ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST xc skiing

Dec 2024 - The state forest is undergoing a radical change. Last year they began logging, actually clear cutting, the western end of the forest and leaving all the slash.  According to the posting at the Kiosk, they are in the process of removing the Red Pine forest which was planted in the 30's. The long-term plan is for a regrowth of a hardwood forest. This year they have begun clearing the eastern section. They claim that they are going to keep the trails/roads open but the idea of skiing through clearcut and slash isn't very appealing.

Feb 2022 - OSI acquires land to the SE of Rockwood SF - info.

Jan 12, 2022 - 3" base topped with 2" powder.

Jan 24, 2016  Info & Map

Jan 1, 2016

Jan 7, 2015 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST, halfway between Johnstown & Caroga Lake. Designated xc ski trails on wide woods roads with a variety of terrain. Very good skiing with 2" fresh powder on hard base, maybe 5-6" total. I generally ski the trails S of Rt.29. Care needed on steeper hills, still some debris (I removed some of it). Temp dropping thru the teens, 11F when I finished. Excellent map in ECOS Ski & Snowshoe Tips. 2.3 hours.

Jan 19, 2014 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST.  Did a sort of a loop counterclockwise.  Area has seen moderate use by skiers, snowshoers, bare-booters + someone had driven a truck in part way in!  6"-8" hard icy base with 0.5"-1" fresh powder - fair to good skiing, best in untracked snow to side of wide trails  - would be real nice with 3" more powder.  2+ hours

Dec 29, 2013 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST from S of Rt.29, just S of the Adirondack Blue Line, WNW of Johnstown.  1-4", more in open areas & under hardwoods - good skiing on wide rock-free trails.  Temp in upper 20s to mid 30s, started to rain as we were finishing.  Some fun hills for the better skier.  3.7 hours. 

Feb 27, 2013 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST.  Borders the Adirondack Blue Line.  4" wet powder on about a foot of base - good skiing. Raining on my drive up & back - precip-free for 1st hour, drizzle 2nd hour. ESE on Chimney Loop Trail to "Camp Hill" where there is a rock fireplace, the only remains of a camp. W down Camp Road Trail (steep), L on South Loop Road, D East Rd, L on Camp Road Trail, camp hill, down Camp Road (tree across trail near bottom), R to D-Spur Road, C-Connector Road, C-4 Loop Road, Spring Road (beautiful red pine woods), Camp Road Trail back to camp hill, down Chimney Loop Trail (steep) back to parking lot. Temp in 30s - gonna be crunchy when temp drop below freezing. 2 hours.

Jan 15, 2012 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST.  Just outside the southern border of the Adirondacks, Rt.29 NW of Johnstown.  Good coverage; 2-3" powder over somewhat crunchy base - good skiing.  Did a long counterclockwise loop which included a side-trip to Caroga Creek & then from the big white pine heading S on D South Rd (several good downhills) out of the forest then E & N re-entering the forest at South Loop & D East Rds.  Wide relatively smooth trails, intermediate.  8.1 miles, 3.5 hours. 

Mar 3, 2010 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST from Rt.29 W of Johnstown.  There are about 10 miles of wide trails suitable for skiing here & the adjacent Canajoharie Waterworks land.  Lots of fun hills.  Western loops had just been "groomed" ~6' wide by running a snowmobile thru a few times - very good skiing (I usually don't like when they do this) - recreational snowmobiling is not allowed in the SF.  Some of the rest was tracked but we had to break trail thru fairly heavy wet snow on the SE loop just N of Old State Rd & on a spur trail down to Caroga Creek which is open & running.  There are trails here that are not shown on any maps. Intermediate.  8.7 miles, 3.7 hours. 

Jan 21, 2009 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST.  A few miles NW of Johnstown.  Over 5 miles of designated ski trails (generally wide & smooth) + more on spurs, etc.  Most trails broken out - excellent skiing; off-trail there is 2.5' incl. an icy crust topped with 8-10" powder (somewhat hard to herringbone).  Some exciting hills especially from top of hill (an old chimney can be found here) SE of parking lot.  Broke trail on side-trip to Caroga Creek.  3+ hours.

Dec 28, 2007 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST.  Foot of base with some give + 2"-3" fresh wet snow - good skiing, downhills fast, great grip uphill.  1.5 hrs.

Dec 5, 2007 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST, 10 mins. from Johnstown.  Parking area on Rt.29 not plowed.  Very good skiing on 2" of powder on icy base.  Trails are wide & smooth.  Nice stands of red pine reforestation.  Several loops; hills are easy to intermediate+.  Believe I was the first skier of the season here; JP, who I often run into here, followed in my tracks.  1.5 hours.

