Current Conditions

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK - 4/23/2026

• Saranac Lakes Wild Forest: The Saint Germain Pond and Little Clear/Little Green roads are open.

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK - 4/30/2026

• The Lake Placid Boat Launch site will be closed May 5-7 for routine spring cleanup.

Northern

• Saranac Lakes Wild Forest: The Connery Pond Road is now open.

Western

• Watson's East Triangle Wild Forest:
  • Seasonal access road mud gates have been opened on the Croghan Tract and Oswegatchie Conservation Easements.
  • The Bear Pond Road mud gate remains closed – it will reopen in the spring when conditions allow.

East Central

• Jessup River Wild Forest and Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tracts:
  • The town of Lake Pleasant has opened Perkins Clearing Road. Old Military Road is open up to the Pillsbury Mountain/West Canada Trailhead.
  • A new gate has been installed preventing traffic going past the turn for the Pillsbury Trailhead access.

Eastern

• Lake George Wild Forest: The bridge at the outlet of Shelving Rock Brook in the Day Use Area, near Shelving Rock Bay is out and will be under construction throughout the month of June. Parking lot #1 provides access to Shelving Rock Falls. Parking lots #5 and #7 provides access to the shoreline and shoreline trail. Please utilize these routes to avoid the bridge area.

Southwestern

• Black River Wild Forest: The gates on Loop Road (North Lake), Mill Creek Road, and Wolf Lake Landing Road are now open for the season.
• Independence River Wild Forest:
  • All mud gates to seasonal access roads have been opened except McCarthy Road. McCarthy Road will reopen in the spring when conditions allow.
  • The Big Otter Lake Road has washed out and is closed ¼ mile in. Beyond Tommy Roaring Brook, the road is impacted by beaver activity and requires crossing on dam for access around flooded sections of trail. Users should exercise caution when crossing dam and wading through water may be necessary.

Southern

• Lake Desolation Conservation Easement: The road to Archer Vly is open. Camping is available only at the four designated locations.
• Dennie Road Conservation Easement: Dennie Road winter-use trails are closed for the season.
• Silver Lake Wilderness: West River Road, which provides access to the Whitehouse Trailhead of the Northville Placid Trail, is open for the season.

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK - 5/7/2026

• The Lake Placid Boat Launch site will be closed for repairs starting on May 13 and will reopen on May 16.
• Starting Wednesday, 5/6, the Station Street Lake Placid parking area will be closed for construction. Funded by the Open Space Institute in partnership with the village of Lake Placid, the new trailhead will have bathrooms, picnic areas, signs, and more. In the meantime, please park at the Snowfield lot on Old Military Road, east of the Lake Placid Fire Station (448 Old Military).

Northwestern

• Grass River Wild Forest: Damage to a section of the Buckhorn Road just west of the stream crossing at Dead Creek on the Cranberry Forest Conservation Easement has left the route impassable to public motorized access. The hazardous conditions necessitate the temporary closure to the section of the Buckhorn Road from the parking area and kiosk where it intersects with the Hay Road west to where the road turns north towards the Grass River Conservation Easement after crossing over Dead Creek. A map of the Cranberry Forest Conservation Easement can be found on the Grass River Complex webpage.
• Raquette Boreal Complex: As of Friday, May 1, public access to the designated Public Use Area on the Five Mile Conservation Easement is open for the season. Public access is only allowed within the Public Use Area. For more details, refer to the map on the Raquette Boreal Complex webpage.

Northern

• Santa Clara Conservation Easement Tract: The seasonal public access roads on this easement are open. Due to areas of erosion, it is recommended that only high clearance vehicles be used on Madawaska Pond Road.

Western

• Bog River Complex:
  • The Lower Dam Road is now open to passenger motor vehicle use. Otterbrook Road remains closed, but will be opened early next week.
  • Campsite 2 along State Route 421 in Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest will be closed starting Friday, May 8, 2026 to provide space for a gravel stockpile. Campsite 8 along Otterbrook Road in Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest will be closed starting Monday, June 1, 2026 for accessible improvements to the site.

Eastern

• Lake George Wild Forest: The bridge at the outlet of Shelving Rock Brook in the Day Use Area, near Shelving Rock Bay, is out and will be under construction throughout the month of June. Parking lot #1 provides access to Shelving Rock Falls. Parking lots #6-#9 provide access to the shoreline and shoreline trail. Please utilize these routes to avoid the bridge area. Parking lot #5 will be closed periodically during construction.
• Pharaoh Lake Wilderness: The bridge over Mill Brook on the Pharaoh Lake Trail coming from the South Pharaoh Parking Lot is being replaced. Hauling of poles, lumber and materials is beginning this week (5/7/2026) and construction will be completed by Memorial Day Weekend. The public will not have access to a bridge crossing here from May 11- May 22.

