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FALL FOLIAGE PADDLING DESTINATIONS 2024

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  In most years, you can find peak fall foliage in the higher elevations of the Adirondack Park around the end of September and in early October.  By Indigenous Peoples'/Columbus Day weekend, the bright red and orange leaves of the red and sugar maple trees will likely have dropped to the ground, but the yellows of the birches and the golds of the beeches may still be evident. Thanks to climate change, in recent years the best colors have been persisting through to the holiday which falls on October 14 this year - perhaps a little bit late for peak in higher elevations in the Adirondacks? After that date, the colors should pop in the lowlands and the Hudson River Valley. Although there are a multitude of great paddling spots in the northern and western parts of the Adirondacks, for this article I will limit the choices to the areas south and east of Indian Lake, and add some choices outside the Adirondack Park that are easily accessible from the greater Capital District. 14-mi...
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SIAMESE PONDS cross country skiing.

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  Mar 2, 2008 - SIAMESE PONDS cross country skiing from Rt.8.  15" powder on deep base, 3'+ total.  200' climb & 400' drop in 1st 1.5 miles (intermediate in good snow), nice views of cliffs on 11th Mtn.  Another 2.5 miles (novice) along the E Branch Sacandaga River to leanto & bridge.  Climb over 400' in 2+ miles to the remote ponds, this is a very enjoyable run out (intermediate).  Trail packed until a little past the leanto then we broke trail for over 2 miles, much slower going.  13 miles, 7 hrs.  Fischer Rebound skis with 3-pin bindings. Visit us on Facebook Welcome to the Adirondacks NYSDEC Info
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NORTH BRANCH MOOSE RIVER paddling

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  August 8, 2024 - NORTH BRANCH MOOSE RIVER paddling, from Carter Rd downstream to Green Bridge Rd in Old Forge. Set up a shuttle - a 9.5-mile drive between start & finish. Carter Rd put-in is on river R upstream of the bridge. Meandering stream with wild shores for ~10 miles. Sometimes steeper wooded shores (black spruce), sometimes shrubby (alders), sometimes grassy with Joe Pye Weed flowering. White meadowsweet was also flowering. Lots of sandy banks for breaks along the way. Went under the North St bridge at 5.7 miles (the trip could be shortened by taking out or putting in here but you would be missing some of the best parts). We took one shortcut. To me, the river looked like a cross between the Cedar River above the CRFlow & the rivers of the NJ Pine Barrens. Note that shores are private land - state land (Fulton Chain Wild Forest) is on river L further downstream. Signs warn of the upcoming carry around rapids. The 0.2-mile carry is on the L - barely wheelable, so i...
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FERD'S BOG & BLACK BEAR MOUNTAIN hike

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  August 7, 2024 - BLACK BEAR MOUNTAIN hike. Northern part of Moose River Plains Wild Forest. After visiting Ferd's Bog, we drove 0.5 miles further on Uncas Rd - the parking area & trailhead were hidden on the S side of the road. Started out going 0.9 miles on an old woods road then turned R (too many trails in the area are marked with yellow discs, which can be confusing). Climbed moderately to a junction (I could not spot the xc ski trail). Straight & things got steeper with some rock slabs among spruces. The first view on the L. Continued to the 2454' summit where views are mostly to the S & E (Seventh Lake, Blue Ridge). In my opinion, the best view was a bit off-trail from open rock below the summit looking NE & E to Blue Mtn, the Eckford Chain of Lakes, & the High Peaks in the distance. Back the same way. 4.6 miles, 755' gross el gain, 3.4 hours. Aug 7, 2024 - Short hike to FERD'S BOG, from Uncas Rd (dirt) 3.5 miles W of Brown Tract Pond campgro...
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PARTRIDGE RUN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA xc skiing & hiking

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  From NYSDEC: You’re headed for an adventure when you visit the Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area (WMA)!  Located on the Helderberg Escarpment in Berne, roughly 11 miles west of Albany, it comprises about 4,500 acres of hardwood forests, ponds, and wetlands, and is open year-round. Parking areas offer access to the substantial trail network, and there are also several hundred acres of fields maintained throughout the WMA. Some trails are part of the Long Path, a 358-mile trail between Altamont (outside Albany) and the 175th Street Subway Station in New York City that connects many parks, preserves, and forests. One shorter, local trail runs from the parking area at Partridge Run Road and County Route 6, around White Birch Lake to Fawn Lake, and varies in elevation from about 1,600–1,900 feet. DEC recently completed construction of a half-mile-long accessible interpretive trail at the site through its Young Forest Initiative, a program that improves forested landscapes in...
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LAKE ABANAKEE & ROUND POND BROOK paddling

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  August 4, 2024 - LAKE ABANAKEE paddling.  Put in at the E end of the causeway on Big Brook Rd. Headed under the Jerry Savarie Rd bridge & into the S lobe - saw 4 loons (2 growing chicks). Blowdown blocked the way to Round Pond Brook. Got up Big Brook a fair distance, up to a fork & 2 bridges. More loons N of the causeway. Ospreys (1 on nest). Joe Pye weed, cardinal flowers, goldenrod, lily pads. Mostly evergreen shores. Quite a few houses/camps. Motors allowed but mostly quiet. 4 miles, 2.1 hours. May 12, 2009 - LAKE ABANAKEE & ROUND POND BROOK.  Put-in E of causeway on Big Brook Rd.  Headed SW past camps & private shores & 2 loons to where Indian River rapids enter; took a short walk upstream to a pool.  Back on Abanakee & under Jerry Savarie Rd bridge into SE lobe.  Up Round Pond Brook, undeveloped & very nice, best part of this trip.  Portaged around a log jam (went over it on way back) & stopped at a small rapid wi...
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MINERVA STREAM paddling

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  July 26, 2024 - MINERVA STREAM paddle, from the gazebo on CR 30 in Olmstedville. Elevation 1140'. Good water level. Mostly wild shores but hints of civilization here and there - mostly quiet & peaceful, pretty. Beaver dams about every half mile - had to get out & pull over for most going upstream but able to run or scooch over all but the one biggest on the way back downstream. Tempting backwaters along the way. Flowering: Joe Pye weed, cardinal flower, steeplebush, buttonbush, goldenrod, yellow pond lily, fragrant white lily, smartweed, purple loosestrife. Mostly grassy shores, when trees came close they were often cedars & white pines. Peaks in view: Moxham, Gore, Green, Snyder, Oliver, Hayes. Paddled under 2 road bridges: CR 30 (you can launch there too) & O'Neill Rd (you can put in at the transfer station). Saw 2 solo paddlers. No bad bugs. Temp rising thru the 70s, mostly sunny, breezy. 9.4 miles, 5.3 hours.     Moxham Point & Gore Mtn in t...
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