Mar 8, 2006 - ROCKWOOD SF. 4"-6" powder on good base; main trails well-packed by other skiers, snowshoers & walkers; couple of bare spots; temp in teens - some iciness in areas exposed to a lot of sun. No-one had skied spur to SW leading down to Caroga Creek - pleasant skiing untracked snow thru hemlock grove. 2.1 hours.

Mar 1- ROCKWOOD SF. 10" powder over good base; 1" new in ski tracks. Wide, smooth trails; varied hills & flat sections. A skiing experience questionnaire can be found at register - I am asking for no grooming (sometimes they run over the trails with a snowmobile & call it grooming). Area offers a skiing experience somewhere inbetween touring centers & wilderness. 4+ miles, 1.9 hours. DEC State Lands - enter Fulton County. Fischer Snowbound skis.

Feb 15, 2006 - ROCKWOOD SF, a few miles WNW of Johnstown. Large parking area on S side of Rt.29. 2"-3" powder on good base; temp ~32F, sunny. Forest has 5 miles of designated xc ski trails + more unmarked trails most of which are fairly wide & smooth, hills can be novice thru intermediate+. Much of it is thru red pine plantations. 1.7 hours. Fischer Snowbound skis.

Dec 19, 2005 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST ski. Dusting of new powder in yesterday's tracks. Explored some connector trails & a little off-trail, too. 40 miles & under 1 hour drive from APnP. 2.7 hours. Fischer Snowbound skis. Saw 2 mature bald eagles flying near the Mohawk River on the drive back home.

Dec 18, 2005 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST ski, a few miles WNW of Johnstown. 15" heavy powder (no ice) - very good skiing in a reforestation area of mostly tall red & white pine. 5 miles of designated ski trails (which does not prevent some illegal snowmobile use) & other unmarked trails & spurs. Most trails tracked by other skiers already. Took spur trail down to Caroga Creek which was running pretty good. Many nice hilly intermediate runs. Maps in Ski Tips & Discover the Southern Adirondacks do not show all trails - just go explore, if you get "lost" just head N because you are never more than a mile form Rt.29A. 2.5 hours. Fischer Rebound skis.

Feb 23 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST ski. Borders the Adirondacks between Johnstown & Caroga - less than an hour's drive from APnP. Large parking area on S side of Rt.29 E of Rockwood. 4"-6" powder over excellent base - temp in 20s. Fair amount of wide smooth novice trail but there are nice intermediate hills to the W & NE (SE of parking) of the forest. Spur trails can add mileage. Some trails showed evidence of snowmobile (illegal) & skier use but also found some virgin powder. Ended up on the hill SE of parking area. Near the top is an old fireplace & 4-way junction. I came up gentle route from the E. Trail to S is a straight easy intermediate downhill. Trails to N & W (virgin powder on the latter) are advanced intermediate but seemed easier due to the excellent conditions - both trails have a couple of steeper drops & some turns - such a blast I had to do both trails twice! 6 miles, 2.6 hrs. Fischer Rebound skis.

Dec 24, 2002 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST xc skiing. Less than an hour's drive from APnP in BSC (beautiful suburban Colonie). 4 inches of fresh powder on a solid base makes for very good skiing. Explored some of the unmarked trails (some dead-ended) - I just can't resist the unknown - challenging hills in most directions. Fischer Rebounds skis. Looks like we're going to have a white Xmas & then some.

Dec 22, 2002 - ROCKWOOD STATE FOREST xc ski. On the southern edge of the Adirondacks not far from Johnstown. Parking area on S side of Rt.29 a bit W of junction with Rt.10A. Foot of hard-pack base with a couple of inches of powder. Some nice hills to challenge the intermediate on wide trails - decent, but skiing will improve greatly with a few inches of powder. Over 5 miles of trails in attractive forest. Ref: Discover the Southern Adirondacks does not show a couple of the trails near the entrance. Karhu Vela skis.

Feb. 17, 2000 - Rockwood State Forest - 7 miles NW of Johnstown on Rt.29. Temp. 0F at 7am. Rockwood has marked cross country trails & receives some grooming; gets a fair amount of use on weekends by people from Johnstown, Gloversville, Amsterdam area + school xc ski teams - weekdays are quieter. Plenty of nice hills that may be a challenge for novices but pure joy for intermediates; at least 5 miles of trails thru pine reforestation area. The area got some ice Monday but had about 2" of fresh powder on top which made the skiing excellent. Good snow base everywhere in the Adks., I'm actually hoping we don't get too much snow Friday.

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