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Home→Uncategorized→Adirondack Backcountry Conditions (10/30)

Adirondack Backcountry Conditions (10/30)

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Recent Notices

The following are only the most recent notices pertaining to public lands in the Adirondacks. Please check the Backcountry Information webpage for a full list of notices, including seasonal road statuses, specific trail conditions, and other pertinent information.

Weekend of Oct. 30

If you notice any damage or hazardous areas not listed below, please report to info.r5@dec.ny.gov.

High Peaks Wilderness

  • Attention- The Trap Dike on Mt. Colden is extremely hazardous right now due to thin layers of ice. It is no longer summer conditions nor has it frozen enough for winter climbing yet making it an extremely dangerous time of year to attempt it. We advise you not to.

Eastern

  • Lake George Wild Forest: Blowdown on the Thomas Ridge Spur Trail near the summit of Thomas Mountain has made the trail difficult to navigate. Caution is advised when hiking this trail

Weekend of Oct. 23

Southwestern

  • Independence River Wild Forest: Docks have been removed from Francis and Payne Lake.

Weekend of Oct. 16

Adirondack Canoe Route/Northern Forest Canoe Trail

  • The Hidden Cove Lean-to on the eastern shore of Long Lake, in the Adirondack Canoe Route Zone of the High Peaks Wilderness, will be worked on throughout the fall of 2026 starting the weekend of 10/17. Please do not disturb staged building materials. A notice will be posted if the lean-to is unavailable.

High Peaks Wilderness Complex

  • The Upper Works parking area is going to be getting a new vault toilet installed towards the end of October. Please respect areas marked with cones and flagging so that the crews and equipment can accomplish this task. 
  • The gate at Clear Pond is closed for the winter and will remain closed until after spring mud season. Hikers must park at the Upper Elk Lake Road parking lot on the west side of the Elk Lake Road approximately 2.3 miles south of the Elk Lake Trailhead. Please respect the parking rules to help ensure this access is maintained and there are no impacts to fire and rescue access.
  • From the evening of 10/24/26 until the morning of 12/7/26 – hikers may NOT enter the Elk Lake Conservation Easement. ALL hiking is closed during this time.

West Central

Blue Ridge Wilderness and Wakely Mountain Primitive Area

  • Waterway access to South Inlet and Raquette Lake from Rt. 28 has been restored.

Moose River Plains Complex

  • Indian River Road is closed at Otter Brook for a bridge replacement project. There will be no motor vehicle access to the Brooktrout Lake Trailhead and Falls Pond Outlet. Pedestrians may cross the stream to access points beyond the road closure. 
  • The Wakely Dam bridge will be closed to motor vehicle traffic from October 19 – October 23 for an engineering assessment. 
  • All access to Moose River Plains Camping Area must be gained from the Limekiln Lake/Inlet entrance until further notice. Due to an unforeseen bridge failure at Payne Brook, the gate at Cedar River Headquarters will remain closed. The road is currently closed between Wilson Ridge Trailhead and Cedar River Headquarters gate.  

Southwestern

Independence River Wild Forest (Stillwater Reservoir, Big Moose, and Three Lakes Conservation Easement Tracts)

  • The Stillwater Mountain Fire Tower Trail crosses private land – it is closed for the season and will reopen on December 21.

Weekend of Oct. 9

Town of Keene Hiker Shuttle: The Town of Keene Hiker Shuttle to the Garden parking lot will not be operating this holiday weekend, October 10 and 11, 2026. No driver is available. Please consider other destinations for your hike as the parking lot is small and will be full by 5am. If you decide to come to Keene Valley anyway, please be considerate: park only in legal spots, do not block driveways and intersections, obey No Parking signs, and be careful walking up and down the road to the parking lot. Thanks for your patience and understanding.  

Southern:

  • Wilcox Lake Wild Forest – Corinth Edinburg Conservation Easement: The Spruce Mountain Trail to the fire tower is closed to the public during regular big game season in the northern zone, which includes bear and deer seasons.

 

Weekend of Oct. 2

Northwestern

  • Grass River Wild Forest: As of Thursday, October 1, public access to the Grass River Conservation Easement is closed for the season. For more detail, refer to the map on the Grass River Complex webpage.
  • Raquette Boreal Complex: As of Wednesday, September 30, public access to the designated Public Use Area on the Five Mile Conservation Easement is closed for the season. For more details, refer to the map on the Raquette Boreal Complex webpage.

Northeastern

  • Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Tract: Liberty Road and Wolf Pond Mountain Road are closed to ALL public motorized and non-motorized access from September 27 through the close of the Northern Zone big game rifle season, December 6, 2026. These roads will reopen to public access on December 7, 2026.

Reminders

  • Moose River Plains Complex: The Otter Brook gate on Indian River Road will be closed starting October 1 to facilitate a bridge replacement project.
  • Eighth Lake Campground: This site will be closed for all public use, including day use, starting on October 12, 2026 due to a major infrastructure project throughout the entire campground. Eighth Lake will reopen on June 28, 2027.

Weekend of Sept. 25

Northwestern

  • Grass River Wild Forest: As of Monday, September 7, public non-motorized access on trails, roads, and overland on the Cranberry Forest Conservation Easement is closed for the season. As of Tuesday, September 15, the 24.6-mile section of the St. Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail that crosses the Tooley Pond, Grass River, and Long Pond Conservation Easements is closed for the season.

Southern

  • Ferris Lake Wild Forest: Trail to DeBraine Lake and Trout Lake are impacted by blowdown from storms over the summer. Caution is advised when hiking the trail.

