Longest without a road

[jpm8920]

My brother and I are planning on hunting this year in the Adirondacks, and we recently got in a debate about how long could you walk in some places in the 'dacks without hitting a road. So I thought I would ask you guys. What is the farthest line you could walk without hitting a road. BI'm not including loaging roads? Hopefully you guys can settle this.

[Mavs00]

There are probably some places in the Five Ponds Wilderness areas that may be the most remote, but as far the High Peaks area is concerned, I'd have to say smack dab in the middle of the Cold River Valley.

No matter, in most of these places it takes about 20 feet off a road or trail and you might as well be in the middle of nowhere.

[redhawk]

My brother and I are planning on hunting this year in the Adirondacks, and we recently got in a debate about how long could you walk in some places in the 'dacks without hitting a road. So I thought I would ask you guys. What is the farthest line you could walk without hitting a road. BI'm not including loaging roads? Hopefully you guys can settle this.

Guy's from Jersey walk hundreds of miles without hitting a road. Of course they are walking in circles.

[Jeff]

I suppose for all intents you could be a bout 15 miles from the closest road in some directions. I would have to say by looking at a map of the Adirondacks, overall The Five Ponds or West Canada Lake are going to be your most secluded and remote. The High peaks Wilderness area is remote, but as many people as there are, the trails may as well be roads.

If I am mistaken about this, please correct me so as that I may be properly schooled.

[fvrwld]

I would say parts of the West Canada Lakes WA. Even more so in the winter when most of the dirt roads that border it become snowmobile trails.

[sacco]

i dunno, but i've read (mc martins 50 hikes i think) that it's the silver lake wilderness.

i think that may be including logging roads - maybe even trails?

[bridgeman]

West Canada Wilderness Area. If you walked from Hoffmeister to Blue Mountain Lake.

[sacco]

West Canada Wilderness Area. If you walked from Hoffmeister to Blue Mountain Lake.

that depends on how jpm defines logging roads.

i took it that he meant only private, unpaved, rarely used roads.

that would exclude much of the west canada wilderness, which has a decent sized network of public roads, many are in good condition and can be used by little 2 wheel drive cars.

[redhawk]

that depends on how jpm defines logging roads.

i took it that he meant only private, unpaved, rarely used roads.

that would exclude much of the west canada wilderness, which has a decent sized network of public roads, many are in good condition and can be used by little 2 wheel drive cars.

I would count the roads bisecting the West Canada lakes Wilderness form West to East the same as 30 or 28 or 3.

I just did a little checking and I come up with 18.3 (as the crow flies) for both the Silver Lake and West Canada Wilderness Sections.

[Adkleaddog]

I hunt the lower portion of the WCL wilderness.....(25 sq miles, not all at one time though!) )one can walk a looooong way before hitting a road. I know this area very well, been in it for over 15 years in the summer, fall & winter..(backcountry "off the trail" snowshoeing).

You'll hit the Moose River system on a S to N "walk", but you'll cross several trails that follow the Canada Creeks....as well as the trails around the WCL themselves, the NP trail etc.... The areas has very old overgrown logging roads everywhere.

We have a saying before we leave camp, especially to a guest that's never been with us before..."Bring a dollar so when you wind up in Old Forge, if you make it, you can buy a cup of coffee!" A quick measurment on Terrain Navigator says it's about 16 miles to the WCL's....(from where we are), 21 to the first road in the Moose River, and about 35+ to Inlet...assuming you're not "walking as the crow flies "....straight line distance is about 25 or so.....hope this helps!

[ken999]

"35+ to Inlet"... How about 25+?

I don't think it's possible to walk 35 miles in a straight line from Inlet and not hit a road.

[Adkleaddog]

"35+ to Inlet"... How about 25+?

I don't think it's possible to walk 35 miles in a straight line from Inlet and not hit a road.

Yes, you're right...I was taking a guesstimate of milage walking around mtns, swamps,and on trails once you hit the WCL's, and the roads in the Moose River..

A straight line distance is about 25 miles...and yup, you would hit a road!

[ken999]

ADK LD- gotcha...It's alot farther than I would want to walk in that area in a day ...I've been into Spruce Lake before and it is a real jungle in places.

[etutt]

Just chiming in with a little fact I read a while back (don't remember where and can't guarantee it's accurate nor do I know where this spot is).. anywho, I read that there is a spot 25 miles from any road or TRAIL in the dacks. I have no way to back it up. I do know it was not in the high peaks area. Maybe someone could confirm or deny this.