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK - 5/17/2026

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

• The Lake Placid Boat Launch site will be closed for repairs starting on May 18 and will reopen on May 22. Note that these dates are later than originally posted.
• Adirondack Rail Trail: The Station Street Lake Placid parking area is now closed for construction for the coming months. Trail users, please park at the Snowfield lot on Old Military Road, east of the Lake Placid Fire Station (448 Old Military). Funded by the Open Space Institute in partnership with the village of Lake Placid, the new trailhead will have bathrooms, picnic areas, signs, and more. Note – this is not a DEC parking area or property.
• Many seasonal access roads remain closed due to spring thaw and muddy conditions. Continue to check this weekly bulletin and the Adirondack Backcountry webpage for the specific areas you are planning to visit. If a road is still listed as closed, please choose an alternative location.
• DEC trail crews are gearing up for another season of backcountry improvements in the High Peaks, repairing bridges, trails, lean-tos, and more. You may find stashes of lumber and other building materials at “drop zone.” Please leave all materials undisturbed and be considerate of trail crews.
• Northville-Placid Trail: Parking at the Lake Durant / Tirrell Pond trailhead on NY Routes 30 and 28 will be limited due to a Department of Transportation bridge construction project.

Southwestern

• Independence River Wild Forest (Stillwater Reservoir, Big Moose, and Three Lakes Conservation Easement Tracts): McCarthy Road and all other mud gates to seasonal access roads have been opened.

Western

• Watson's East Triangle Wild Forest (Croghan Tract and Oswegatchie Conservation Easements): All mud gates to seasonal access roads have been opened.
• Bog River Complex (Lows Lake, Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest, and Big Tupper/Piercefield Flow Conservation Easement Tracts): Public access roads are open in this unit.

West Central

• Township 19 Conservation Easement: O’Neil Flow Road including the Barker Pond access is closed to vehicle traffic. Avoid the sides of the road as they remain soft. High clearance vehicles are recommended to access Barker Pond.

• Township 20 Conservation Easement: Minerva Club Road is closed for the winter season. Pickwickett Pond Road is closed but the public may carry into the Fishing Brook canoe launch.

East Central

• Camp Santanoni Historic Area: Newcomb Lake Road conditions may be variable, please use caution.
• Jessup River Wild Forest: Old Military Road and Jessup River Road are now open. Avoid road shoulders as they remain soft.
• Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tracts: All public motor vehicle roads are open except Mud Lake Road. Avoid road shoulders as they remain soft.

Northwestern

• Grass River Wild Forest: As of Friday, May 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 open for the season.

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK - 5/23/2026

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

• Lake Placid Boat Launch: Launch will be closed to the public Tuesday May 26 through Thursday May 28 for boat ramp repairs. Boaters, please use caution when the launch is open as there will be construction materials and crews on-site.

Eastern

• Pharaoh Lake Wilderness: The bridge over Mill Brook on the Pharaoh Lake Trail has been replaced. The boardwalk beyond the bridge is still out. People should expect wet conditions, and up to knee deep water until it can be replaced.
• Lake George Wild Forest: Jabe Pond and Lily Pond Roads are now open for the season.

Western

• William C. Whitney Wilderness & Round Lake Wilderness: Lake Lila Road is open.

Southern

• Ferris Lake Wild Forest: Powley Road, which provides access to Ferris Lake Wild Forest, is opened for the season, however there are still soft spots and areas of wash out. Please use caution.

High Peaks

• Boreas Ponds Tract
  • Gulf Brook Road is now open for the season.
  • The motorized access route for people with disabilities providing access to Boreas Ponds is now open. Please call for current year's code.

East Central

• Essex Chain Lakes Complex

• • Chain Lakes Road South in Indian Lake is now open to the former Outer Gooley Club Parking Lot.
  • Deer Pond Road in Newcomb is now open to the Deer Pond Parking Lot.
  • The motorized access route for people with disabilities providing access to Fifth Lake is now open. Please call for current year's code.
• Siamese Ponds Wilderness: The Chimney Mountain Eagle Cave gate will be open from May 16 to Sept 14. If you are planning a trip near these dates, please call or email ahead to confirm that the gate is open - (518) 623-1240 or R5.WarrensburgWildlife@dec.ny.gov. There are no public trails to this cave. This is now a bushwhack. Please plan accordingly and respect private property. At all other times of the year the gate will be closed to protect the bat population.

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK 5/28/2026

Eastern

• Lake George Wild Forest: Gay Pond Road is open for the season.
• Pharaoh Lake Wilderness: The Oxshoe Pond Lean-to is now repaired and open for use.

[Dave Bourque]

NEW THIS WEEK - 6/4/2026

East Central

• Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest
  • Moose Pond Club Road is open, allowing public access to several primitive campsites, and the parking lot at the trailhead for the Vanderwhacker Mountain Fire Tower Trail.
  • The Roosevelt Truck Trail Motorized Access Route for People with Disabilities has been cleared and is open for the year. Please call for current year’s code.
• Jessup River Wild Forest: The Crotched Pond tract interior parking area is open.
• Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Tracts: All public motor vehicle roads are open

Western

• Aldrich Pond Wild Forest (includes Aldrich and Sucker Lake Conservation Easement Tracts): There is a culvert washed out on Tyler Road approximately 1.3 miles beyond the St. Lawrence County boundary. The road will remain closed at this point until repairs are made.