fifty-foot wide picturesque white water stream once corridor, which includes a snowmobile renowned for its excellent brook trout trail that cuts across the top of the Five fishing. Ponds Wilderness Area between the Youngs Road in Star Lake and the Inlet A Unit Management Plan was Road adjacent to Wanakena on the adopted for this area in 1999. former Sternberg and Post Henderson Roads. Efforts should be made to

Ampersand area statistics: Bartlett area statistics:

State Lands 405 Acres State Lands 8 Acres Foot Trails 0.5 Miles Non-conforming uses: Non-conforming Uses: Roads (public)* 1.4 Miles Roads (private)* 3.5 Miles Roads (public)* 0.8 Miles BEAR POND

BALD LEDGE This area lies in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County, and consists of two This area consists of an appendage rights-of-way, to provide access to two on the eastern side of the Pharaoh Lake inholdings deep within the Five Ponds Wilderness in the Town of Ticonderoga, and Pepperbox Wilderness Areas. The Essex County. A private road, used main fork of this Primitive Area, the Bear periodically during timber harvest on an Pond Road, provides access to an adjacent private parcel, crosses this inholding at Bear Pond and the westerly area. Once the road is no longer fork provides access to an inholding at necessary this area can be added to the Twin Ponds. To avoid problems of Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. motorized trespass on wilderness lands, this primitive area has been gated to A Unit Management Plan was public access in the immediate vicinity adopted for this area in 1992. of the turn-off to “Old Upper South Pond Road,” and access beyond this point is Bald Ledge area statistics: limited to private access only. Should the inholdings be acquired by the State, State Lands 513 Acres they should be added to the Five Ponds Non-conforming Uses: Wilderness and the Pepperbox Roads (private)* 0.5 Miles Wilderness Area. The status of this primitive corridor and the Bear Pond Road should then be evaluated to BARTLETT determine if it should remain open to the public access as described above. This area is in the Towns of Jay, Wilmington and Keene in Essex County A Unit Management Plan was and consists of the right-of-way known adopted for this area in 2010. as Bartlett Road. This seasonally maintained public road crosses the Bear Pond area statistics: eastern portion of the Sentinel Range Wilderness Area. Should this road ever State Lands 19 Acres be closed or abandoned, this area Non-conforming Uses: should be added to the Sentinel Roads (private)* 4.2 Miles Wilderness Area.

This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan.

BOREAS PONDS private right-of-way following a very rough road. It provides access for all This 11 acre area is located in the terrain vehicles to an inholding of private Town of North Hudson and includes land at Buck Pond deep within the Five lands surrounding the dam on the Ponds Wilderness Area. This primitive Boreas Ponds and a section of access corridor and the private inholding are road extending from the edge of the surrounded by the Five Ponds adjacent Wild Forest Area to the dam. Wilderness Area and public access by Maintenance of the dam will require motor vehicles or snowmobiles along periodic use of motor vehicles and this primitive corridor has created heavy equipment, which means that the problems with all-terrain vehicles and existing road to the Boreas Ponds dam snowmobile trespass on Wilderness must also be maintained for lands beyond the Buck Pond inholding. administrative purposes related to dam The road has been gated and closed to inspection and repair. public motor vehicle use by the Department of Environmental Con- Boreas Ponds area statistics: servation and private access only is allowed beyond Youngs Road. Should State Lands: 11 acres this inholding be acquired by the State, Dams: 1 which should be a matter of highest priority, this road should be terminated at the northwestern State land BOQUET RIVER boundary. The right-of-way and the acquisition should then be included in This area is located in the Town of the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, Elizabethtown in Essex County. It is precluding future motorized access. bounded on the north and west by private land and on the south and east A Unit Management Plan was by State Route 9. A small section of the adopted for this area in 1994. northwest and northeast boundaries abut the Giant Mountain Wilderness. A Buck Pond area statistics: gated private road from Route 9 to the northern private property exists. State Lands 47 Acres Non-conforming Uses: A Unit Management Plan was Roads (public)* 0.6 Miles adopted for this area in 2004. Roads (private)* 7.3 Miles

Boquet River Statistics: BUELL BROOK State Lands 81 Acres Non-conforming Uses: This area is in the Town of Indian Roads (private)* 0.5 Miles Lake, Hamilton County north of Buell Mountain. The Finch Pruyn Company donated approximately 10,000 acres, BUCK POND creating the original Primitive Area. One small parcel in the center of the area, This area lies in the Town of Fine, with its access road extending from the St. Lawrence County, and consists of a north, was exempted from the donation.

In 1994, 9,925 acres were reclassified A Unit Management Plan was as Wilderness, reconfiguring the area as adopted for this area in 2006. an access corridor to the inholding. When the state acquired the remaining Cathead Mountain area statistics: access corridor and inholding on April 15, 2014, it took title subject to a State Lands 173 Acres reserved leasehold. One year following Non-conforming Uses: termination of the camp leases, no later Telephone Line* 0.5 Miles than October 1, 2019, this area will automatically without further Agency action be reclassified as Wilderness and CHATIEMAC LAKE added to the West Canada Lake Wilderness. This area is located in the Town of Johnsburg, Warren County, and This area does not yet have an consists of the right-of-way of adopted Unit Management Plan. Chatiemac Road, a Town road. The road provides access through the Buell Brook Statistics: eastern edge of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area to a private inholding at State Lands 15 Acres Chatiemac Lake. Should this inholding Non-conforming Uses: ever be acquired, the road should be Roads (private) 3.5 Miles abandoned and made part of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area.

CATHEAD MOUNTAIN A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2005. This area consists of the Great Lot (121) in the Town of Benson, Hamilton Chatiemac Lake area statistics: County, a telephone line for the state operated fire tower on Cathead State Lands 3 Acres Mountain, lying within an inholding. Non-conforming Uses: Should this inholding be acquired by the Roads (public)* 0.5 Miles State, two options are available depending upon the need then for the Cathead Mountain fire tower: (i) either DEAD CREEK the fire tower and the telephone line could be removed and the whole area The area is located in the Town of be added to the Silver Lake Wilderness Piercefield, St. Lawrence County. It Area, or, (ii) the fire tower and telephone features a low-gradient section of Dead line to the tower, if found to be Creek that meanders through alder necessary, could remain and the swamps to its confluence with the primitive area be enlarged to include an Raquette River near Sols Island. appropriate, small acreage surrounding the Cathead Mountain tower, until such Much of the area is comprised of a time as the tower is no longer needed at large, ecologically significant wetland which time the area should be added to complex containing a mix of conifer the Silver Lake Wilderness. wetlands, conifer scrub and broadleaved

evergreen wetlands, and is considered Wilderness classification. The portion of an important representative example of the Deer River flowing through this the Adirondack low elevation boreal parcel is protected as a Scenic River landscape. The area is classified as under the Wild, Scenic and Recreational Primitive even though it is unlikely to Rivers Act. attain Wilderness standards due to its size. It is considered important to This area does not yet have an manage the area under Primitive Area adopted Unit Management Plan. guidelines to ensure the protection of its high-quality, fragile wetland complexes in their natural states. Deer River area statistics:

The area provides opportunities for State Lands 1,864 Acres canoeing in winding flat water with the Non-conforming Uses: occasional need to carry over a beaver Steel bridge 1 dam. Roads (private)* 0.5 Miles

This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan. DUG MOUNTAIN

Dead Creek area statistics: This is a small appendage of State land adjacent to the Siamese Ponds State Lands 1,182 Acres Wilderness Area in the Village of Private Inholdings (1) 10 Acres Speculator, Hamilton County. It is Non-conforming Uses: bounded on the north, west and south Roads (private)* by private lands. The private lands to Access Road 0.7 Mile the north constitute a virtual inholding Carriage Road 6.0 Miles within the Wilderness. This appendage is separated from the Wilderness by a private road approximately 600 feet in DEER RIVER length leading to the private holdings in the north. In the event that the private This area is a narrow, long river lands ever are acquired by the State, corridor located in the Towns of Duane the road should be closed, and this area and Santa Clara, Franklin County. It is together with the private inholdings bounded on the south by the Red reclassified to Wilderness. Tavern Road (County Route 14) and private lands; the north by the Blue Line A Unit Management Plan was of the Adirondack Park; the northeast by adopted for this area in 2005. Cole Road; and on the east and west by private lands. This river corridor is lined Dug Mountain area statistics: by low elevation boreal wetlands. State Lands 51 Acres Outstanding opportunities for Non-conforming uses: canoeing, kayaking, hunting and fishing Roads (private)* 0.1 Miles exist in this undeveloped natural area, but it lacks the necessary acreage for

EASTERN FIVE PONDS ACCESS deeded motorized access rights on this road. While such private motor vehicle This area is located in the Towns of access continues, administrative access Clifton, Colton and Piercefield in St. by motor vehicles by the State will be Lawrence County and in the Town of permitted as may be necessary for Long Lake, Hamilton County. The area appropriate administration of the State is comprised of six small, detached lands in the area. If this inholding is corridors providing access to inholdings acquired by the State (which should be on the eastern margin of the Five Ponds given highest priority) extinguishing the Wilderness Area. The area also includes private access rights, administrative two dams essential to preserving the access by motor vehicles will be limited Bog River-Lows Lake-Osewagatchie to dam inspection and repair. River Wilderness canoe route and important wetland complexes The second detached area is a 2.2 associated with the Bog River Flow. mile road corridor located in the Town of Colton, St. Lawrence County. It provides The first area lies in the Towns of deeded access to a large inholding Piercefield and Colton, St. Lawrence owned by the Boy Scouts of America on County. It includes the Lows Upper and the northern shore of Lows Lake. If this Lower Dams and the related access inholding is acquired by the State (which road to the Upper Dam. The area is should be given highest priority), the classified as primitive because of the road will be closed, and the intervening essentially permanent nature of certain area classified as Wilderness. This major non-conforming uses which Primitive Area will then become part of preclude Wilderness classification, the Five Ponds Wilderness Area. including the two large dams and the related road access to the Upper Dam. The third detached area is a corridor 1.6 miles in length located in the Town The two large dams are of a scale of Clifton, St. Lawrence County and character incompatible with a providing access, (the legal nature of Wilderness designation. However, the which is unclear) to a five-acre inholding dams are essential to preserving the in an area known on the north shore of canoe route and important wetland Lows Lake in the vicinity of the area habitat and should be maintained for known as “Parker Island”. This primitive that purpose indefinitely. Maintenance of corridor and the inholding are the dams will require periodic use of surrounded by the Five Ponds motor vehicles and heavy equipment, Wilderness Area. Should the inholding such as bulldozers and cranes, which be acquired (which should be given the means that the existing road to the highest priority), or the access rights Upper Dam must also be maintained for extinguished, the area will become part administrative purposes related to dam of the Five Ponds Wilderness Area. inspection and repair. The fourth detached area is located The road to the Upper Dam will be in the Town of Long Lake, Hamilton gated at the eastern edge of the County and consists of a private right-of- Primitive Area. The owners of the large way that follows a road passing between Boy Scouts of America inholding on the Bog Lake and Clear Pond across lands northern shore of Lows Lake have added to the Five Ponds Wilderness

Area in 2006. The road provides access Non-conforming Uses: to two large inholdings within the Five Private Roads* 9.7 Miles Ponds Wilderness. One parcel is owned Dams* 2 in fee by the State with a term-use easement in place to expire in 2029 and the second is a privately-owned, ESSEX CHAIN LAKES working-forest tract that is encumbered by a conservation easement purchased This area was classified in 2013 and by NY State. Should this second parcel is located in the Towns of Newcomb and become acquired by the State, the road Minerva in Essex County and the Town should be terminated at the of Indian Lake in Hamilton County. The northeastern end of the primitive dominant feature of the landscape is the corridor and the Primitive Area, together Essex Chain Lakes, a series of eight with both inholdings, the area will interconnected lakes. Together with become part of the Five Ponds nearby ponds, this tract has eleven Wilderness Area. lakes and ponds that are interconnected or within portaging distance of each The fifth detached area is a corridor other to provide a six- to seven-mile 1.7 miles in length providing deeded canoe route. access to a large private inholding surrounding Lake Marian located in the The northern boundary of the area Town of Colton, St. Lawrence County. generally follows the Boots-to-Cornell Should the inholding be acquired by the Road east from its beginning to a point State the area will become part of the ¼ mile from the west end of Fifth Lake, Five Ponds Wilderness Area. continuing east from there generally ¼ mile north of Fifth and Sixth Lakes to the The sixth detached area is a Chain Lakes Road (North), then along it to Camp 6 Road. The eastern and corridor 0.7 miles in length providing th deeded access to a large private southern boundary is the 1/10 - mile inholding owned by the Sabattis Land wide corridor of Wild Forest and lands Company on the south shore of Lows pending classification, which follows the Lake. The Inholding is located in the former Camp 6 Road south to the Chain Town of Colton, St. Lawrence County Lakes Road (North) and along it before and is encumbered by a conservation leaving the road and continuing west to easement purchased by NY State. the outlet of First Lake. The western Should the inholding be acquired by the boundary of the area follows the outlet State it will become part of the Five of First Lake and an unnamed stream Ponds Wilderness Area. and drainages north to Little Grassy Pond and the boundary of private lands; This area does not yet have an from there it continues northeast to the adopted Unit Management Plan. beginning of the Boots-to-Cornell Road.

