East Branch Fish Creek South Conservation Easement Tract

• Open for recreation: Year-round, please see Specific Rules below for restrictions.

• Fee: Free
• Contact Information:
  • DEC Region 6 Lowville Office: (M-F 8:00am - 4:30pm), (315) 376-3521, [email protected]
  • Search, rescue, wildfire, and enforcement matters: 911 or 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264) 
    A local Forest Ranger is a valuable source of information for the state land you would like to visit.
• Location: Towns of Lewis, Osceola, and West Turin; Lewis County
• Wildlife Management Unit: 6N, 6K
• Map: East Branch Fish Creek South Conservation Easement Map (PDF) || Google Earth || DECinfo Locator || Full Map (PDF)

The East Branch Fish Creek South (EBFCS) is private property with a conservation easement held by DEC on behalf of the people of New York State. The property contains approximately 22,200 acres of former Lyons Fall Pulp and Paper lands located within the Tug Hill Plateau area. The conservation easement grants DEC the right to allow public use of the lands for certain recreational purposes.

The conservation easement has signs posted to help the public determine what activities are allowed. See specific rules section for detailed restrictions. Please respect posted signs. Please contact the Lowville Sub-office, normal office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with any questions about activities on the property.

Accessible Features

From the Camp 5 Road Parking Area on East Fork of the Salmon River, wheelchair accessible features include the:

• Fishing/viewing platform

See Maps, Directions, and Featured Activities sections on this page for more details on these features. Visit the DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations web page for additional accessible recreation opportunities.

Directions

EBFCS has two entrances and one parking area for accessing the property. These roads are seasonal use roads, and are used as snowmobile trails during the winter.

All coordinates provided are in decimal degrees using NAD83/WGS84 datum.

• Camp Four Road Entrance provides access to the southern portion of the property. Access from Osceola Road in the Town of Lewis. From Osceola Road, head north on Gallo Road, then make left onto the first gravel road (43.467993°N, 75.597101°W) Google Maps
• Michigan Mills Extension Road Entrance provides access to the northern section of the property. Access from the Village of Constableville, following the Highmarket Road which becomes Michigan Mills Road (43.604020°N, 75.617496°W) Google Maps

Parking Area

• Camp Five Road Parking Area is located at the intersection of Camp Four Road and Camp Five Road. (43.507305°N, 75.604479°W) Google Maps

Rules, Regulations, and Outdoor Safety

Practice Leave No Trace principles when recreating on state land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid user conflicts.

All users of EBFCS must follow all State Land Use Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.

Specific Rules

• Public motor vehicle use is only on designated routes which have been signed for use.
• Snowmobile use is only on designated routes or trails which have been signed for use.
• There is no public use of ATV's on the property.
• The public is excluded at all times from specifically posted zones, 5 acres in size, surrounding the leased camps on the property. Please respect posted signs.
• The public can be excluded from designated zones closed for logging.
• The trail to the southern section of East Branch Fish Creek Conservation Easement is foot traffic only.

Planning and Management

DEC manages public recreation on these lands in accordance with the management activities described in the East Branch Fish Creek Conservation Easement Recreation Management Plan (PDF).

The recreation management plan was amended in 2016 (PDF) to allow additional public access opportunities on the unit by creating a 20 mile foot/ski trail.

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities and Other Information

State Lands and Facilities

• East Branch Fish Creek North Conservation Easement Tract
• East Branch Fish Creek State Forest
• East Osceola State Forest
• Grant Powell State Forest
• Lesser Wilderness State Forest
• Sears Pond State Forest
• Tug Hill State Wildlife Management Area
• Whetstone Gulf State Park

Where to find amenities

• Gas, food, other supplies, dining and lodging may be found in the nearby communities of Lowville, Constableville and Osceola.

Adirondack Tug Hill Region Tourism can provide information about other recreation, attractions and amenities in this area.

Numerous guide books and maps are available with information on the lands, waters, trails and other recreational facilities in this area. These can be purchased at most outdoor equipment retailers, bookstores and on-line booksellers.

Additional information, outdoor equipment, trip suggestions and guided or self-guided tours may be obtained from outdoor guide and outfitting businesses. Check area chambers of commerce, telephone directories or search the internet for listings.

Consider hiring an outdoor guide if you have little experience or woodland skills. See the NYS Outdoor Guides Association for information on outdoor guides.