Bog River Complex

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

There are several trails on Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest:

• Mt. Arab Trail ascends 700 feet to the Mt. Arab fire tower and observer's cabin on the summit of Mt. Arab and is 1 mile long, with the first 0.7 miles located on the Conifer Emporium Conservation Easement and the rest on the WF. Parking is located along Mt. Arab Road on the easement property.
• Coney Mountain Trail is 1.1 miles in length and is moderately steep, leading to the top of Coney Mountain. The trailhead is on State Route 30.
• Goodman Mountain Trail is 1.6 miles to the summit. The first quarter mile of the trail is ideal for families with young children and people with limited mobility. The next half mile is also a gradual slope on an old road bed. The trail then turns up the mountainside, climbing steeply at points to reach the 2,176-foot summit with views of the central Adirondacks.
• Trout Pond Trail starts at Lows Lower Dam on the edge of the WF and continues 1.3 miles through the neighboring Round Lake Wilderness to Trout Pond.
• Bridge Brook Pond Trail is a 1.8-mile trail that begins on State Route 421 and continues north to Black Pond and Bridge Brook Pond.
• Bog River Trail follows several old haul roads through the WF between State Route 421 and the Bog River. Depending on the combination of routes used, loops ranging from 5 to 8 miles are available. This trail ends at Winding Falls on the Bog River.
• Winding Falls Trail begins on State Route 421 and heads 2.5 miles south to Winding Falls on the Bog River.

There are several trails off of Lows Lake and on neighboring areas like the Five Ponds Wilderness. The Big Deer Trail off the far western end of the lake passes Big Deer Pond and the Fishpole Pond Trail heads north toward Cranberry Lake off Grass Pond at the northwestern end of the lake.

On the Eastern Five Ponds Access Primitive Area, Upper Dam Road which forms part of the northern boundary of the unit can be used for hiking, cross-country skiing and biking. The 0.5-mile Hitchins Pond Overlook Trail begins at Lows Upper Dam.

On Big Tupper/Piercefield Flow CE, hiking is allowed only within the Special Use Area, which is a designated area within 300 feet of Piercefield Flow. Public access to this area is by water only and is limited to May 1st to September 30th.

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

Horseshoe Lake Wild Forest

There are 25 designated primitive campsites in the WF. Most of the sites have pit privies, although remote campsites on Bridge Brook Pond and Tupper Lake do not. There are also two lean-tos on Tupper Lake, located at Black Bay and Eagle Landing.

Backcountry camping is also allowed throughout the WF as long as the site is at least 150 feet from a water body, road, or trail, unless the area is posted as "Camping Prohibited." Camping for more than 3 nights or with 10 or more people requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.

Lows Lake

On the shores of Lows Lake, 39 numbered campsites have been constructed and designated (site number, fire ring, and round yellow marker) for public use on a first-come, first-served basis. See the campsite map (PDF) for locations. Most of the lake is bordered by the Five Ponds Wilderness, although there are some private landowners. Please respect private property.

If you choose to camp at sites other than those designated, you are responsible for:

• Knowing that you are on state lands and not trespassing on private lands
• Camping at least 150 feet from any road, trail, or body of water
• Cleaning up your site to remove traces of use

Pole, Gooseneck, and Frying Pan Islands, shown on the Lows Lake map, are reserved by deed for Hiawatha Boy Scout Council's exclusive use during June, July, and August. For the public, camping on these islands is prohibited throughout the year. Three landings on the south shore of the lake that are shared with Hiawatha Boy Scout Council, known as Virgin Timber, Boone's and Moose Bay, may be used by the public for camping throughout the year, but a permit is required from a Forest Ranger for use during June, July, and August.

Camping is restricted to parties of nine or less. Campers are encouraged to limit their number to six persons or less to reduce the impact on sites. Users wishing to stay at one location for more than three nights, or to use Virgin Timber, Boone's or Moose Bay landing during June, July, or August, must obtain a permit in advance from a Forest Ranger by calling DEC's Potsdam office at (315) 265-3090. Group permits for parties of ten or more will NOT be issued for this area.