Eastern Five Ponds Access area Significant wetlands surround many statistics: of the water bodies and are also found throughout the upland area. Both State Lands 1,697 Acres emergent marshes and deepwater Bodies of Water (2) 213 Acres marsh wetlands border the Essex Chain

Lakes. These wetlands provide nesting Upon resolution of legal and habitat, food and cover for wildlife, regulatory issues concerning potential stabilize lake sediment and cycle large recreational uses and resource impacts quantities of nutrients. Deepwater marsh involving the crossing of the Cedar River wetlands provide valuable fish spawning with a snowmobile trail, the corridor of and nursery habitat and are a food Wild Forest and lands pending source for waterfowl and other wildlife. classification between the Essex Chain Several emergent and deepwater Lakes Primitive Area and the Pine Lake wetland plants are found in the channels Primitive Area will be classified Primitive which connect the lakes, including two and the two primitive areas will be state protected species. merged into the Essex Chain Lakes Primitive Area. If these issues are not Rivers in the unit include portions of resolved so as to allow for such a trail the Cedar and Rock Rivers. The Rock crossing the Cedar River, the lands of River is designated Scenic and the the corridor pending classification will be Cedar River is designated Wild from the classified as Wild Forest and these two southwest edge of the Primitive Area to primitive areas will remain as separate the Essex County line, at which place its areas. designation changes to Scenic. The Department developed an There are permanent restrictions on Interim Access Plan for this area in June the land that preclude Wilderness 2013. classification. Prior to transferring these lands to the State, The Nature This area does not yet have an Conservancy granted easements to the adopted Unit Management Plan. Towns of Minerva and Newcomb over portions of the Essex Chain Lakes Tract Essex Chain Lakes area statistics: that will allow for, as permitted by DEC, float plane access to First and Pine State Lands 6,208 acres Lakes. The easement also grants the Bodies of Water (19) 600 acres Towns access to, and use of materials Non-conforming Uses: from, two gravel pits located on the Camps periphery of the property in order to Roads (private) indeterminate provide gravel to maintain roads, trails mileage and other infrastructure in this Area that Float Plane Access* may be open for motorized use. These 1 Lake (First Lake) activities would be nonconforming in lands classified as Wilderness. Even across adjacent lands and waters, such FIRST BROTHER as the Essex Chain Lakes other than First Lake, the activities of float plane This area is located in the Town of use in such close proximity to the lakes Horicon, Warren County. It is bounded would significantly detract from the on the west by Palisades Road and by sense of remoteness expected in the north, east, and south by private Wilderness. lands. The northwestern corner of the area abuts the southern boundary of the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness.

A Unit Management Plan was ceases to use Gooseneck Pond as a adopted for this area in 1992. water supply, the road should be closed and the area added to the Pharaoh Lake First Brother area statistics: Wilderness.

State Lands 97 Acres A Unit Management Plan was Non-conforming Uses: None adopted for this area in 1992.

Gooseneck Pond area statistics: FORKS MOUNTAIN State Lands 0.4 Acre This area is in the Town of Wells, Hamilton County. It includes the fifty-foot Non-conforming uses: wide corridor of the snowmobile trail Roads (private)* 0.2 Miles which cuts across the southern tip of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness between the Teachout Road on the East Branch of HOFFMAN NOTCH the Sacandaga and the State land boundary on the Sacandaga River. This area is in the Town of Efforts should be made to relocate this Schroon, Essex County. The 2012 Unit important trail in the county snowmobile Management Plan for the Hoffman trail system so that this area can Notch Wilderness identified deeded become part of the Wilderness Area. private water resources exist in the unit. The deeds provide for use of springs A Unit Management Plan was and spring houses. Additional rights adopted for this area in 2005. include motor vehicle access and maintenance of water structures. This Forks Mountain area statistics: Primitive Area was created in the 2018 Classification Action in recognition of State Lands 16 Acres these rights. If these rights are Non-conforming Uses: extinguished, the area should be added Snowmobile Trail (public)* to the Hoffman Notch Wilderness. 2.5 Miles A Unit Management Plan for the Hoffman Notch Wilderness was adopted GOOSENECK POND in 2012, prior to the creation of the Primitive Area. This area includes a 100 foot wide corridor between the State land Hoffman Notch area statistics: boundary and the outlet of Gooseneck Pond in the Town of Ticonderoga, State Lands 3.9 Acres Essex County. Gooseneck Pond is the Non-conforming Uses: Town's water supply. It includes the Spring Houses access road, the control valve and the Roads (private) 0.6 Miles retaining dike at the north end of the lake and is intended solely for the purpose of the Town maintaining the dike and control valve. If the Town

HURRICANE MOUNTAIN A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 1999. This area consists of several corridors that cut through the Hurricane Johns Brook area statistics: Mountain Wilderness in the Towns of Elizabethtown, Jay, Keene and Lewis, State Lands 154 Acres Essex County. These include: two Town roads that cross Forest Preserve, the Non-conforming Uses: Jay Mountain Road and the O’Toole Roads (private)* 1.1 Miles Road; two rights-of-way to inholdings Ranger Cabin* 1 near the Hurricane Road in Elizabethtown; and a right-of-way for a power line running through and over the MACINTYRE western portion of the Wilderness Area. If any of these corridors are closed, This area is in the Town of abandoned or acquired by the State, Newcomb, Essex County. The State they should be consolidated with the purchased these lands in 2014 and Hurricane Mountain Wilderness. 2015. The area contains a 50-foot-wide, 1,935 foot long corridor known as This area does not yet have an Boulder Alley Road across the adopted Unit Management Plan. MacIntyre West parcel and a 50 foot wide, 454 foot long corridor known as Hurricane Mountain area statistics: the Donnelley’s Road across the MacIntyre East parcel. This Primitive State Lands 11 Acres Area was created in the 2018 Non-conforming Uses: Classification Action in order to Roads (private)* 0.6 Miles recognize these rights. If these rights Roads (public)* 2.4 Miles are extinguished, the area should be Power Lines* 1.3 Miles added to the High Peaks Wilderness.

This area does not yet have an JOHNS BROOK adopted Unit Management Plan.

This area is in the Town of Keene in McIntyre area statistics: Essex County. It consists of the private right-of-way across State lands to State Lands 11 Acres several private parcels in the High Non-conforming Uses: Peaks Wilderness including Johns Roads (private) 0.5 Miles Brook Lodge of the Adirondack Mountain Club and associated cabins. Should these holdings and/or the MADAWASKA FLOW – QUEBEC right-of-way ever be acquired by the BROOK State, this area should be made part of the High Peaks Wilderness, the lodge The area is located in the Towns of and cabins removed, the road closed Waverly and Santa Clara, Franklin and the ranger cabin phased out. County. It is bounded on west by the Blue Mountain Road and on the

northwest by the Benz Pond Road. The NEHASANE remaining boundaries abut private lands. Much of the private land is under This area lies in the Town of Long State-held conservation easement as Lake, Hamilton County and consists of working forest. Important features the private right-of-way providing access include the 330-acre Madawaska from the end of the Charley Pond Road wetland complex which provides habitat to the private land holdings at Nehasane for rare boreal bird and plant species. Lake. This road is approximately 4.5 The area also provides important miles in length with the first 0.2 miles recreational opportunities for hunting, open to public use of motor vehicles to fishing, canoeing and kayaking, while provide access to the Lake Lila offering visually dramatic openings such trailhead. The road is gated at this as large bogs and meandering rivers trailhead and access beyond is limited with little human development. to private access to the inholdings. Should, at some point in the future, the Several roads with deeded rights of private lands to the west and southwest access exist within the unit. The be acquired by the State extinguishing Madawaska Road and Conversations deeded access rights, the Primitive Area Corners Road, west of the former will be terminated at the Lake Lila railroad bed, are used as a public trailhead parking lot. snowmobile corridor. Future management decisions about this This Primitive Area also contains the corridor should consider alternatives for Nehasane Railroad Station, listed on the achieving and maintaining a condition National Register of Historic Places, as close to wilderness as possible in this including one acre of land surrounding area. A 100-foot-wide, 3.2 mile long the building and the short (0.1 mile) privately owned railroad bed running access road servicing the station. In the north to south bisects the unit. It is used event that the station itself is relocated by a private hunting club. or removed, the one acre surrounding it and the access road will become This area does not yet have an Wilderness. adopted Unit Management Plan. This area does not yet have an Madawaska Flow – Quebec Brook adopted Unit Management Plan. area statistics: Nehasane area statistics: State Lands 5,565 Acres Private Inholdings (1) 97 Acres State Lands 55 Acres Bodies of Water (5) 57 Acres Non-conforming Uses: Non-conforming Uses: Roads (private)* 4.4 Miles Roads (private)* 3.0 Miles (public)* 0.2 Miles Madawaska Road 1 Mile Railroad Station* 1 Acre Conversation Corners Road 2.9 Miles Snowmobile Trail (private)* 2.3 Miles

OK SLIP POND which time this Primitive Area will become part of the Five Ponds Located in the Town of Minerva, Wilderness Area. Essex County, this area includes a 2.6- mile long segment of road that crosses This area does not yet have an the Hudson Gorge Wilderness and adopted Unit Management Plan. leads to a private inholding surrounding OK Slip Pond. The area includes the Partlow Lake area statistics: road, the distribution power line that serves the inholding and an 11-acre State Lands 37 Acres parcel abutting State Route 28 that is Non-conforming Uses: None occupied by a transmission power line. This road is not open to the public. Should the private inholding ever be PINE LAKE acquired by the State, the road should be closed to all motorized use and the This area is located in the Towns of lands of this Primitive corridor and the Newcomb and Minerva in Essex inholding should be classified as County. It was classified in 2013 and Wilderness. includes lands from the TNC/Finch acquisition and a portion of the Blue The Department developed an Mountain Wild Forest that was Interim Access Plan for this area in June reclassified and added to this area. The 2013. northern boundary follows the 1/10th- mile wide corridor of Wild Forest and This area does not yet have an lands pending classification eastward adopted Unit Management Plan. towards and along the Cedar River to where a bridge once crossed the river. OK Slip Pond area statistics: The eastern boundary then follows a 1/10th-mile wide corridor of lands State Lands 19 acres pending classification and Wild Forest to Non-conforming Uses the northern boundary of the former Road (private)* 2.6 miles Indian River Tract. The southern Powerlines* 2 boundary is the northern boundary of the former Indian River Tract and unnamed streams leading west and PARTLOW LAKE north to the Cedar River. The western boundary follows the Cedar River to its This area is located in the Town of confluence with the Rock River and then Long Lake, Hamilton County. It is a 3.1 the Rock River to the 1/10th-mile wide mile road which connects the Nehasane Wild Forest corridor. Primitive Area with the private lands encompassing Gull Lake, Deer Pond Prominent features of this area and Partlow Lake to the west. The include Pine Lake and Mud, Clear and private land owners have a legal right of Corner Ponds. The easements held by way to use this road to access their the Towns of Minerva and Newcomb for land. This inholding is scheduled to pass float plane landings on Pine Lake to State ownership in the year 2029 at prevent this area from being designated as Wilderness or Canoe, but it offers a

rare and remote recreational opportunity camp building until October 1, 2018. and its natural resources are sensitive, One year following termination of the which requires wilderness management. camp leases, no later than October 1, 2019, this area will automatically and Upon resolution of legal and without further Agency action be regulatory issues concerning potential reclassified as Wilderness and added to recreational uses and resource impacts the Hudson Gorge Wilderness. involving the crossing of the Cedar River with a snowmobile trail, the potential The Department developed an Wild Forest corridor and the unclassified Interim Access Plan for this area in June lands between the Pine Lake Primitive 2013. Area and the Essex Chain Lakes Primitive Area will be classified This area does not yet have an Primitive. If this Wild Forest Corridor is adopted Unit Management Plan. not established, the two Primitive Areas will be merged as the Essex Chain Polaris Mountain area statistics: Lakes Primitive Area. State Lands 895 acres The Department developed an Bodies of Water (3) 24 acres Interim Access Plan for this area in June Non-conforming Uses 2013. Camps Roads (private) indeterminate This area does not yet have an mileage adopted Unit Management Plan.

