Aldrich Pond Wild Forest

General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Tamarack Creek Trail extends 3.5 miles between the Youngs Road Trailhead and the Streeter Lake Trailhead. The trail ascends 130 feet and then descends 120 feet in a 1-mile section beginning 1.5 miles from the Youngs Road Trailhead. Otherwise, the ascents and descents are moderate. The trail serves as the border between the wild forest and the adjacent Five Ponds Wilderness for most of its length. The Tamarack Creek Trail Map (PDF) is available to view and download.

Francis Hill Trail extends 4.1 miles from the Streeter Lake Trailhead to Bassett Creek, passing along a shore section of the Middle Branch Oswegatchie River along the way. Much of the first half of this trail also serves as the border between the wild forest and the adjacent Five Ponds Wilderness. The Francis Hill Trail Map (PDF) is available to view and download.

Round Lake Trail extends 2.9 miles and ascends 300 feet from the Round Lake Trailhead to the shore of Round Lake. The trail passes a large wetland complex known as the Scuttle Hole which once contained a Jackworks for loading logs from Scuttle Hole Creek onto a logging railroad. The Round Lake Trail Map (PDF) is available to view and download.

Maple Hill Trail extends 0.9 miles from the trailhead on Jackworks Road to the Middle Branch of the Oswegatchie River.

Jackworks Trail extends 3.6 miles from the junction of the Jackworks Road and the Maple Hill Trail to Mullins Flow Road. The trail is often severely flooded by beaver activity along Pins Creek, and may be very difficult to follow. This trail, and side trails off of it, is not maintained and should be used with caution.

General information on backcountry camping includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

All designated primitive tent sites, campsites, and lean-to's, are available on a first come - first served basis and cannot be reserved. Designated campsites are marked with a yellow "Camp Here" disc. Designated campsites are for tents only. Tents or small campers can use designated campsites. There are no hook-ups for water or electricity at campsites.

Twelve designated primitive tent sites and campsites, and one lean-to are located on these lands. All are available on a first come-first served basis and cannot be reserved. Designated sites are marked by a yellow "Camp Here" disc. Designated tent sites are for tents only. Tents or small camps can use designated campsites. There are no hook-ups for water or electricity at campsites.

Eleven designated campsites are located along Streeter Lake Road, a season access road between Coffin Mills Road and Streeter Lake.

Streeter Lake Lean-to is located on the northeastern shore of the lake.

Campers who desire more amenities can camp at DEC's nearby Cranberry Lake Campground and Day Use Area and take day trips into the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest.

General information on paddling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

A nearly 7.0-mile flat water stretch of the Little River can be paddles between the Youngs Road Hand Launch and the Streeter Lake Road Hand Launch when water levels are low. A short carry is required to get around Schuler Fall.

Streeter Lake Outlet and Streeter Lake can be accessed from a Streeter Lake Outlet Hand Launch near the Streeter Lake Trailhead.

213-acre Star Lake may be accessed from the Star Lake Hand Launch.

Mud Pond can be accessed from the Mud Pond Hand Launch.

General information on boating includes safety tips with links to rules and regulations and lists of DEC boat launches by county.

213-acre Star Lake may be accessed from the Star Lake Hand Launch. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake.

Sucker Lake can be accessed from the Sucker Lake Hand Launch. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations. You can ensure of continued good fishing opportunities in the future by fishing responsibly. If you have never been fishing but want to try, it's easy to learn how to fish.

All waters within the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest are open to fishing. Anglers may use the same trailhead and trails as hikers, the same hand, launches as paddlers, the same boat launches as boaters and the same camp sites as campers to access and fish these waters.

Round Lake contains brook trout and can be accessed from the Round Lake Trailhead via the Round Lake Trail.

57-acre South Creek Lake contains brown trout and largemouth bass, it can be accessed from the Round Lake Trailhead via the Round Lake Trail.

Long Lake contains brook trout and can accessed from the Long Lake Trailhead via the Long Lake Trail.

Streeter Lake (PDF) contains brook trout and brown bullhead and can be accessed from the Streeter Lake Outlet Hand Launch and the Streeter Lake Trailhead.

Sucker Lake contains smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass and pumpkinseed bass and can be accessed from the Sucker Lake Hand Launch. Special regulations apply.

213-acre Star Lake contains lake trout, Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown bullhead, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed and can be accessed from the Star Lake Hand Launch. Ice fishing is allowed on Star Lake.

Fishing is allowed on the 0.65-mile portion of the Sucker Lake Outlet within the Sucker Lake Easement Tract.

