Sand Lake public access (Southwest Adks)

[colden46]

I was wondering if anyone knows if the Sand Lake in the southwestern Adirondacks is completely on private land? This is the Sand Lake that's near Woodhull Lake. I know most, if not all, of the shoreline is owned by the Adirondack League Club. However, according to the ADK West Central region map, the APA's State Land map, and another map I have similar to the APA one, a small sliver on the south end of Sand is on public land. This obviously makes me think there's public access, but I was hoping to hear from someone who's been there to know if the maps are accurate.

Thanks!

[Wldrns]

I was wondering if anyone knows if the Sand Lake in the southwestern Adirondacks is completely on private land? This is the Sand Lake that's near Woodhull Lake. I know most, if not all, of the shoreline is owned by the Adirondack League Club. However, according to the ADK West Central region map, the APA's State Land map, and another map I have similar to the APA one, a small sliver on the south end of Sand is on public land. This obviously makes me think there's public access, but I was hoping to hear from someone who's been there to know if the maps are accurate.

Thanks!

I've been there, touched that tiny sliver of lake bordering state land and wondered the same question. The posted signs are right on the edge. You don't want to be caught messing with the ALC. A call to Ranger Chad Richardson would get you an answer.

[colden46]

I've been there, touched that tiny sliver of lake bordering state land and wondered the same question. The posted signs are right on the edge. You don't want to be caught messing with the ALC. A call to Ranger Chad Richardson would get you an answer.

Thanks Wldrns. Since I'm hoping to put a boat on the lake, I would obviously be a little more conspicuous than someone just standing on the shore, so I'd like to make absolutely sure it's a legal access. I'll give the ranger a call tomorrow. Since the only Richardson on the roster is a Charles, I assume Charles goes by Chad?

[Wldrns]

Since the only Richardson on the roster is a Charles, I assume Charles goes by Chad?

Yes, that's him. He goes by "Chad".

[colden46]

Yes, that's him. He goes by "Chad".

Great, thanks. I'll post what I find out.

[Bill I.]

I was there too, over 10 years ago. My impression was that the state land boundary fell short of the shoreline--even though Sand is a "Canal Lake". It would not be unusual for the maps to show the boundary line with a slight offset, placing it closer to the shoreline than it really is. I have a set of state land maps from ca. 1985 that quite clearly shows the state land boundary steering well clear of the shoreline.

If you DO decide to go, don't bring any matches or kerosene. The ALC has one of their outlying cabins not far from the dam. I wouldn't want to see your mugshot under the headline "ALLEGED ADIRONDACK ARSONIST CAPTURED!"

[colden46]

Haven't gotten a hold of anyone yet. When I find something out, I'll post it.

[AntlerPerak]

According to the ADK Mt Club Guide to the West Central Adirondacks, (older edition 1987) the southern end of Sand Lake is on State Land. There is a trail leading into a small unnamed lake a quarter mile or less south of Sand Lake Proper. There was (is?) a lean-to there named Sand Lake Falls lean-to. We camped there once and bushwhacked to Sand Lake, no posted signs seen. The map that accompanied the guide is marked with boundary lines and clearly shows the southern end of Sand Lake on state land.

[Bill I.]

According to the ADK Mt Club Guide to the West Central Adirondacks, (older edition 1987) the southern end of Sand Lake is on State Land. There is a trail leading into a small unnamed lake a quarter mile or less south of Sand Lake Proper. There was (is?) a lean-to there named Sand Lake Falls lean-to. We camped there once and bushwhacked to Sand Lake, no posted signs seen. The map that accompanied the guide is marked with boundary lines and clearly shows the southern end of Sand Lake on state land.

The Sand Lake Falls Lean-to is squarely on state land and is accessed by a well-known snowmobile trail, but the falls are quite removed from the lake.

The question posed by Colden46 is whether the maps showing the boundary line touching the shoreline of Sand Lake are correct. Yes, quite a few published maps (including the "master" map published by the Adirondack Park Agency) show the south end of Sand Lake touching state land, but this is most likely an error with whatever database these maps are being drawn from. I have two other somewhat more detailed maps (including the map included with the Black River Wild Forest UMP) that show the state land boundary making a jog around the shoreline, with no public access. These maps jive with my field experience in this region.

I visited Sand Lake almost eleven years ago, by bushwhacking from the falls to the lake. The Adirondack League Club had a cabin on the shoreline of the lake--a really nice spot--and a clear trail led past a man-made dam and back into state land. Although I had not noticed a clear boundary line between the falls and the lake, the point where the trail crossed was clearly posted.

[Bill I.]

Ooh, and I just remembered I visited the ALC as an invited guest once, too, and while there I purchased a map of their property from the gift shop. According to this, the ALC purchased the block of land on the south shore of Sand Lake in 1968.

HOWEVER, according to this map, an extremely small corner of the shoreline does fall on state land, perhaps big enough to only include the dam. This seems to match the map in the Black River UMP.

If this were true, then you could legally approach the lake, at least. The ALC controls the other 99.9% of the shoreline and all the islands. And, suffice it to say, they are not keen on having "guests" on their property, even less so now perhaps after their arson problems a few years ago. They may claim actual ownership of the lake itself, the way the Hewitt Pond Club claims ownership of their half of that pond.