Pine Lake area statistics: RAQUETTE-JORDAN BOREAL

State Lands 2,569 acres The area is located in the Towns of Bodies of Water (7) 141 acres Colton, Hopkinton and Piercefield, St. Lawrence County. It includes three Non-conforming Uses: blocks of State lands, formerly classified Floatplane access* 1 Lake as Wild Forest, bounded on the west by (Pine Lake) the Lassiter Main Haul Road and the Raquette River. Also part of this Primitive Area is the State owned lands POLARIS MOUNTAIN comprising the Raquette River Corridor from the Colton-Piercefield Town line to This area is located on the east side the dam at Piercefield Flow. The of the Hudson River in the Town of corridor is generally 500 feet wide from Newcomb, Essex County, including the the high water line on both banks of the waters of the river directly adjacent to river. this land. When the State acquired this land, it took title subject to a reserved The Jordan River, classified as leasehold until October 1, 2019. Scenic under the NYS Wild, Scenic and Although the land is owned by the State, Recreational Rivers Act, flows through the lessees have exclusive motorized significant expanses of this unique use of the existing roads in this area and area’s boreal forest and, as such, has one-acre parcels surrounding each the character of a northern Canadian

river. Certain ecological resources found Raven Lake Road area statistics: here are considered to be critical on both a regional and global scale. These State Lands 24 Acres include one of the largest representative Non-conforming uses: samples of the lowland boreal forest Roads (private)* 2.33 Miles under protection in the Adirondack Park, old-growth forest, and rare animal species such as the spruce grouse and SACANDAGA extra-striped snaketail dragonfly. Hunting, fishing, canoeing and kayaking This area is in the Town of Wells in in a lowland boreal forest setting are Hamilton County, immediately north of some of the outstanding primitive the West Branch of the Sacandaga recreational opportunities afforded here. River through the Silver Lake Wilderness. It consists of the West River There are four private lease camps Road where it crosses Forest Preserve on fee lands on the north side of the lands from Blackbridge westerly to Raquette River in the Town of Whitehouse. Should private lands be Piercefield. These private rights may be acquired by the State, segments of the retained by the landowner until 2025. road that are no longer necessary to access private lands should be A Unit Management Plan was incorporated into the Silver Lake adopted for this area in 2006. Wilderness.

Raquette-Jordan Boreal area A Unit Management Plan was statistics: adopted for this area in 2006.

State Lands 11,907 Acres Sacandaga area statistics: Bodies of Water (4) 44 Acres Non-conforming Uses: State Lands 11 Acres Roads (private)* 3.1 Miles Non-conforming Uses: Camps 4 Roads (public)* 1.95 Miles

RAVEN LAKE ROAD SCHUYLER ISLAND

This area is in the Town of Webb, This Lake Champlain island lies in Herkimer County and consists of a 1.84 the Town of Chesterfield in Essex mile road to a 8 acre inholding on Raven County and is designated Primitive to Lake. This road serves as a part of the insure protection of its relatively fragile boundary between the Pepperbox and resources. While a small island and Five Ponds Wilderness units. Should the lacking the unique flora and fauna of inholding be acquired, the road should Valcour Island (which is also classified be closed and this property added to the Primitive), Schuyler Island is more Pepperbox Wilderness. remote than Valcour Island and has lower levels of public use. The island This area does not yet have an requires careful protection consistent adopted Unit Management Plan. with Primitive Area guidelines.

A Unit Management Plan was Tahawus area statistics: adopted for this area in 2017. State Lands 1.4 Acres Schuyler Island area statistics: Non-conforming uses:

State Lands 160 Acres Reserved private right at Trails 0.3 Miles Henderson Dam for use of this Non-conforming Uses: None conforming structure for hydroelectric power generation.

TAHAWUS Road to Henderson Lake Dam (private)* 0.1 Mile This area is in the Town of Newcomb, Essex County. It is bounded to the south by the Hudson River from TAMARACK CREEK the Dam at Henderson Lake east to the bridge on the Upper Works Road This area is located in the Town of extension; on the east along this road; Fine, St. Lawrence County. It is on the north by the road that provides bounded on the north by Aldrich Pond access to the dam; and on the west by Wild Forest and a private road that the dam itself. extends to a private inholding on the western edge of the area; by private This area was created as the result lands to the south; and on the west and of an addition to the High Peaks east edges by the Five Ponds Wilderness Area in 2009. A 6,806 acre Wilderness. Should the private parcel to parcel was acquired by New York State the south become State land, that parcel from the Open Space Conservancy, Inc. and the Tamarack Creek Primitive Area (OSC). The boundaries of this parcel should be added to the Five Ponds abut pre-existing Forest Preserve and Wilderness. most of this acreage was added to the High Peaks Wilderness. A 1.8 acre This area does not yet have an parcel of this land was omitted from the adopted Unit Management Plan. Wilderness designation due to retained rights to use the dam at Henderson Tamarack Creek area statistics: Lake for producing hydroelectric power and to transmit that power. Power is to State Lands 46 Acres be transmitted underground, if possible, Non-Conforming Uses: None from the dam along an existing road to the Upper Works Parking lot. The power generated is to be used only for the TIED LAKE Masten House parcel or the Adirondack “core area”. Should these rights be This area lies in the Town of Webb, extinguished, this parcel should be Herkimer County and consists of the added to the High Peaks Wilderness. private right-of-way, following a rough road, providing access to an inholding of This area does not yet have an private land deep in the Pepperbox adopted Unit Management Plan. Wilderness Area. To avoid problems

with motorized trespass on Wilderness VALCOUR ISLAND lands this Primitive Area has been gated immediately south of Tied Lake limiting This Lake Champlain island lies in access to private use beyond the lake. the Towns of Peru and Plattsburgh in Clinton County. The island is designated Should the private inholding be acquired Primitive to insure its protection in a by the State, it should be incorporated near natural state. The unique into the Pepperbox Wilderness Area and vegetation and wildlife of the island, in the status of the road reviewed to particular, are in need of such determine if the road should remain protection. The wildness of the rocky open to public use as described above. east shore, complete with unusual wind and water rock sculptures, also A Unit Management Plan was deserves preservation. This island is not adopted for this area in 2010. suitable for reclassification to Wilderness because of the area's Tied Lake area statistics: proximity to a heavily developed shoreline as well as the presence of State Lands 12 Acres such essentially permanent, historic Non-conforming Uses: structures as the lighthouse. The Clinton Roads (private)* 2.5 Miles County Historical Association retains the right to maintain the lighthouse.

TWITCHELL LAKE State acquisitions of the former Seaton property at the southern end of This area is located in the Town the island and the lighthouse on the of Webb, Herkimer County and consist western shoreline increases the area's of a power line right of way which suitability for water-oriented recreational traverses two parcels in the Pigeon uses. Any interpretive program for the Lake Wilderness. The northern most island should stress both its historical parcel was acquired in 2016 by the significance and its special natural State as a gift from the Anne LaBastille features. estate. Should this power line ever be removed, this right of way will be added A Unit Management Plan was to the Pigeon Lake Wilderness. adopted for this area in 2017.

This area does not yet have an Valcour Island area statistics: adopted Unit Management Plan. State Lands 951 Acres Twitchell Lake area statistics: Federal Inholding (1) 0.1 Acres Trails 12.6 Miles State lands: 1.6 Acres Non-conforming Uses: Non-conforming use: Former Seaton House and Power line 0.3 Miles Associated Outbuilding* 2 Storage Shed* 1 Historic Lighthouse* 1

WAKELY MOUNTAIN the termination of the Primitive Area. The ultimate goal for the Primitive Area This area is in the Town of Lake is to become part of the Five Ponds Pleasant, Hamilton County. It consists of Wilderness Area should an alternate the State land south of the Wakely water supply for Wanakena be Mountain Trail. Once the fire tower on developed. Wakely Mountain is no longer needed, t his area should be made part of the A Unit Management Plan was Blue Ridge Wilderness. The majority of adopted for this area in 1994. the telephone line and poles associated with this area are on the ground or no Wanakena area statistics: longer exist. State Lands 7 Acres A Unit Management Plan was Non-conforming Uses: adopted for this area in 2006. Roads (private)* 1.2 Miles

Wakely Mountain area statistics: WEST CANADA MOUNTAIN State Lands 208 Acres Foot Trails 0.4 Miles This area is in the Town of Non-conforming Uses: Morehouse, Hamilton County. It is Fire Towers* 1 surrounded by private lands on the Observer Cabins* 1 north, east and west. The southern boundary is the legal access road to the Miller Camp. WANAKENA In 1979 a boundary adjustment was This area is located in the Town of made expanding this area to include a Fine, St. Lawrence County. The previously unrecognized, private Wanakena Water Company, which right-of- way adjacent to the West supplies water to the Hamlet of Canada Lake Wilderness Area. Wanakena, has reserved rights along the former administrative road to lay and At some future time, if the maintain water lines to a spring which right-of-way reverts to the State, this serves as the water supply for the area should be added to the West hamlet of Wanakena. Motor vehicles Canada Lake Wilderness. and motorized equipment are used by the hamlet to maintain its water supply. This area does not yet have an This gravel road is classified as adopted Unit Management Plan. Primitive to permit access by Town officials for this purpose only. Public West Canada Mountain area motorized use of this corridor should be statistics: prohibited and other official use permitted only in conformity with State Lands 3,105 Acres Wilderness guidelines. The truck trail Water Bodies (2) 7 Acres has been gated at the commencement Non-conforming Uses: of the Primitive Area as it enters the Roads (private)* 2.8 Miles Wilderness and permanently blocked at

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WILMURT CLUB ROAD This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan. This area is in the Town of Morehouse in Hamilton County. It Winding Falls area statistics: consists of the roadbed and right-of-way passing through State lands designated State Lands: 26 Acres as a part of the West Canada Lake Non-conforming Uses : None Wilderness to private tracts totally surrounded by the designated Wilderness. Should these inholdings PRIMITIVE AREA STATISTICAL ever be acquired by the State, the road PARK WIDE TOTALS: should be closed and this area made a part of the West Canada Lake State Lands 38,222 Acres Wilderness. Private Inholdings (3) 107 Acres Bodies of Water (42) 1,086 Acres This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan. Foot Trails 13.5 Miles Non-conforming Uses: Wilmurt Club Road area statistics: Roads (public)* 7.85 Miles Roads (private)* 63.43 Miles State Lands 3 Acres Roads (State-owned with private Non-conforming uses: access) Undetermined Miles Roads (private)* 0.9 Miles Snowmobile Trails* 8.3 Miles Fire Towers* 1 WINDING FALLS Observer Cabins* 1 Ranger Cabins* 1 The area is located entirely within Lighthouse* 1 the Town of Piercefield, St. Lawrence House and Outbuildings* County. It consists of a fifty-foot-wide, Railroad* 2 Miles 2.6 mile corridor along an existing, old Railroad Station 1 woods road through the Round Lake Camps undetermined Wilderness Area. Located between the Dams 3 Hamilton County Line and the Bog Steel Bridge 1 River, it provides a potential route for Power Lines* 3.6 snowmobile travel between the Hamlet Float Plane Access* 2 Lakes of Long Lake and the Remsen-Lake (First and Pine Lakes) Placid Travel Corridor. This corridor crosses the Bog River and Round Lake *Permanent non-conforming uses or Outlet, both of which are classified as non-conforming uses whose removal “Scenic” under the NYS Wild, Scenic cannot be scheduled by a fixed and Recreational Rivers Act. The deadline. remote quality of this area should be recognized in the consideration of alternatives for locating this snowmobile trail connection.

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CANOE AREA Much of the area was burned over in forest fires, probably the most extensive one occurring in the summer SAINT REGIS of 1903. Therefore, except for the wetlands, most of the forest cover was This area is in the Towns of Santa either burned off or very heavily Clara, Brighton, and Harrietstown in damaged. This has resulted in stands of Franklin County. It is bounded on the hardwoods which have regenerated north by private property and Keese after aspen, pin cherry, and white birch Mills Road; on the east by the Santa started rebuilding the humus layer. Clara Town line, old logging roads and There are low-lying stands of hemlock Upper St. Regis Lake; on the south by and spruce, now mature or nearly the Remsen to Lake Placid Travel mature, which escaped the burn Corridor, and on the west by the Santa because of their location. There are also Clara Town line. some spots near the ponds where white pine escaped the fires, and these large Its selection as an area for special shoreline trees add to the scenic and restricted management is based on attractions. the numerous, closely-spaced ponds which lend themselves to use as canoe All of the interior ponds have brook or guideboat waterways. Similar to the trout, and stocking and pond ponds that are clustered south of the reclamation efforts by the Department of railroad tracks and commonly referred to Environmental Conservation have been as the "Fish Creek" area, this region has carried on regularly for many years. long been noted for its qualities of clear, spring-fed ponds, short carries and The chief use now made of the area tranquil beauty. The area is now closed is for fishing, camping, canoeing and to motor vehicles, motorboats and cross-country skiing. Snowmobile trails aircraft in conformity with the master have been phased out under the Canoe plan guidelines, thereby restoring the Area guidelines, as well as the use of tranquil, wild atmosphere of these motorboats by the public on all waters waters. The peripheral ponds are quite within the area. easily accessible via one or two short carries making a unique wilderness The administrative road will be canoeing experience available to many retained for administrative use relating people. to fish and water resource enhancement. Approximately 15.4 miles The terrain is dominated by the of snowmobile trails in this area have numerous ponds and is relatively low in been closed, twenty-one tent platforms elevation. St. Regis Mountain in the removed and motorboat use by the north and Long Pond Mountain in the public prohibited. western part of the area are the only two high spots. The character of the terrain The ¼ mile spur road leading from also makes the area ideally suited for the Floodwood Road to the south shore cross country skiing in winter months. of Long Pond, has been blocked near the Floodwood Road and a small parking area has been provided at that point.

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Public access to the area is restricted from the north and west by private posted land but is readily available on the south and east.

