Adirondack High Peaks and Kaaterskill Clove Visitor Use Management Reports

Supporting Visitor Safety and Positive Visitor Experiences

In 2023, DEC awarded a two-year contract to conduct concurrent VUM planning processes for the central High Peaks Wilderness in the Adirondack Park and the Kaaterskill Clove region of the Catskill Park. Based on recommendations provided by the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group (HPAG) and Catskill Strategic Planning Advisory Group (CAG), the VUM projects have focused on developing data-driven management strategies to support and promote visitor safety and positive visitor experiences in each of the project areas.

The reports:

• Recommend strategies and address persistent traffic, parking, crowding, and public safety issues, and to restore and maintain desired conditions in each project area.
• Have recommendations that are organized into a suite of management strategies and actions, and a phased implementation plan.
• Include a monitoring plan that provides guidance and tools for DEC’s long-term monitoring of select indicators and adaptive management of visitor use according to the desired conditions for each project area.

Public Feedback Opportunities

DEC released the final recommendations reports were released in early 2026 and feedback on the report were accepted until June 1, 2026. DEC is currently reviewing the public feedback on the reports to help inform additional actions the State may take to enhance safety and the visitor experience at these two locations.

Virtual Public Meetings

DEC presented information about the two reports at virtual public meetings:

• Virtual presentation recording for the High Peaks report (held on April 22, 2026)
• Virtual presentation recording for the Kaaterskill Clove report (held on April 29, 2026)