Wilson Ridge Trail - MRP - Question

[Bark Eater Too]

Has anyone done the Wilson Ridge Trail from the Moose River Plains Road to Little Moose Lake? What sort of condition is it in? Is there signage where it leaves the MRP Road, or is it one of those "at the back of a campsite" kind of starts? Thanks much for any information.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/mapmooseriversouth.pdf

[IndLk_Brett]

I've hiked it for the first mile or so before leaving it to go off-trail. There's a big gate where it meets the road on the left (if coming from Ced Rv Fl). I don't recall any signage, but it's pretty easy to spot if you keep an eye out when you're around the right place. There is no campsite, just the gate.

The trail is wide and well cleared, more a woods road than a trail - at least the part I've been on.

[Bark Eater Too]

Thanks Brett!

[IndLk_Brett]

Thanks Brett!

You're welcome

[Pauly D.]

I was just looking exploring Little Moose last week Bark Eater. There's supposed to be a cut through trail off the NPT that's not shown on the DEC map. It's on my Nat Geo map though. If you go please report. I'll do the same. I'm thinking of going the week of June 17. See the link below for access from the NPT.

https://www.cnyhiking.com/MooseRiverPlainsWildForest.htm

[Bark Eater Too]

Thanks Pauly. I haven't been on the NPT to Cedar Lakes in a while but do vaguely remember that cutover trail that you mention.

I will report back. I plan to be up again July 20 and will explore this one then.

[DuctTape]

The cutover trail is quite easy to follow.

[Pauly D.]

Quick update Bark Eater. I contacted DEC and there are no primitive campsites on Little Moose Lake. We need to use the 150' rule.

The remnants of an old building are visible via satellite. Not sure if this is one of the old great camps from days past? It would be a neat place to explore for sure.

[DSettahr]

The Wilson Ridge Trail was the road access to a private inholding on Little Moose Lake that reverted to state ownership about 10 years ago. It was one of things where the state bought the land decades ago but there was a "100 year lease" (not sure it was 100 years in this case but it was something like that) for a private camp on the land. That's why the road is in relatively good shape (compared to many of the other roads that branch off the MRP road), as it was being maintained for vehicle access relatively recently.

I hiked the loop from the south while camped at Cedar Lakes about 10 years ago- Cedar Lakes north to Lost Pond, then northeast to Little Moose Lake via the Otter Brook Truck Trail, then cross over to the NPT and hiking south back to the Cedar Lakes. As I recall, the Lost Pond Trail was tricky to follow in spots, but the rest of the loop was either on old roads or the NPT and generally was easy to follow (although I had to guess at a couple of unmarked junctions along the way). I do remember one bad spot of flooding (courtesy of beaver activity) near the outlet of Little Moose Lake- but in the 10 years since, that could've changed for better or for worse.

[Pauly D.]

Thanks for the info D. I think I'm going to camp at one of the MRP road sites and do a day hike before lugging a bunch of fishing/camping gear with me.

[Bark Eater Too]

Thanks guys for the history and information. Yes, I remember when Little Moose Lake was private, but couldn't remember how long ago the ownership had changed to the state. It will be fun to explore next month.

[Lucky13]

http://www.adirondacklakessurvey.org...0&pname=LITTLE MOOSE LAKE.

All what I have heard or seen on maps (link), but I'm told there is a very limited " hole" in Little Moose, in a large bay on the NE side of the lake, and potentially reached casting from shore. Lots of ~ 3 foot deep water, which stops being productive as soon as the pond starts to warm.

[IndLk_Brett]

Just an update for you Bark Eater as I recently explored the area around Little Moose.

First I was hiking in the WCLW and tried the route from the south on the Lost Pond trail that leaves the NPT at Cedar Lakes. Although it's pretty obvious that this trail doesn't receive a whole lot of use relative to the others in the area I had no problem following it. It's in pretty decent shape.

However, once I got to the point where it crosses over the outlet of Lost Pond I ran into a rather large beaver meadow with the trail heading straight through the center of it. Going straight would have ment wading through one or two deep channels of water and the way around (skirting the meadow) looked thick and difficult. It was late in the day and pouring at the time so I decided to turn around and backtrack.

A couple of days later I took the trail from the road in Moose River Plains. The old road is still in great shape for hiking and very easy to follow. The lake was nice and the building is still there, but it's definitely getting kind of dilapidated.

Much of the shoreline is thick with growth and it's hard to get a decent view of the lake many places. The best viewpoint I could locate was right near the old building which is situated on a point on the far northeastern end of the lake.

[rickhart]

Can someone help my confusion? I don't know the Moose River Plains area, but I thought Little Moose Lake was still part of the Adirondack League Club property. Are there two Little Moose Lakes, both in that general part of the ADKs? Or has the club sold off part of the lake shore (not what I would have expected)?

[IndLk_Brett]

As DSettahr mentioned a little bit above the state acquired the land but the club was allowed to remain until their lease ended. That time has passed and it's now all state owned, publicly accessible land.

There is another Little Moose Lake, but it's located in Herkimer county.