In 2010, a half-acre of land associated with the St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower was reclassified to Historic.

A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2006.

Saint Regis area statistics:

State Lands 17,615 Acres Bodies of Water (52) 1,153 Acres Elevation (minimum) 1,560 Feet (maximum) 2,873 Feet Foot Trails 18.4 Miles Horse Trails 4.9 Miles Bike Trails 5 Miles Lean-tos 3 Administrative roads 5.9 Miles Non-conforming Uses: None

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WILD FOREST AREAS grades make use of trails enjoyable for all ages. During winter months, the area Because wild forest areas include receives considerable amounts of lake many various-sized scattered parcels, effect snow from Lake Ontario, making it as indicated on the map, only the largest an optimum location for winter outdoor tracts are described to illustrate the activities. The Little River flows through largely untapped resources available in this unit and the Middle Branch of the this category. No statistics are Oswegatchie River (a designated Wild presented, and the narrative deals with and Scenic River) flows adjacent to this general areas rather than specific unit. parcels. Future revisions of the master plan should provide more detailed A Unit Management Plan was information about state lands in the wild adopted for this area in 1995. forest category.

BLACK RIVER ALDRICH POND This area includes Wild Forest lands This area is bounded on the north within an area primarily in Herkimer by the Oswegatchie River, Star Lake, County, south of Route 28, north of private lands, the Oswegatchie River Route 8, east of the Adirondack Park and the Adirondack Park boundary; on boundary and west of the Adirondack the east by Youngs Road (County Route League Club holdings. The Black River 60) and the Five Ponds Wilderness; on flows in a generally east-west direction the south by the Middle Branch of the through the middle of the area. Oswegatchie River; and on west by the Lewis/St. Lawrence County Line and A considerable number of interior, Adirondack Park Blue Line. It is located privately-owned parcels exist to which in the Towns of Fine and Pitcairn in St. jeep trails extend from the public Lawrence County, Diana, in Lewis highways. Relatively low hills County and Webb in Herkimer County. interspersed with small wetland areas covered with second growth hardwoods Communities, such as Aldrich and on the more fertile soils and spruce-fir Kalurah, once thrived in the area and combinations along water courses are are now reminders of the region’s typical in this southwestern corner of the industrial past. Scotch pine plantations, Park. Mohawk Valley population centers second growth forests, telephone poles such as Rome, Utica and Herkimer are and old roads found along trails are within short driving distance, and big additional signs of the area’s human game hunting pressure in the fall history. Visitor use is most evident season is heavy. The streams attract during the hunting and fishing seasons. many trout anglers to the area. South The State lands within the unit afford Lake is a favorite fishing, hunting and local residents close proximity to boating spot. opportunities for many types of recreation, solitude and wild open A Unit Management Plan was space. The low hills and moderate adopted for this area in 1996.

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BLUE MOUNTAIN in the west, eastward to the Hudson River and northward toward Newcomb, This area is located in Hamilton and was classified as Wild Forest and added western Essex counties. It is generally to the area. Wild Forest access along bounded by Route 30 on the west and the Boots-to-Cornell Road, and then to south, the Indian River and Hudson the south shore of Fifth Lake was River on the east and Route 28N on the established for the sole purpose of north. providing Universal Access.

The terrain varies from gentle Further south, additional land from around the easily accessible and the Indian River Tract west of the Chain popular Rock Lake to extremely steep Lakes Road (South) was added to this and rugged in the remote Fishing Brook unit, including the road itself from the Range. edge of the unit northwest to the old boundary of the Essex Chain Lakes The 3,759-foot Blue Mountain Tract. Also in 2013, a 1/10-mile wide dominates the landscape for some corridor following and including the distance around, offering wide ranging former Camp 6 Road from its beginning views in all directions for those willing to at Drakes Mill Road in the north, south make a short but steep hike to the to its end at the Cedar River, was summit from the picturesque hamlet of classified Wild Forest and added to the Blue Mountain Lake. Tirrell Pond is area. This corridor separates the Essex nestled to the northeast of Blue Chain Lakes Primitive Area from the Mountain and, due to relatively easy northernmost reaches of the Hudson access, affords an excellent opportunity Gorge Wilderness. for day use or primitive camping. Opportunities for more remote and In the event the Pine Lake Primitive rugged explorations through some truly Area is merged into the Essex Chain wild back country are afforded by long, Lakes Primitive Area, the corridor of lower segments of the Rock and Cedar Wild Forest in this area south of First Rivers – designated Scenic and Wild, Lake and north of Pine Lake will be respectively – just upriver of where they reclassified to Primitive from the reach the Essex Chain Lakes and Pine boundary of the former Essex Chain Lake Primitive Areas. Lakes Tract to the outlet of First Lake.

In 2013, with the addition of the Consistent with Master Plan Nature Conservancy/Finch land guidelines for Wild, Scenic and acquisition, some existing portions of Recreational Rivers, the waters of the the northeastern section of this unit near Hudson River in this area shall be free the Essex Chain Lakes were reclassified from motorized activity. to Primitive and added to the Essex Chain Lakes and Pine Lake Primitive A Unit Management Plan was Areas. At the same time, a major block adopted for this area in 1995. of the newly acquired lands north of the lakes, extending from the Cornell Road

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CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS Conservation Area and should be managed to protect the high elevation This area consists of four small habitat these species need for nesting. islands: Garden, Cole, Sheephead and The southwestern section of this tract Signal Buoy. They range in size from contains a large area that is rugged and 0.08 to 0.82 acres and are located in the offers a sense of remoteness and Towns of Westport, Crown Point and solitude. Ticonderoga in Essex County. An additional 1,629 acres of land This area does not yet have an located in the Town of Ellenburg was adopted Unit Management Plan. added to this unit in 2010. The topography at this property is generally flat to rolling and provides the best CHAZY HIGHLANDS available access to the summit and cliffs of Ellenburg Mountain. The parcel is This area is located in portions of criss-crossed with a number of small eight Towns in Franklin and Clinton streams which feed Graves Brook, Counties. The unit is roughly bounded Loomis Brook and eventually, Lake on the north and east by the Adirondack Champlain. Graves and Loomis are Park Blue Line boundary; on the south known native brook trout waters. The by Route 3; and on the west by Route area is well known locally as habitat for 26. big game species.

The largest contiguous parcel within The Chazy Highlands also contains this area, the 17,190 acre Lyon numerous discontinuous and isolated Mountain Tract, was acquired by the parcels with little development that State of New York in 2008. Located in afford many opportunities for discovery Clinton County in the Towns of Saranac and solitude. Local residents and and Dannemora, the tract is entirely visitors who venture off nearby roads bounded by private lands and public onto these lands will find a variety of roads. Four adjoining privately owned habitats and natural features, including parcels are subject to working forest open wetlands and rolling hills with rock conservation easements held by New outcroppings that afford scenic views of York State. A privately owned rail bed of surrounding lands and fishing access the former D&H Railroad runs through along the North Branch of the Saranac the eastern portion of the tract.The tract River. They may also encounter bobcat, contains a number of existing structures bald eagle, beaver, porcupine, deer, and and improvements including the Lyon other wildlife. While some of this area’s Mountain Fire Tower, the lifts from the State lands fall within the Towns of former Lowenburg Ski Area and Dannemora and Altona and are not remnants of commercial forestry considered Forest Preserve, they are operations. classified as Wild Forest and managed as such except for silviculture and The Lyon Mountain Tract contains a wildlife management practices. 1,860 acre area above 2,800 feet in elevation that is designated a Bird This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan.

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CRANBERRY LAKE DEBAR MOUNTAIN

This area is located in southern St. The Wild Forest lands within this Lawrence County in the Towns of unit generally fall within the Towns of Clifton, Colton and Fine. It includes Wild Waverly, Santa Clara, Duane, Brighton Forest lands within an area bounded on and Franklin in Franklin County. It is the south by the SUNY ESF Biological bounded on the west by private lands Station, Five Ponds Wilderness and the west of the St. Lawrence-Franklin south shore of Cranberry Lake; on the county line and a section of the county east by the Colton Town line and the line; the north by the Adirondack Park Conifer Emporium easement lands; on Blue Line; and the east by State Route the north by State Highway 3 and the 3, County Highway 26; and the south by Oswegatchie River; and on the west by the Tupper Lake Town line, the St. private lands and the Inlet Road. It Regis Canoe Area, State Highway 86 provides a considerable amount of and County Highway 55. snowmobiling opportunity in the winter in a setting offering the snowmobiler a Located between the open flat sense of remoteness. landscape of the St. Lawrence Valley to the north and the high elevations of the Cranberry Lake Public High Peaks region to the south, this Campground, on the northeastern area consists of low, rounded shoreline of Cranberry Lake, provides a mountains, hills and ridges which readily starting point for the greatest provide evidence of the past widespread concentration of users, permitting glaciation of the region. Elevation exploration by boat of the interesting extremes range from a high of 3,355 flows of Brandy Brook, East Inlet and feet at the summit of Loon Lake Sucker Brook. Trails, including one to Mountain to a low elevation of 1,299 feet the summit of Bear Mountain, connect on Long Pond (Town of Waverly). The these and several interior brook trout summit of Debar Mountain once ponds for fishing, camping and hunting permitted Verplanck Colvin to on a variety of Wild Forest land. triangulate Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River. The boreal forest of Peavine Swamp is visible along Route 3 traversing the Several miles of the river corridors western tract, where one can glimpse in this unit have been classified under interesting bog and scattered great the New York State Wild, Scenic and pines. A short hike into this spruce-fir Recreational Rivers System. Hays and forest will often reward the birdwatcher Hatch Brooks and the Osgood River with sightings of species normally found provide trout fishing opportunities and only much further north in Canada. A the slopes of Sable, East and DeBar multi-loop cross country ski trail mountains offer a challenge to the big provides a scenic winter opportunity game hunter.

A Unit Management Plan was The East and Main Branches of the adopted for this area in 1984. St. Regis River traverse this area.

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These rivers provide an opportunity for Stratford, cuts through the approximate paddling in a generally remote setting. center of this large block of Forest The rivers are also lined with extensive Preserve. It provides the public with wetland systems that provide habitat to motor vehicle access through practically a large variety of boreal species. unbroken forest, quite comparable to some of the Wilderness areas. Many This area does not yet have an motorists take advantage of the adopted Unit Management Plan. attractive drive over this old winding dirt road, the like of which has become a rare and vanishing facility in the eastern FERRIS LAKE United States. If possible, this road should remain in its current condition This area is located in the and measures taken to insure roadside southwestern corner of the Park. It camping does not detract from the consists of those Wild Forest lands character of the area or adversely affect south of Route 8 and the West Canada the resources of the road corridor. Lake Wilderness Area and west of Route 10. Both Route 8 and Route 10, This area does not yet have an as well as the Powley-Piseco Road, pro- adopted Unit Management Plan. vide easy access to the area.

The attractiveness of this area lies FULTON CHAIN in its numerous ponds, lakes and streams which attract anglers This unit is located in Herkimer throughout the season. The area is County, Town of Webb, Township 8, popular with big game hunters and John Brown's Tract, Macombs many of the ponds and lakes are Purchase. It is divided into five main connected by an existing snowmobile sections separated by three strips of trail system following old logging roads. privately-owned lands, one of which While there are no trails, these old roads includes lands near the Fulton Chain of also make easy walking routes and their Lakes. The unit is roughly bordered on potential use in a designated hiking (and the north by the Razorback Pond Outlet cross country skiing) trail network for the and the Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area; area should be considered in the unit on the east by the Big Moose Road, management plan, as should the Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area, private potential for camping on the larger lands near Big Moose Lake and the ponds and lakes. Another feature of the Village of Eagle Bay; on the south by area is its mountain summits or rock the Third Lake Creek, County Route 118 outcroppings, in particular the ledges on and private lands adjacent to the Fulton Good Luck Mountain and Echo cliffs on Chain of Lakes; and on the west by Panther Mountain, which provide vistas private lands and the west boundary of not readily found in the southern Township 8. Adirondacks. The unit also includes DeCamp or One of the last old Adirondack dirt Treasure Island, which comprises two public roads, extending about 17 miles small islands of Forest Preserve from Route 10 near Piseco Lake to between the First and Second Lakes of