Most of the streams in the area including the Middle Branch Oswegatchie River and the upper reaches of the Little River contain brook trout. The lower reaches of the Little River contain brown trout.

For Public Fishing Rights (PFR) information, visit DECinfo Locator- Interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map (DECinfo Locator is best viewed on a desktop computer. Users are encouraged to visit the Trout Stream Fishing Map User Guide first for "how to" instructions on using the fishing map).

North Central NY Fishing provides information on fishing in the Adirondacks and links to top fishing waters, stocking lists, public fishing access and waters open to ice fishing listed by county.

Help Protect Native Adirondack Fish; populations of brook trout, round whitefish and other native Adirondack fish species have severely declined due to introduced fish.

Wildlife Management Unit: 6J

General information on hunting includes how-to and safety tips with links to season, rules and regulations.

All the lands and waters within the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest and the Sucker Lake Easement Tract are open to hunting and trapping. Small game hunting is allowed on the Aldrich Easement Tract, but big game hunting is prohibited until 2020.

Hunters may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailhead, and trails used by hikers and others to access to hunt the lands and waters. Hunters can park on the shoulders of seasonal access roads provided vehicles are not out of the travel lane.

Jayville Road Parking Area and Dobbs Road Parking Area provide access to a large trail less portion of the wild forest between Powell Road and Street Lake Road.

Big game hunters can enjoy the pursuit of white-tailed deer, black bear, and ruffed grouse. Common furbearers include beaver, fisher, otter eastern coyote, muskrat, mink, and raccoon.

Wildlife Management Unit: 6J

General information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to season, rules and regulations.

All the lands and waters within the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest and the Sucker Lake Easement Tract are open to trapping. Trapping is allowed on the Aldrich Easement Tract.

Trappers may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailhead, and trails used by hikers and others to access to trap the lands and waters. Trappers can park on the shoulders of seasonal access roads provided vehicles are not out of the travel lane.

Jayville Road Parking Area and Dobbs Road Parking Area provide access to a large trail less portion of the wild forest between Powell Road and Street Lake Road.

General information on biking includes how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.

Biking is allowed on all access roads and trails used by hikers.

Electric bicycles (E-bikes) of any class are not allowed on trails and roadways where public motorized access is prohibited.

General information on horseback riding includes safety tips and rules and regulations.

Horseback riding is allowed on all access roads and any trails marked as designated horse trails. Horseback riders can access the trail system via the Youngs Road, Streeter Lake Road, and Powell Road. Popular riding areas include: Tamarack Creek Trail, Francis Hill Trail, and Streeter Lake Road.

General information on snowmobiling includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

More than 33 miles of snowmobile trails are located within Aldrich Pond Wild Forest including most season access roads and hiking trails. The trails are part of the local snowmobile trail network which links the communities of Star Lake, Aldrich, Kalurah, and Harrisville. Snowmobiles are allowed on the following trails and seasonal access roads:

• Tamarack Creek Trail
• Wagonbox Corner Trail
• Francis Hill Trail
• Maple Hill Trail
• Jackworks Trail
• Streeter Lake Road
• Jackworks Road
• Tyler Road
• South Creek Lake Road

Cross-country skiers and snowshoers may also use snowmobile trails. Snowmobilers should slow down when approaching and passing skiers or snowshoers.

General information on cross-country skiing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Cross-country skiing is permitted on all hiking trails within the unit. When traveling on designated snowmobile trails, skiers should be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.

General information on snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowshoeing are permitted on all hiking trails within the unit. When traveling on designated snowmobile trails, snowshoers should be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.

General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.

The Adirondacks contain large tracts of wildlife habitat with some boreal, bog, alpine and other unique habitats. Many species of birds and mammals are unique to the Adirondacks or are mainly found here. More than 50 species of mammals and hundreds of species of birds inhabit or pass through the Adirondacks at one time of the year or another so it is not unlikely to catch site of wildlife during your trip.

More information on Adirondack Flora and Fauna from the SUNY ESF Adirondack Ecological Center.

You can protect wildlife and wildlife habitat when viewing them.

Wildlife Found in the Adirondacks

• Mammals
  • Moose
  • Black Bear
  • Beaver
  • Eastern Coyote
  • River Otter
  • White-Tailed Deer
  • Little Brown Bat
• Birds
  • Bald Eagle
  • Common Loon
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Osprey
  • Great Horned Owl
  • Great Blue Heron
  • Wild Turkey
  • Eastern Bluebird