Users of this area are advised not to trespass on adjacent private lands. The road to Lows Upper Dam from Sabattis is private property, as is a large amount of the shoreline above the Lows Upper Dam.

Eastern Five Ponds Access Primitive Area

Five campsites are located on the shores of Hitchins Pond and are available for public use on a first-come, first-served basis. Each has a fire ring and pit privy.

Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow Conservation Easement

Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow CE features a lean-to campsite on the northern shore of the Piercefield Flow in the Special Use Area. Camping on the property is restricted to this site only. Public access to this area is by water only and is limited to May 1st to September 30th.

Campers who prefer more amenities may camp at the nearby Cranberry Lake Campground & Day Use Area.

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

From below Lows Lower Dam to the confluence with Round Lake Outlet, the Bog River provides a canoe route with several rapids which is only useable in the spring. This section of the Bog River forms the southern boundary of Horseshoe Lake WF. There are three canoe carries located on the north side of the river at Split Rock Falls, Winding Falls, and near the junction of the Bog River and Round Lake Outlet.

The lower Bog River between the confluence with Round Lake Outlet and Bog River Falls at Tupper Lake provides about 1.8 miles of flat water canoeing. Users can enter the river on the west bank at the Bog River Falls Day Use Area off State Route 421 at the southern end of Tupper Lake.

Raquette Pond, Tupper Lake, and Piercefield Flow, all connected, also offer opportunities for short trips to picnic or fish.

Lows Lake offers spectacular opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. The area begins the access to a wilderness canoe route leading from the Bog River above Lows Lower Dam into and across Lows Lake to the western shore in the Five Ponds Wilderness.

Lows Lake can be accessed from the Lower Dam Hand Launch on the Bog River. Paddlers must pass through Hitchins Pond, carry around the Upper Dam and then paddle the Bog River to the lake. Public motorboat use is prohibited on Lows Lake but private shore owners may use motor boats on a limited basis. For the more adventuresome, a carry of about 3.5 miles from the west end of Lows Lake to the Oswegatchie River will be rewarded with an approximately 16 mile trip down that river to Inlet, with only a short carry above High Falls. Many beaver dams occur around High Falls.

Keep in mind that winds don't have to be exceptionally strong to create whitecaps on Lows Lake. During periods of rough weather, paddlers are encouraged to keep to the northern shoreline as it is generally the more protected route. Paddlers can stay out of the main body of water along this route by using a short carry between campsites 19 and 23, and crossing the causeway west of site 25.

On Hitchins Pond in the Eastern Five Ponds Access Primitive Area, non-motorized boats can be used but motor boats are not allowed.

Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow CE is located on the Piercefield Flow, which is open to paddling. The water is accessed at the nearby Town of Piercefield Boat Launch (leaves DEC website) on NY Route 3. Public access on the easement is limited to the Special Use Area, which borders Piercefield Flow. Public access to this area is by water only and is limited to May 1st to September 30th.

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

Motor boats are not allowed on Horseshoe Lake or Lows Lake, but Tupper Lake has a trailered boat launch with parking for 35 cars and trailers.

A number of hidden stumps in Piercefield Flow has restricted the use of large motor boats. The water is accessed at the nearby Town of Piercefield Boat Launch (leaves DEC website) on NY Route 3. This is a trailered boat launch which accommodates the approach to the water's edge of small and light trailered boats. Boats may then be pushed on or off trailers. Public access on the Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow CE is limited to the Special Use Area, which borders Piercefield Flow. Public access to this area it by water only and is limited to May 1st to September 30th.

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

Within the Horseshoe Lake WF, biking is allowed on any of the designated roads and trails.

On the Eastern Five Ponds Access Primitive Area, Upper Dam Road forms part of the northern boundary of the unit and can be used for hiking, cross-country skiing and biking.

General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules and regulations.