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the Fulton Chain. A permanent A Unit Management Plan was easement across private lands connects adopted for this area in 1990. this Wild Forest to Razorback Pond and the Pigeon Lake Wilderness Area. HAMMOND POND This unit has high recreational potential due to its location within short This area is located in the Towns of driving distances from the populated Crown Point, Elizabethtown, Horicon, Mohawk Valley. Uses include hiking, Keene, Moriah, North Hudson, Schroon, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing, Ticonderoga, and Westport in Essex horse-back riding, cross country skiing, County. It is generally bounded on the snowmobiling, and sight-seeing, the west by Giant, Dix and Hoffman Notch latter drawing many visitors to the Wilderness Areas; on the south by the Rondaxe Mountain Fire Tower during Pharaoh Lake Wilderness and NY State the fall foliage season. Moss Lake, a Route 74; on the east by Lake former girls summer camp, is also a Champlain; and on the north by NY popular and scenic location for hiking, State Route 9N. Several isolated Forest skiing, and camping. Preserve parcels are located in the Towns of Keene and Jay. A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 1990. Owl Pate and Hail Mountain provide great distant views, and exceptionally fine overlooks may be had from the GRASS RIVER many rocky bluffs and ledges dominating the area. A ½ mile hike to This unit is located in St. Lawrence the Belfry Mountain fire tower offers 360 County in the Towns of Clare, Clifton, degree views of the High Peaks, Lake Colton, Fine and Parishville. It includes Champlain and beyond. Many ponds the Wild Forest lands bounded on the offer scenic fishing opportunities and west and north by the Adirondack Park have defined but unmarked trails Blue Line; the south by the Oswegatchie leading from highways. A great variety River and Route 3; and on the east by of flora and fauna reflect an overlap of Route 56. forest types where beech, birch, maple and hemlock on the cool, northern The four Branches of the Grasse slopes give way to oak, ash, basswood River flow through this unit, including the and pine on the southerly exposures. Main (a designated Study River), Middle (a designated Scenic River), South (a Tracey Road, North Hudson-Moriah Scenic River and Recreational River) Road and Route 9 provide abundant and North (a Scenic River). The unit access for hunters, anglers and other contains numerous scenic rapids and recreationists. The Sharp Bridge public waterfalls that are easily accessible. campground offers trail access to East This concentration of scenic and Mill Brook and the interior. While most recreational water resources on Forest trails in the area remain unmarked, the Preserve provide a unique outdoor abundant access to this area could recreational opportunity for visitors and provide recreational opportunities similar residents of St. Lawrence County. to those found in the Pharaoh Lake

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Wilderness area to the south for those forests, ponds and lakes and mountain who do not require the solitude of the ridges. Easy access to Horseshoe Lake Wilderness setting. This would relieve affords an excellent opportunity for some of the use pressure on the fishing and boating. Camping in this Pharaoh Lake area. area provides an excellent base camp opportunity for wilderness canoe trips A Unit Management Plan was into surrounding Wilderness areas. adopted for this area in 1988. Tupper Lake, nearly 8.5 miles long and with significant extent of Forest Preserve shoreline, also has much to HORSESHOE LAKE offer visitors.

This area is located in the Towns of A Unit Management Plan was Colton, Piercefield and Tupper Lake in adopted for this area in 2002. St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties. The unit includes Wild Forest land bounded on the north by the Remsen – INDEPENDENCE RIVER Lake Placid Railroad line; the east by Routes 3 and 30; the south by the This western Adirondack area lies in Hamilton County Line and the Round the Towns of Greig, Lyonsdale, Watson Lake Wilderness; and the west by the and Webb in Lewis and Herkimer Eastern Five Ponds Access Primitive counties. It includes Wild Forest lands Area, the South Branch of the Grasse within an area bounded on the south by River and the Colton Town Line. Route 28, the Ha-De-Ron-Da Wilderness and the Moose River; the Important biological resources north by the Five Ponds Wilderness, the abound in this unit. Several large lakes Pepperbox Wilderness and the Number featuring both shallow and deep waters Four Road; on the east by the western provide habitat for the Common Loon. boundary of Township 8 in John Rich marsh communities include rare Brown’s Tract; and the west by the plant species and provide prime Adirondack Park Blue Line. breeding grounds for a variety of birds. Bald Eagles can be spotted in the area A balance of private lands interlaced throughout the year. Significant with forest preserve tracts characterize headwater bogs drain into waters of this area of gentle hills and flat lands. Tupper and Horseshoe Lakes, naturally coloring the waters a dark, tannin- The sand plain depressions north stained color. from Brantingham Lake to the Independence River offer many unique This unit affords visitors a variety of bird and plant life associations. outdoor recreation opportunities. The most popular destinations include the Numerous bogs and beaver Mt. Arab Firetower and Horseshoe meadows along the drainage of Beaver Lake. On the 2,500-foot summit of Mt. Meadow Creek and Second, Third and Arab are the restored firetower and the Fourth Creeks provide contrasting former observer’s cabin. The view from wildlife habitats. An extensive network of the top offers endless stretches of trails, both foot and snowmobile, link

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Pine Lake, Big Otter Lake and the In 1979, the Indian Lake Islands Independence River with the Stillwater were reclassified to Intensive Use, Road in the north. leaving campsites in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area and campsites in the This area has an extensive array of Jessup River Wild Forest. These horse trails that comprise much of the campsites are administered through the Otter Creek Trails network. This network Department’s campground recreation includes a developed overnight program during the operating season. assembly area in adjacent State Forest, immediately outside of the Blue Line. A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2006. A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 1986. LAKE GEORGE

JESSUP RIVER This area is located in Essex, Warren and Washington Counties. It is This area is located in Hamilton bounded on the east and south by the County in the Towns of Arietta, Wells, Park Blue Line; on the north by Pharaoh Indian Lake and Lake Pleasant. It is Lake Wilderness and NY State Route bounded on the north NYS Rt. 30 and 74; and on the west by NYS Route 9 the Blue Ridge Wilderness; the west by and the Hudson River. Most of the Lake the West Canada Lake Wilderness; the George Wild Forest area lies within the south by the Silver Lake Wilderness; Lake George Park. The Lake George and the east by Siamese Ponds Park, lying wholly within the Adirondack Wilderness. Park, was established by State law in 1961. The boundaries of the Lake Access is from Route 30 and the George Park are more or less (Perkins Clearing) Jessup River Road, contiguous with the watershed of the which traverse the area, and from the Lake, an arrangement which is designed Moffitt Beach and Lewey Lake to facilitate coordinated management of Campgrounds. the use of land as it impacts water quality. Long popular with hunters, trappers and anglers, the interspersion of private Mountains rising steeply on either woodlands with State ownership has side of the lake provide many views of made this area a top producer of fish rugged beauty. The area west of the and wildlife. The Jessup and Miami lake is accessible by Routes 9N and 74 Rivers have long been known as good while the Forest Preserve on the east trout streams. side is accessible from the Pilot Knob and Hulett's Landing roads. The Tongue Numerous logging roads and trails Mountain and Island Pond sections form are open to foot travel. The Pillsbury the base for a varied wildlife resource. and Snowy Mountain summits and The moderating influence of the lake on associated fire towers, from which vast both sides of this peninsula has views of lakes and forest may be produced an oak-pine cover type which obtained, offer particularly enjoyable is more characteristic of the southern hikes.

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part of the State than of the Environmental Conservation improved Adirondacks. Many plant and wildlife the extensive road system and species found on Tongue Mountain are developed numerous individual camping rarely found elsewhere in the Park. sites along the road. This has provided an outdoor recreational opportunity The Black Mountain tract on the intermediate between that of a opposite shore is more precipitous. developed campground and typical Spruce and hemlock are common. primitive camping in Wild Forest and Recreational enjoyment of the area is Wilderness. In 2010, over 2,900 acres in enhanced by this diversity of plant and a corridor along certain roads were animal associations. reclassified to create the Moose River Plains Camping Intensive Use Area and Trails connect the lake at Shelving to facilitate a concentration of roadside Rock and Black Mountain Point with camping sites in compliance with this interior ponds and the summits of Black Master Plan. The new Intensive Use Mountain and Sleeping Beauty. The camping area, subject to special latter provides some exceptional views. management guidelines, is intended to maintain this somewhat higher density A Unit Management Plan was of camping sites adjacent to and adopted for the Black Mountain section screened from the area’s gravel road of this area in 1986. system.

Also in 2010, approximately 14,667 MOOSE RIVER PLAINS acres south of the South Branch of the Moose River and south of the Moose This area is located in Hamilton and River Plains Camping Intensive Use Herkimer counties in the Towns of Area were reclassified to Wilderness. Arietta, Inlet, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake, Most of these lands formed the new Morehouse, Ohio and Webb. This area 12,269-acre Little Moose Wilderness, is bounded on the north by Pigeon Lake and the remaining acres were added to Wilderness; on the east by Blue Ridge the West Canada Lake Wilderness. Wilderness; on the south by West This reclassification excluded a twenty- Canada Lake Wilderness and Little foot-wide corridor along the routes of the Moose Mountain Wilderness; and on the former DEC administrative road (Otter west by the boundary of Township Two Brook Truck Trail) and former Wilson and Township Three. The scenic Ridge Road, retained as Wild Forest "plains" of the Moose and Red Rivers expressly to allow for non-motorized, are well-known areas of interest to the recreational uses such as a mountain- public. These zones of herb and grass biking, hiking and cross-country skiing. vegetation contrast vividly with the The exclusion of motor-vehicle use and overall forested nature of the Park. emphasis on development of this long Other scenic points of interest include route for mountain biking creates the Moose River Cliffs, Mitchell Ponds, potential for a premier mountain-biking Lost Ponds, Icehouse and Helldiver opportunity in the Adirondack Park. No Ponds. motor-vehicle use should be reestablished along this remote route The area is unique also for how, in due to impacts to the significant, the 1960’s, the Department of surrounding Wilderness. As it is now,

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the area’s camping, hunting, fishing, Canadian river. This northwestern snowmobiling and mountain biking region of the Park contains significant opportunities make the Moose River low elevation boreal habitat. A canoe Plains one of the truly four-season carry from Carry Falls Reservoir to the recreational areas of the Park. Jordan River allows paddlers to portage rapids and reach flat waters. The Great Camp Uncas, a National Raquette River, above Carry Falls Historic Landmark, stands on the east Reservoir, is a designated Scenic River. shore of Mohegan Lake near the northeastern boundary of this Wild A Unit Management Plan was Forest. An area around Mohegan Lake adopted for this area in 2006. is included in the Historic Great Camps Special Management Area. The area was designated to recognize the historic SARANAC LAKES connection between the Great Camps and the Forest Preserve. This area is located in the towns of North Elba and Saint Armand, Essex A Unit Management Plan was County and Brighton, Harrietstown, adopted for this area in 2011. Santa Clara and Tupper Lake, Franklin County. It is bounded on the north by the Tupper Lake Town line, the St. RAQUETTE RIVER Regis Canoe Area, State Highway 86 and County Highway 55; on the east by This area is located in the Towns of McKenzie Mountain Wilderness and the Colton, Hopkinton, and Parishville, St. Sentinel Range Wilderness; on the Lawrence County. It extends to the south by the High Peaks Wilderness north along the Raquette River and the Tupper Lake Town line; and on impoundments to Stark Reservoir and to the west by State Route 30 and the the south to Jamestown Falls just north Tupper Lake Town line. of Seveys Corner. It is also bounded on the east by the Raquette-Jordan Boreal Easily accessible from Routes 3 and Primitive Area and the west by Route 30, this southern Franklin County area 56. offers a broad network of streams, lakes and ponds for water-oriented recreation. This unit is characterized by flat and Boating access sites, camping areas gentle sloping terrain, flowing rivers, and portages are convenient for the day deciduous and evergreen forests, and user and the long distance traveler alike. numerous wetlands. Prior to the State’s The Fish Creek Ponds and Rollins Pond acquisition, many of these forested Campgrounds offer a base camp for tracts had limited and informal public some users of the area. use. Public access to the lands east of the Raquette River is gained by crossing Ampersand Mountain, just south of the river or the reservoir. As the Jordan Route 3 in the High Peaks Wilderness, River (a designated Scenic River) flows provides a superb view of this area as a through this unit, it meanders through reward for a three-mile hike through significant areas of boreal forest and majestic stands of hemlock and northern has the character of a northern hardwoods.

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This area does not yet have an SHAKER MOUNTAIN adopted Unit Management Plan. This area is located in the Towns of Bleeker, Caroga, Mayfield and SARGENT PONDS Northampton, in Fulton County and the Town of Benson in Hamilton County. This area is located entirely within With the exception of snowmobile trails Hamilton County in the towns of Arietta, and the trail to the Kane Mountain Fire Indian Lake, and Long Lake. It is Tower, this area receives relatively little bounded on the south by the Blue Ridge use. Most of the area was heavily Wilderness, and the southern shore of logged prior to State acquisition and Raquette Lake; on the west by private there are a considerable number of old lands and the Pigeon Lake Wilderness log roads, chiefly in the southern half, Area; on the north by private lands and where most of the hills are low and the Sperry Pond and Cedarlands gently sloped. These woods roads make Conservation Easement lands and the comfortable hiking trails that can be Hamilton County line; and on the east enjoyed by all ages. by Long Lake and State Highway 28N/30. A number of small ponds afford some attractive camping sites. The Known to many canoeists, hunters second growth hardwoods that and anglers, this Wild Forest area predominate allow easy foot travel both contains numerous waterbodies that on and off the old woods roads and foot vary from small interior beaver ponds to trails. This is in contrast to much of the portions of shoreline on Blue Mountain State lands north of the area where the Lake, Forked Lake, Lake Eaton, Long 1950 blow down and subsequent dense Lake, Raquette Lake and Utowana softwood reproduction has made travel Lake. off maintained foot trails quite difficult.