Reminders

  • NPT, Blue Mountain Wild Forest: The Tirrell Pond lean-to will be closed starting September 25, 2026 to facilitate lean-to repairs. Repairs are expected to be completed by October 12, 2026. Please do not tamper with staged construction materials or lean-to pieces.

 

Weekend of Sept. 18

  • Fish Creek Pond Campground: Starting on Tuesday, 9/15, Fish Creek Pond Campground sites 190 – 330, roads, trails and campsites will be closed to all traffic, bicycle, and pedestrian use for rehab and paving of the bike path around the pond. This closure will last until November 1, 2026.
  • Eighth Lake Campground: This site will be closed for all public use, including day use, starting on October 12, 2026 due to a major infrastructure project throughout the entire campground. Eighth Lake will reopen on June 28, 2027.

West Central

  • NPT, Blue Mountain Wild Forest: The Tirrell Pond lean-to will be closed starting September 25, 2026 to facilitate lean-to repairs. Repairs are expected to be completed by October 12, 2026. Please do not tamper with staged construction materials or lean-to pieces.
  • Moose River Plains Complex: The Otter Brook gate on Indian River Road will be closed starting October 1 to facilitate a bridge replacement project.

East Central

  • Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tracts: Road construction and culvert replacement will take place on Old Military Road and Jessup River Road for the next several weeks. Roads will remain passable but occasional delays are expected.

Reminders

  • Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch: NYSDEC will be closing the Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch site starting 9/21 for up to 3 weeks for construction. During this time, the entire facility will not be accessible for any purposes to the public. Thank you for your patience during these necessary repairs.
  • Five Ponds Wilderness: Campsites 14 and 19 on Stillwater Reservoir are closed through October 2 for improvements.
  • Independence River Wild Forest: Campsites 35 and 41 on Stillwater Reservoir are closed through October 2 for improvements.

 

Weekend of Sept. 11

Western

  • Five Ponds Wilderness: Campsites 14 and 19 on Stillwater Reservoir are closed through October 2 for improvements.
  • Cranberry Lake Wild Forest: As of September 1, the Massawepie Conservation Easement is open to public use for the season.

Southwestern

  • Independence River Wild Forest: Campsites 35 and 41 on Stillwater Reservoir are closed through October 2 for improvements.
  • Five Ponds Wilderness: Red Horse Trail- Hikers will need to navigate around two bridges that have washed away between Witchopple and Clear Lakes, and beaver flooding between Salmon and Witchopple Lakes. A trail crew will be working on the trail 9/8 – 9/17, and may be camped at the lean-to or along the trail during this period.
  • Forked Lake Campground: Attention boaters, backwoods campers, and hunters – Forked Lake Road from North Point Road to the Forked Lake Campground will be closed to all traffic starting on 9/11 for a bridge replacement project. DEC will notify when it’s reopened. Be aware that access to the campground parking and boat launch will be shut off starting on 9/8.
  • Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch: NYSDEC will be closing the Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch site starting 9/21 for up to 3 weeks for construction. During this time, the entire facility will not be accessible for any purposes to the public. Thank you for your patience during these necessary repairs.

Weekend of Sept. 4

If you notice any damage or hazardous areas not listed below, please report to info.r5@dec.ny.gov.

Western

  • Five Ponds Wilderness: Red Horse Trail- Hikers will need to navigate around two bridges that have washed away between Witchopple and Clear Lakes, and beaver flooding between Salmon and Witchopple Lakes. A trail crew will be working on the trail 9/8 – 9/17, and may be camped at the lean-to or along the trail during this period.

East Central

  • Jessup River Wild Forest: Watch Hill Trail- Hikers travelling from the second overlook to Indian Lake need to stay on the current marked trail. Construction of a new segment of trail will resume in September and this section is taped off with caution tape.

Eastern

  • Lake George Wild Forest: Trail marker colors on Cat and Thomas Mountain are being updated to improve navigation in the area. Intersections provide directional signage that reflect the marker color changes. Please be mindful and prepared to adapt.

Southern

  • Wilcox Lake Wild Forest: Please be aware that wasp nests have been reported at the southern end of the Murphy Middle Bennett Trail between Creek Road and Bennett Lake.

Other

  • Forked Lake Campground: Attention boaters, backwoods campers, and hunters – Forked Lake Road from North Point Road to the Forked Lake Campground will be closed to all traffic starting on 9/11 for a bridge replacement project. DEC will notify when it’s reopened. Be aware that access to the campground parking and boat launch will be shut off starting on 9/8.
  • Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch: NYSDEC will be closing the Upper Chateaugay Boat Launch site starting 9/21 for up to 3 weeks for construction. During this time, the entire facility will not be accessible for any purposes to the public. Thank you for your patience during these necessary repairs.

Last Week 

  • High Peaks Wilderness Complex: The bridge on the Avalanche Pass Trail right at the Algonquin Trail Junction, north of Lake Colden, has been replaced. DEC High Peaks Trail Crew and DEC Ray Brook Trail Crew teamed up to replace this bridge. Thanks to DEC Forest Rangers, DEC Lands and Forests, DEC Operations, Mitchel Stone Products LLC and NYS Police Aviation for the planning and execution of this project. 
  • Lake George Wild Forest: DEC will be enforcing the No Parking Zones along River Road in the Hudson River Special Management Area located in the Towns of Lake Luzerne and Warrensburg.

 

-NYSDEC

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