The area's most popular sport fishery is the Tupper Lake - Raquette Pond complex. It is very accessible and provides year-round angling opportunity targeting northern pike, walleye, small and largemouth bass, panfish, and lake trout. Black Pond and Bridge Brook Pond are popular brook trout fisheries. Survival and growth of stocked brook trout in these waters is good.

Fisherman at Horseshoe Lake (PDF) can find tiger muskellunge, walleye and brook trout. The lake also supports a population of smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white sucker and brown bullhead. Like the other large lakes in the area, Horseshoe Lake is used by anglers for ice fishing as well as during the open water season. Reports of Horseshoe Lake ice anglers catching tiger muskellunge up to 16 pounds are not uncommon.

Stream fishing opportunities are limited in the area, however the lower Bog River is stocked annually with brook trout.

On Lows Lake, anglers can hope to find brook trout, largemouth bass and brown bullhead. Historically a brook trout fishery, largemouth bass were introduced in the 1980s and really took off. Brook trout can still be found where tributaries enter the lake, although in relatively low numbers. Largemouth bass ranging in size from 1-5 pounds are common. Try fishing the bog margins during early evening. While this water may not have top quality angling opportunities, the wilderness experience could be well worth the time.

Hitchins Pond in the Eastern Five Ponds Access Primitive Area is known for largemouth bass.

On Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow CE on Piercefield Flow (PDF), fishing is allowed from shore within the designated Special Use Area. Public access to the area is by water only and is limited to May 1st to September 30th.

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.

Special angling regulations apply to the waters in St. Lawrence County. See the freshwater fishing regulations guide for more information.

Wildlife Management Unit: 5F and 6J

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

The unit is heavily hunted, especially during archery, muzzleloading and the early part of big game season because of easy road access and the availability of roadside campsites. Game species that can be found here include deer, bear and possibly moose, as well as small game species like varying hare and woodchuck. There are a variety of furbearers including coyote, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, river otter, fisher, mink, raccoon, and red fox.

Hunting is prohibited on the Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow Conservation Easement.

Wildlife Management Unit: 5F and 6J

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

The unit is heavily hunted, especially during archery, muzzleloading and the early part of big game season because of easy road access and the availability of roadside campsites. Game species that can be found here include deer, bear and possibly moose, as well as small game species like varying hare and woodchuck. There are a variety of furbearers including coyote, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, river otter, fisher, mink, raccoon, and red fox.

Trapping are prohibited on the Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow Conservation Easement.

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

The following snowmobile trails are located within the Wild Forest:

• Otter Brook Rd. from State Route 421 to the Five Ponds Wilderness/private land boundary (8.5 mi.)
• Lower Dam Rd. (0.7 mi.)

Also passing through the WF is the 119-mile long Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor. It is open for snowmobiling from December 1 through April 30 between the hours of 6:00 am to 12 midnight only when it is covered with snow and ice. Snowmobiles are prohibited between May 1 and November 30 on this corridor.

Big Tupper/ Piercefield Flow CE features one established snowmobile trail, C7, on the Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor, which cuts across the property and is open to public use. The snowmobile trail is open to snowmobiling as conditions permit. The trail is maintained by the St. Lawrence County Snowmobile Association (leaves DEC website) and the Childwold SnoPackers (leaves DEC website).

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.

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

Snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails.

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

A variety of habitats exist for bird watchers and naturalists along public access roads. Wetlands, including bogs, provide some especially unique habitats often harboring less common species. Likewise, enjoy remote and roadless tracts to view or hunt wildlife.

Rich marsh communities include rare plant species and provide prime breeding grounds for a variety of birds. Bald eagles can be spotted in the area throughout the year and golden eagles use the area during migration. Other NYS threatened, endangered and special concern bird species that use the area include common loon, spruce grouse, northern harrier, osprey, Cooper's hawk, common nighthawk, and vesper sparrow. Wildlife watchers can also look for deer, black bear, coyote, bobcat, beaver, muskrat, river otter and possibly moose.