The North Point Road provides This tract offers great potential to access to the Upper and Lower Sargent serve the Wild Forest recreational needs Ponds trails and Buttermilk Falls, a of New York's hikers, horsemen, snow- popular destination along this stretch of mobilers, cross-country skiers and the Raquette River. The Owls’ Head campers, and is capable of absorbing a Mountain fire tower and Castle Rock on considerable degree of public use. Blue Mountain Lake provide scenic views of the surrounding lakes and A Unit Management Plan was forest. adopted for this area in 2006.

Public campgrounds on Raquette Lake, Forked Lake and Lake Eaton plus SPLIT ROCK MOUNTAIN the North Point Road to the Raquette River provide varied access and This area is located in the recreational opportunity to users of this eastern foothills of the Adirondack area. Mountains along the western shore of Lake Champlain, in the Towns of Essex This area does not yet have an and Westport, Essex County. It is adopted Unit Management Plan. bounded on the east by Lake

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Champlain, and on the north, west and Champlain; and on the south by Route south by private lands. The area is 9N between Elizabethtown and named for Split Rock Mountain, the Westport. predominant feature of the landscape referring to an unusual “split rock” Significant land features in this unit formation and historic landmark found include Poke-O-Moonshine and on private land at the northern end of Catamount Mountains. Poke-O- the mountain. Moonshine, with a restored fire tower on its 2,180-foot summit, offers outstanding Habitat varies from the open views of Lake Champlain and the Green wetlands of Webb Royce Swamp to the Mountains of Vermont. Its granite gneiss precipitous cliffs on the eastern side of cliffs, several hundred feet tall, provide Split Rock Mountain. The area also nesting habitat for peregrine falcons and harbors a rich and unique mosaic of are also a popular rock and ice climbing flora and fauna. The northernmost destination. The open and rocky, 3,168- breeding population of the New York foot summit of Catamount offers a 360- State endangered timber rattlesnake is degree view including Whiteface found here. All tree species native to Mountain, Lyon Mountain, Union Falls New York that are found north of the and Lake Champlain. Numerous Mohawk River are represented in this discontinuous parcels and a lack of unit. The area provides habitat for developed facilities affords many representative bird species of the opportunities for discovery and solitude Adirondack Park; eighty percent of the in this unit The Department of bird species found in the park, including Environmental Conservation administers black-crowned night heron and the State lands within this area other than peregrine falcon, have been Forest Preserve, including the Ausable documented in this region. Several Marsh, Pauline Murdock and Wickham threatened plant species reside within Marsh Wildlife Management Areas, and the unit as well. the Terry Mountain and Burnt Hill State Forests. The diversity of natural resources and recreational opportunities in this unit A Unit Management Plan was attract visitors for a variety of uses, adopted for this area in 2013. including day hiking, camping, hunting, and wildflower and wildlife observation. VANDERWHACKER MOUNTAIN A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2005. This area is located in the Towns of Chester, Johnsburg, Keene, Minerva, Newcomb, North Hudson, and Schroon TAYLOR POND in Essex and Warren Counties. It is generally bounded on the south by the This area is located in portions of Hudson Gorge Wilderness and State thirteen towns in three counties in the Route 8; on the west by the Hudson northeastern region of the Adirondack River; on the east by State Route 9 and Park. It is bounded on the north and Schroon Lake; and on the north by the west by Route 3 and the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness. Park Blue Line; the east by Lake

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The primary attractions of the area WATSON’S EAST TRIANGLE are the lakes and ponds, the Hudson and Boreas Rivers and Vanderwhacker This unit is located within the Town Mountain. The latter, by virtue of its of Webb, Herkimer County, and the isolated location, provides perhaps the Towns of Croghan and Watson Lewis best view of the High Peaks from the County. The unit is bounded on the south in the Park. From the summit of north by the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest; Vanderwhacker Mountain, it is also the east by the Five Ponds Wilderness possible to trace the course of the Area; the south by the Pepperbox Hudson River and gain an appreciation Wilderness Area; and on the west of that river's magnificence. primarily by working forest lands encumbered by conservation The Hudson River and the Boreas easements held by the State. River within this area are designated as Scenic rivers. White water stretches, Numerous roads and trails on State- interspersed with stillwaters, provide a owned land and adjacent easements variety of scenes to hold one's provide many opportunities for hiking, appreciation. The Wolf Pond, Durgin mountain biking, cross country skiing, Brook and Lester Flow sections of the big game hunting, fishing, camping and Upper Boreas are well known to bird snowmobiling. Visitors have the clubs. There are plant and birdlife opportunity for solitude and remoteness communities of unusual interest, in this unit as the result of the close particularly those featuring boreal proximity of two large, abutting species. Wilderness Areas to the east and south. An alternative, less remote, experience Consistent with Master Plan in these wild lands is also possible due guidelines for Wild, Scenic and to the close proximity of rural land use to Recreational Rivers, the waters of the the west of the unit, including maple Hudson River in this area shall be free sugar farms, working forests, seasonal from motorized activity. camps, and the villages of Croghan and Harrisville. In 2016, New York State acquired the 20,430 acre Boreas Ponds Tract A Unit Management Plan was from The Nature Conservancy. 9,118 adopted for this area in 2010. acres of land north of the Blue Ridge Road in the vicinity of the Branch River and the Gulf Brook Road were added to WHITEHILL the unit. With this addition, new access to the High Peaks Wilderness Area from This unit is located in St. Lawrence the south is gained while adding a County and includes Wild Forest lands diversity of recreational opportunities on within an area bounded on the west and the Wild Forest lands closer to Blue north by the Adirondack Park Blue Line; Ridge Road. the east by the St. Lawrence-Franklin county line; and on the south by the A Unit Management Plan was West Branch of the St. Regis River, the adopted for this area in 2005. Stark-Joe Indian Road and Route 56.

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Forests consisting of maple, beech, This area is capable of withstanding birch, pine and hemlock cover the area’s considerably more recreational use low rolling foothills. The highest point is without the destruction of the physical a 1,600-foot unnamed hill located in the resource or the Wild Forest atmosphere. southeastern corner of the unit’s main It is an area of rolling hills and open parcel. summits with a considerable number of attractive brook trout streams. A distinguishing feature of the area Numerous trails provide easy access by is Wheeler Marsh. This 1,238-acre foot in the summer and by snowmobiles, wetland is one of the largest in the skis or snowshoes in the winter. northern Adirondack region. It provides habitat for a wide array of wildlife and In addition, and contrast to this well- offers views of expansive, open developed trail system, there is also a peatlands. The largest natural water large trail-less section north of Wilcox body is the 35-acre Clear Pond. Easy Lake that provides an excellent access to this pond affords an excellent opportunity for a remote experience. opportunity for fishing, canoeing and camping. This area does not yet have an adopted Unit Management Plan. A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2006. WILMINGTON

WILCOX LAKE The area consists of State lands in the Towns of Wilmington, Jay and This area is bounded on the south Keene in Essex County and Black Brook by the Adirondack Park Blue Line; the in Clinton County. It is roughly bounded west by State Highway 30, the Silver on the north by the Forestdale and Lake Wilderness, and State Highway 8; Silver Lake Roads; the east by Route and east by State Routes 28 and 9. 9N; the south by the Sentinel Wilderness and Whiteface Mountain Ski The Hudson River is the border for Center; and on the west by Gillespie the eastern side of the area, which is Drive, Whiteface Mountain Veteran’s composed of a collection of smaller Memorial Highway and the McKenzie detached Forest Preserve parcels. The Mountain Wilderness. southern boundary of this area is the Blue Line of the Park and below the The area’s distinguishing feature is Great Sacandaga Reservoir the area is its diversity of recreational opportunities. also composed of several smaller The largest contiguous parcel, detached parcels. approximately 6,400 acres, offers scenic rock cliffs overlooking much of the Jay Crane Mountain is the tallest and Sentinel Ranges, camping at the mountain in the area, providing lean-to on Cooper Kill Pond, and unobstructed views of the region. The hunting access along the Forestdale Hadley Mountain fire tower provides Road. Other State land parcels provide hikers with endless views across the access for trout fishing on the renowned southeast corner of the Park. Ausable River, viewing scenic

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waterfalls, rock climbing and mountain biking. In the winter, cross country skiing, ice climbing, trapping, and snowmobiling are available.

A Unit Management Plan was adopted for this area in 2005.

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INTENSIVE USE AREAS DAY USE AREAS

CAMPGROUNDS Ski centers, parkways, beaches Alger Island AuSable Point Gore Mountain Ski Center Brown Tract Pond Hinckley Day Use Area Buck Pond Lake George Beach Caroga Lake Lake George Battlefield Park Cranberry Lake Mt. Van Hoevenberg Winter Recreation Crown Point Area Eagle Point Poplar Point Eighth Lake Prospect Mountain Parkway Fish Creek Ponds Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway Forked Lake Whiteface Mountain Ski Center Golden Beach Hearthstone Point BOAT LAUNCHING SITES Lake Durant Lake Eaton The following lakes are Lake George Battleground approximately 1,000 acres or more in Lake George Islands size and are therefore eligible for further Lake Harris analysis to determine their suitability for Lewey Lake initial or additional boat launch ramp Limekiln Lake construction. Lincoln Pond Little Sand Point Name of Water Number of Luzerne Acres Meacham Lake Meadowbrook Lake Champlain 281,600 Moffitt Beach Lake George 28,160 Moose River Plains Camping Area* Great Sacandaga Lake 26,656 Nicks Lake Cranberry Lake 6,976 Northampton Beach Carry Falls Reservoir 6,458 Paradox Lake Tupper Lake 6,240 Point Comfort Stillwater Reservoir 6,195 Poke-O-Moonshine Raquette Lake 5,274 Putnam Pond Upper Saranac Lake 5,056 Rogers rock Indian Lake 4,365 Rollins Pond Schroon Lake 4,128 Sacandaga Long Lake 4,090 Scaroon Manor Piseco Lake 2,848 Sharp Bridge Lake Placid 2,803 Taylor Pond Hinckley Reservoir 2,784 Tioga Point Upper Chateaugay Lake 2,605 Wilmington Notch Little Tupper Lake 2,381 * Less developed facilities Lower Saranac Lake 2,285 Fourth Lake (Fulton Chain) 2,138 Chazy Lake 1,606

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Lake Flower Name of Water Number of Oseetah Lake Acres Tupper Chain: Sacandaga Lake 1,600 Lake Pleasant 1,440 Tupper Lake Middle Saranac Lake 1,376 Simon Pond Union Falls Flow 1,376 Raquette Pond Brant Lake 1,376 Peck Lake 1,370 St. Regis Chain: Big Moose Lake 1,286 Blue Mountain Lake 1,261 Upper St. Regis Lake Forked Lake 1,248 Lower St. Regis Lake Meacham Lake 1,203 Woodhull Lake 1,158 Chateaugay Chain: Abanakee Lake 1,018 Lake Clear 1,000 Upper Chateaugay Lower Chateaugay The following lake chains contain lakes less than 1,000 acres in size, but Fulton Chain: the combined acreage of lakes within these chains exceeds approximately First Lake 1,000 acres. These lakes, listed below, Second Lake are eligible for further consideration to Third Lake determine their suitability for boat launch ramp construction because they are Rainbow Chain: connected by navigable waterways and the aggregate acreage of each chain Lake Kushaqua exceeds 1,000 acres. These chains may Rainbow Lake contain additional lakes less than 1,000 acres in size which are not listed. Such Indian Chain: lakes have been determined to be unsuitable for boat launch ramp con- Indian Lake struction. Lewey Lake

Saranac Chain: Upper Saranac Chain:

Middle Saranac Square Pond Lower Saranac Fish Creek Pond Second Pond First Pond Lake Kiwassa

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HISTORIC AREAS

CAMP SANTANONI

Camp Santanoni Historic Area is 35 acres in size and located north of New York State Route 28N in the Town of Newcomb in Essex County. It consists of three clusters of buildings (the Gate House Complex, the Farm Complex and the Main Camp Complex), the garden and orchard area, and a 4.7-mile access road connecting them. Camp Santanoni, one of the oldest and largest great camps, was created by Robert C. Pruyn in 1892. The 12,900+ acre Santanoni Preserve was acquired by the State of New York in 1972 as part of the Forest Preserve. The three building complexes and the road are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are in the process of being restored. The Unit Management Plan for this area was adopted in 2016.

CROWN POINT

This 390 acre site contains archaeological remains and ruins from a number of periods and events significant to the history of New York State and the nation including: a number of archaeological sites pre-contact Native American, the standing ruins of Fort Saint Frederic constructed by the French in 1731, and archaeological remains of associated military and civilian occupations. Crown Point was the second post captured by American forces in 1775 (after Fort Ticonderoga) and served as the base for the American fleet that fought in the Battle of Valcour Bay. The property surrounding the sites of the French and British forts was donated to the state in 1910 on the condition that the ruins be preserved in perpetuity. Subsequent acquisitions have expanded the boundaries. Crown Point is listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

HURRICANE MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER

This area includes the fire tower on Hurricane Mountain and a 0.5 acre square surrounding the fire tower. The fire tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area was reclassified from Primitive to Historic in 2010. The designation does not preclude the Department of Environmental Conservation from determining the fire towers structurally unsound and should be removed, nor does it preclude the DEC from relocating the fire tower to another location consistent with its historic setting. In this event, the area’s classification will, without any further Agency action, become part of the Hurricane Mountain Wilderness Area. The Historic Area designation does not require, obligate or anticipate expenditure of State funds for maintenance and restoration of the fire tower. The Unit Management Plan for this area was adopted in 2014.

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JOHN BROWN’S FARM

This 105 acre area includes the home, farm, pond, and grave of abolitionist John Brown. John Brown was buried at this site following his 1859 execution in Virginia. The bodies of two of Browns’ sons and several of Browns’ followers, who were killed in the raid on the Harper’s Ferry Armory, were relocated to this site. The property was deeded to the State of New York in 1895 on the condition that it be preserved as a park or reservation. A monument to Brown was erected in 1935. The property is listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

ST. REGIS MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER

This area includes the fire tower on St. Regis Mountain and a 0.5 acre square surrounding the fire tower. The fire tower is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area was reclassified from Primitive to Historic in 2010. The designation does not preclude the Department of Environmental Conservation from determining the fire towers structurally unsound and should be removed, nor does it preclude the DEC from relocating the fire tower to another location consistent with its historic setting. In this event, the area’s classification will revert to Canoe Area. The Historic Area designation does not require, obligate or anticipate expenditure of State funds for maintenance and restoration of the fire tower. The Unit Management Plan for this area was adopted in 2014.

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STATE ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS

Lands included in the State Administrative classification:

CLINTON

Ausable -- Maintenance Area, Rt. 9N-I-87 - DOT Dannemora -- Correctional Facility - DCS Dannemora -- Correctional Facility – DCS Dannemora -- Clinton East Annex - DCS Dannemora -- Surplus Property - OGS Dannemora -- Adk. Correctional Treatment & Evaluation Center Dannemora – Former Lyon Mtn. Correctional Facility -- DCS Dannemora -- ROW- SH 5186, Vacant Land - DOT Saranac SH -- 1398 Moffittsville/Franklin, Maintenance Area – DOT Saranac -- Vacant, Rt. 3/Saranac River – DCS Saranac – Cemetery, Douglas Rd. –DCS Saranac – Cemetery, Ryan Rd. –DCS Saranac – Vacant, West side of Picketts Corner Rd. – DCS Saranac – Vacant, East and West sides of Picketts Corner Rd. – DCS Saranac – Vacant, Picketts Corner Rd. at Barnham Brook Rd. - DCS Saranac – Route 3 Maintenance Facility - DOT

ESSEX

Crown Point – Maintenance Area, Factoryville Rd. – DOT Chesterfield – Maintenance Area, Rt. 22 - DOT Elizabethtown -- Rt. 9N - Essex County Stonehouse Maintenance Area – DOT Keene – Route 73, Essex County Sub-headquarter - DOT Lewis -- Maintenance Area West of Exit 32 - DOT Minerva -- Maintenance Area, Rt. 28N – DOT Minerva – One acre gravel pit along Chain Lakes Road (South) - DEC Newcomb – One acre gravel pit along Chain Lakes Road (North) - DEC Newcomb – One acre gravel pit north of Deer Pond - DEC Newcomb – One acre gravel pit along Boreas Ponds Road - DEC North Elba -- Camp Adirondack - DCS North Elba -- Ray Brook State Office Complex North Hudson -- Maintenance Area, Exit 30 – DOT North Hudson – One acre gravel pit at LaBier Flow - DEC Schroon -- Schroon Lake Sewage Treatment Plant - EFC Schroon -- Horseshoe Brook Pumping Station, Utility - EFC Schroon -- Maintenance Area, Rts. 9 and 74 Residency Office - DOT Severance -- Maintenance Area - Int. Rts. 9 & 73 - DOT Stowerville -- Maintenance Area - 2 mi. west of I.87 - DOT

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Ticonderoga -- 315 Champlain Ave., State Armory, Div. Military, Naval Affairs Underwood -- Maintenance Area - Rt. 9 - DOT Westport-- N. Main Street, Sewage Treatment Plant - EFC Westport -- Pumping Station No. 1, Washington Avenue - EFC Westport -- Pumping Station No. 2, S. Main Street - EFC Wilmington -- Atmospheric Sciences Research Center

FRANKLIN

Duane -- Maintenance Area Rt. 458, "Meacham Lake" - DOT Franklin -- Maintenance Area Rt. 3, Vermontville - DOT Harrietstown -- State Armory Harrietstown -- Maintenance Area Rt. 86, Lake Clear Jct. – DOT & DEC Harrietstown -- Wawbeek Maintenance Area - DOT Santa Clara -- Adirondack Fish Hatchery Tupper Lake -- Sunmount Developmental Center – DMH

FULTON

Northampton -- Maintenance Area SH 362 - DOT Northampton -- DEC, Northville - DEC Rockwood 29 – DOT

HAMILTON

Arietta -- Maintenance Area - Rt. 10, 1.5 mi. north of Fulton County - DOT Hoffmeister Maintenance Area, Rt. 8 – DOT Indian Lake -- Maintenance Area, Residency – DOT Indian Lake – Maintenance Area, Rt. 4 - DEC Long Lake -- Maintenance Area, Rts. 28N, 30 - DOT Long Lake -- Maintenance Area Rt. 28, Raquette Lake Patrol Long Lake -- Maintenance Area SH 5189, Long Lake Patrol Long Lake -- Little Tupper Lake Headquarters, Rt.10, 4 mi. west of Rt. 3 Long Lake – Raquette Lake Water Supply – DEC Long Lake – Maintenance Area, Sagamore Road - DOT Wells -- Hamilton County Sub-headquarters - DOT

ST. LAWRENCE

Colton -- Town of Colton Maintenance Area-Rt. 3 - DOT Colton – Cranberry Lake Maintenance Center - DEC Fine -- St. Lawrence Power Radio Tower

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Fine -- Radio Tower Site – PASNY Fine -- Ranger School – SUNY ESF Hopkinton -- White Hill Radio Towers

WARREN

Lake George -- Residential Bldg. Location/I-87 - DOT Chester SS -- Rt. 8, Maintenance Area – DOT Chestertown -- Maintenance Area-I-87, Exit 25 on Rt. 8 – DOT Johnsburg – Maintenance Area, Peaceful Valley Road -DOT Warrensburg -- Parking Lot SH 5157 Warrensburg-Chestertown - DOT Warrensburg -- Maintenance Area near I-87/Lake George-Warrensburg - DOT Warrensburg -- Warren County Storehouse Site Warrensburg -- DEC Office-DEC Warrensburg-Warren County Residency on Rt. 9 Queensbury -- DOT properties – DOT

WASHINGTON Dresden – Chubbs Dock Educational Programing Facility - DEC

WILD, SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RIVERS SYSTEM in the Adirondack Park

Number of Miles Classified

River Wild Scenic Recreational

Ampersand Brook 8.6 Ausable -- Main Branch 21.7 Ausable -- East Branch 8.8 25.2 Ausable -- West Branch 31.8 Black 6.8 5.8 Bog 6.2 Boreas 11.4 Bouquet 42.7 Bouquet -- North Fork 5.9 Bouquet -- South Fork 5.0 Blue Mountain Stream (Trib. of 7.9 Middle Branch, Grasse River) Cedar 13.5 13.0 10.4 Cold 14.5 Deer 5.7 East Canada Creek 19.3 Grasse -- Middle Branch 12.9 Grasse -- North Branch 25.4

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Grasse -- South Branch 36.1 4.2 Hudson 11.2 11.8 55.1 Independence 24.5 Indian (Trib. of Hudson River) 7.5 Indian (Trib. of Moose River -- South Branch) 15.1 Jordan 15.7 Kunjamuk 7.1 9.1 Long Pond Outlet 16.3 Marion 4.4 Moose -- Main Branch 15.0 11.0 Moose – North Branch 5.3 11.6 Moose -- South Branch 33.6 Opalescent 10.4 Oswegatchie -- Main Branch 14.9 Oswegatchie -- Middle Branch 13.0 22.7 Oswegatchie -- West Branch 7.2 6.3 Otter River 8.8 Ouluska Pass Brook 2.3 Piseco Outlet 3.8 Raquette 36.0 51.6 Red 8.0 Rock 6.4 1.3 Round Lake Outlet 2.4 St. Regis -- East Branch 15.4 6.3 St. Regis -- Main Branch 15.6 23.9 St. Regis -- West Branch 31.5 5.5 Sacandaga -- East Branch 11.3 12.6 Sacandaga -- Main Branch 28.5 Sacandaga -- West Branch 18.1 16.6 Salmon 11.6 Saranac 62.7 Schroon 63.9 West Canada Creek 7.4 17.1 9.1 West Canada Creek -- South Branch 5.7 9.1 West Stony Creek 7.4 7.7

TOTALS 148.4 487.2 545.6

TOTAL MILES CLASSIFIED 1181.1

These mileage statistics include all designated rivers and therefore include 2362.2 miles of shoreline. Most recreational river shoreline and some wild and scenic river shoreline is privately owned.

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TRAVEL CORRIDORS

HIGHWAY CORRIDORS

Route Terminal Approximate Mileage

I-87 Northern Park Boundary to Southern Park Boundary 91 3 Western Park Boundary to Northeastern Park Boundary 107(a) 8 Southwest Park Boundary to Hague 109 9 Northern Park Boundary to Southern Park Boundary 92(b) 9L Southeastern Park Boundary to Route 9 13 9N Southern Park Boundary to Keeseville 124 10 Southern Park Boundary to Route 8 23 22 Northern Park Boundary to Southern Park Boundary 76(c) 28 Southwestern Park Boundary to Route 9 100(d) 28N Blue Mountain Lake to North Creek 47(e) 29A Southern Park Boundary to Southwestern Park Boundary 18(f) 30 Northern Park Boundary to Southern Park Boundary 151(g) 56 Northern Park Boundary to Sevey 15 58 Western Park Boundary to Fine 5 458 Northern Park Boundary to Route 30 20 73 Route 9 to Route 86 26(h) 74 Route 9 to Lake Champlain 30 86 Jay to Route 30 34 149 Southern Park Boundary to Southeastern Park Boundary 5 186 Route 86 to Route 30 at Lake Clear 4 192A Route 192 to Route 86 2 287 Western Park Boundary to Route 8 6 373 Port Kent to Route 9 3 374 Northern Park Boundary to Dannemora 27 418 Warrensburg to Thurman 3 421 Horseshoe Lake to Route 30 6 431 Wilmington to Whiteface Summit 8 185 Crown Point Bridge to Route 22 4

Subtotal 1165 Miles Minus dual designations 87 Total 1078 Miles

(a) includes 6 miles dually designated as Route 30 (b) includes 4 miles dually designated as Route 8 and 10 miles dually designated as Route 73 (c) includes 25 miles dually designated as Route 9N (d) includes 11 miles dually designated as Route 30

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(e) includes 9 miles dually designated as Route 30 (f) includes 5 miles dually designated as Route 10 (g) includes 9 miles dually designated as Route 8 (h) includes 2 miles dually designated as Route 9N

RAILROAD CORRIDORS

Area Description

Remsen-Lake Placid Corridor

The Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor (RLPTC) is a railroad corridor that enters the southeast corner of the Adirondack Park from Remsen, New York. It includes state- owned parcels, and parcels to be acquired by the State within the corridor, approximately 119 miles long and traverses the following six counties and ten towns:

Oneida Co. – Remsen and Forestport Herkimer Co. – Webb Hamilton Co. – Long Lake St. Lawrence Co. – Piercefield and Colton Franklin Co. – Tupper Lake, Santa Clara and Harrietstown Essex Co. – North Elba

The northern section of the railroad corridor passes through the Villages of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake (as well as the communities of Saranac Inn and Lake Clear) before terminating in the Village of Lake Placid.

About 46 percent of the length of the corridor is flanked on at least one side by State Forest Preserve lands, and about 27 percent of the remaining length is flanked on at least one side by State conservation easement lands. From Old Forge to Tupper Lake, the route passes through some of the most remote territory in New York State. It forms part of the bounds of the Pigeon Lake, Five Ponds, William C. Whitney and Round Lake Wilderness Areas. It also traverses a portion of the Lows Lake Primitive Area and forms almost all of the southern border of the St. Regis Canoe Area. The remaining areas of Forest Preserve adjoining the route are classified Wild Forest, including the Black River, Fulton Chain, Independence River and Saranac Lakes Units.

The railbed, constructed in 1892 by William Seward Webb, was utilized continuously by the New York Central Railroad, and then the Penn Central Railroad, until freight service ceased in 1972. With the exception of a 3000-foot segment in the Village of Saranac Lake and the Lake Placid depot parcel, where there are railroad easements, the railroad corridor was purchased in fee by New York State in 1974 and 1975. In 1977, the State leased the line to the Adirondack Railway Corporation. After bankruptcy of the lessee, and following a long period of litigation, the State acquired the remainder of the lease in

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1991. Geographically limited and intermittent scenic railroad service has occurred since 1992, but until that time trains had not traveled on the railroad corridor for more than a decade. The railroad corridor has been designated a snowmobile trail since the 1991- 1992 season.

This railroad corridor is generally 100 feet wide, but is wider in some locations, primarily within communities. State ownership terminates in the Village of Lake Placid at Station Street. The Remsen-Lake Placid Railroad was classified as a travel corridor in 1979.

SCENIC VISTAS

Potential Scenic Pull-offs

TOWN LOCATION

Bellmont 1 mile west of Owl's Head Bolton Two on Federal Hill Road Bolton One on Coolidge Hill Road Corinth Approximately 0.5 miles east of Daly Creek Road and 0.1 miles north of West Mountain Road Dannemora 0.5 miles west of Village of Dannemora on State Route 374 Dannemora 0.25 miles east of Merrill Road Dannemora 2.75 miles northeast of Village of Dannemora on French Settlement Road Dannemora 1 mile northeast of hamlet of Standish on road from Standish to Lyon Mountain Ellenburg Approximately 6.5 miles north of Upper Chateaugay Lake and approximately ¼ mile west of West Hill School Essex 1.5 miles northeast of Whallonsburg on Christian Road Essex 0.75 miles southwest of Whallon Bay (Lake Champlain) on Lake Shore Road Fine Approximately 1.25 miles south of hamlet of Fine Harrietstown Approximately at intersection of State Routes 86 and 192-A Hopkinton Whites Hill Indian Lake On State Route 30 overlooking Lake Abanakee Indian Lake 2.5 miles east of Lake Abanakee overlooking Lake Snow Johnsburg 3 miles south of hamlet of North Creek Johnsburg 3 miles south of North River on Barton Mine Road Johnsburg Approximately 0.5 miles southeast of Bakers Mills Keene Intersection of State Routes 73 and 9N Lake Pleasant On southeast shore of Lake Pleasant Newcomb On State Route 28N approximately 0.75 miles south of Campsite Road Newcomb 3 miles east of hamlet of Newcomb on State Route 28N

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North Elba 0.5 miles east of Village of Lake Placid on State Route 86 North Elba Near intersection of State Route 73 and Heart Lake Road in North Elba Ohio Intersection of West Canada Creek Road and State Route 8 at hamlet of Nobleboro Santa Clara Two miles west of Keese Mill on Keese Mills Road Santa Clara On State Route 30 at Pelky Bay on Upper Saranac Lake Saranac 3.25 miles east of Picketts Corners near Hardscrabble Road Saranac 2 miles southeast of hamlet of Saranac on Burnt Hill Road Saranac At intersection of Chazy Lake Road and Chateaugay Branch of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Saranac Two miles northwest of Clayburg on Clayburg to Standish Road Tupper Lake At intersection of road east of Sunmount Developmental Center and State Routes 3 and 30 Tupper Lake Approximately 1.5 miles west of the Railroad Station on State Route 3 Willsboro 1.5 miles south of Willsboro on County Route 22-M Willsboro 4.5 miles northeast of Willsboro on County Route 27 on Willsboro Point Westport 4.0 miles north of Westport

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SPECIAL MANAGEMENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AuSable River Delta Illustrative Special Interest Areas Balanced Rock Chimney Mountain SCENIC Colden Dike Giant Mountain Slides Ampersand Mountain Summit Ice Cave Mountain Arab Mountain Summit McComb Mountain Slide Azure Mountain Summit Moose River Rock Dam Bald (Rondaxe) Mountain Summit Rainbow Lake Esker Bar Mountain Summit Rogers Rock Black Mountain Peak Round Mountain Exfoliating Dome Blue Mountain Summit Six Mile Creek Esker Bog River Falls Bushnell's Falls Buttermilk Falls HISTORIC Cascade Falls East Canada Falls Axton Plantation Falls Brook Burnt Shanty Clearing Fort Noble Mountain Fort George & Battleground Hadley Mountain Summit French Louie's Camp Hanging Spear Falls Historic Great Camps High Falls Mother Johnson's Boarding House Historic Great Camps Long Lake--Round Pond Canal Hurricane Mountain Summit Prospect Mountain Inclined R.R. Indian Falls Riparius Bridge Kane Mountain Summit Rondeau's Hermitage Miller's Falls Roosevelt Plaque Opalescent Flume Scott's Pond Lumber Dam Paradise Bay Scott Clearing and Lumber Dam Poke-O-Moonshine Summit Lake Stevens Flume Route Prospect Mountain Valcour Island Pulpit Rock Raquette Falls Red Rock Bay NATURAL Rocky Falls St. Regis Mountain Summit Baxter Mountain Sleeping Beauty Bloomingdale Bog Sliding Rock Falls Boreas Hardwood Twitchell Creek Gorge Buckhorn Lake Hardwoods Vanderwhacker Mountain Summit Chubb River Marsh Wakely Mountain Summit Church Pond Wanika Falls Five Ponds Esker Whiteface Mountain Summit Griffin Rapids Virgin Timber The Gulf

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Moose River Plains Peninsula Nature Trail Oseetah Lake Marsh Raquette River Delta Oswegatchie Plains South Inlet--Raquette Lake Otter Pond Virgin Timber Tongue Mountain Owl's Head--Red Pine Area Wanika Falls Hardwoods Pharaoh Lake Red Pine Whiteface Mountain--Red Pine Area Piseco Lake Hardwoods Whitehouse Hardwoods Pine Orchard Valcour Island Pine Ridge

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Formerly Section 807, added L. APPENDIX I 1971, c. 706, Section 1; renumbered 816 and amended L. 1973, c.348, Section I. Section 807 read as Section 816 Master plan for follows: management of State lands

Section 807. Master Plan for 1. The department of management of State lands environmental conservation is hereby authorized and directed to develop, in 1. In order to further carry out the consultation with the agency, individual purposes of this article as described in management plans for units of land section eight hundred one, the agency classified in the master plan for man- shall prepare and submit to the governor agement of State lands heretofore for his approval on or before June first, prepared by the agency in consultation nineteen hundred seventy-two a master with the department of environmental plan, developed in consultation with the conservation and approved by the department of environmental governor. Such management plans shall conservation, for management of State conform to the general guidelines and lands, whether now owned or hereafter criteria set forth in the master plan. Until acquired, located in the Adirondack amended, the master plan for park. Such plan shall (1) classify such management of State lands and the lands according to their characteristics individual management plans shall and capacity to withstand use and guide the development and provide general guidelines and criteria management of State lands in the for the management and use of lands Adirondack Park. within such classifications, and (2) reflect the actual and projected uses of 2. The master plan and the private lands within the park as those individual management plans shall be uses may be more fully characterized in reviewed periodically and may be the development of the land use and amended from time to time, and when development plan provided for in section so amended shall as amended eight hundred five of this article. henceforth guide the development and management of State lands in the 2. Upon approval of such plan by Adirondack Park. Amendments to the the governor, the department of master plan shall be prepared by the environmental conservation is hereby agency, in consultation with the authorized and directed to develop, in department of environmental consultation with the agency, individual conservation, and submitted after public management plans for units of land hearing to the governor for his approval. classified in the master plan and such management plans shall conform to the 3. The agency and department are general guidelines and criteria set forth hereby authorized to develop rules and in the master plan. Until amended, the regulations necessary, convenient or master plan for management of State desirable to effectuate the purposes of lands and the individual management this section. plans shall guide the development and management of State lands in the Adirondack Park.

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3. The master plan and the individual management plans shall be reviewed periodically and may be amended from time to time in the same manner as initially adopted, and when so amended shall as amended henceforth guide the development and management of State lands in the Adirondack Park.

4. The agency and department are hereby authorized to develop rules and regulations necessary, convenient or desirable to effectuate the purposes of this section.

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APPENDIX II

State-held conservation easements within the Adirondack Park*

Name County (ies) Town (s) Acres Adirondack Mountain Reserve Essex Keene, North Hudson 6,980 (Ausable Club) Alderbrook Park Franklin Franklin 1,158 Bartlett Carry Franklin Harrietstown 232 Blue Mountain & Hamilton Indian Lake 141 Utowana Lakes Bluff Point Hamilton Indian Lake 82 Burton Essex Keene 40 Cedarlands Boy Scout Hamilton Long Lake 4,774 Camp Franklin, Lewis, Champion 8 Towns 108,377 St. Lawrence Conservation Fund St. Lawrence Piercefield 13,549 (Raquette River) Deer Island (Upper Franklin Santa Clara 41 Saranac Lake) Dillon Park/Sperry Pond Hamilton Long Lake 15,651

Dreby St. Lawrence Clifton, Colton, Piercefield 401

Eagle Nest Hamilton Indian Lake 946 Elk Lake Preserve Essex North Hudson 1,565 Finch Pruyn 6 Counties 25 Towns 25,218 Flat Rock Mountain Herkimer Ohio 512 Forked Lake Hamilton Long Lake 235 Franklin Falls Essex, Franklin Franklin, St. Armand 3,682 Grass River St. Lawrence Clare, Clifton, Colton 49,776 I-87 – Scenic Exit 23 Warren Lake George 6.3 I-87 – Scenic Exit 24 Warren Chestertown 16.3 I-87 – Scenic Exit 26 Warren Chester 4.4 I-87 – Scenic Exit 27 Essex Schroon 4.1 I-87 – Scenic Exit 28 Essex Schroon 18 I-87 – Scenic Exit 29 Essex North Hudson 1.6 I-87 – Scenic Exit 31 Essex Westport 75.2 I-87 – Scenic Exit 32 Essex Lewis 115.2

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I-87 – Scenic Exit 33 Essex Chesterfield 35.3 IP/Lyme Timber 12 Counties 36 Towns 242,243 Lake Placid Shoreline Essex North Elba 374 Lassiter Clinton, St. Lawrence 9 Towns 38,627 Long Pond Timber St. Lawrence Clare, Colton 18,387 Loon Pond Hamilton Long Lake 2,041

Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper Herkimer Ohio, Webb 17,840

Massawepie St. Lawrence Piercefield 3,039 Moshier Reservoir Herkimer Webb 22 Nehasane Hamilton, Herkimer Long Lake, Webb 9,664 Colton, Parishville, Niagara Mohawk St. Lawrence 8,475 Piercefield Norowal Marina (Bolton Warren Bolton 0.3 Town Boat Launch) Brighton, Harrietstown, Paul Smiths College Franklin 7,694 Santa Clara Pine Lake Hamilton Morehouse 994 Pollock Franklin Santa Clara 1 Raquette River St. Lawrence Piercefield 4,352 Sabattis Land Company Hamilton, St. Lawrence Colton, Long Lake 1,629 Bellmont, Dannemora, Sable Highlands Clinton, Franklin Ellenburg, Franklin, 84,000 Saranac Shell Rock Clinton Black Brook 806 Split Rock Farm Essex Essex 394 Sucker Lake St. Lawrence Fine 214 Tahawus Essex Newcomb 3,216 Trophy Ridge Hamilton Long Lake 2,589

Yorkshire (Conifer) St. Lawrence Clifton, Colton, Piercefield 19,194

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Other Less Than Fee Interests l) Nehasane, 1979 Town of Webb 3664 acres, subject to a 5O -year estate retained by the Webb Family

2) Warrensburg Fish Hatchery Town of Warrensburg Right of Reversion

3) Crown Point Fish Hatchery Town of Crown Point Right of Reversion

* Not all of these lands are open to the public. Please contact the NYSDEC for additional information.

Public Fishing Rights Easements

County Stream Mileage*

Clinton Alder Brook 0.17 Ausable River 0.15 Cold Brook 0.45 North Branch Great Chazy 1.01 North Branch Saranac River 4.58 Salmon River 3.38 Saranac River 3.27 True Brook 4.14 Unnamed Water 0.45

Essex Ausable River 1.15 Boquet River 21.39 Chubb River 1.27 East Branch Ausable River 10.54 North Branch Boquet River 9.59 Putnam Creek 1.85 Schroon River 6.11 Spruce Mill Brook 3.59 West Branch Ausable River 3.78

Franklin Alder Brook 0.20 Chateaugay River 1.16 Dexter Lake Outlet 0.32 East Branch Saint Regis River 2.43

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Hatch Brook 0.53 Lake Ozonia Outlet 0.77 North Branch Saranac River 6.39 Salmon River 2.47 St. Regis River 2.72

Fulton East Canada Creek 3.14 Sprite Creek 0.28

Herkimer Black River 0.28 East Canada Creek 0.22 Little Black Creek 3.69 Trammel Creek 0.58 Unnamed Water 0.37 West Canada Creek 0.11

Lewis Hogs Back Creek 0.21 Unnamed Water 0.52 Unnamed Water 0.21 West Branch Oswegatchie River 3.11

Oneida Woodhull Creek 0.40

St. Lawrence Grasse River 0.67 Little River 4.62 North Branch Grasse River 0.46 St. Regis River 0.79 Twin Lake Stream 1.36 Unnamed Water 0.49 Unnamed Water 0.29 Unnamed Water 0.46

Warren Balm of Gilead 0.02 Hague Brook 0.19 Hudson River 0.75 Mill Creek 4.22 North Creek 1.64 Schroon River 0.38 West Brook 0.24

Total 123.56 Miles

Mileage is calculated based upon easements held on each bank.

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Cover Photo - Boreas Ponds in the High Peaks Wilderness

Photo Credit - Carl Heilman II / The Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy