Independence River Wild Forest

General Information on Horseback Riding - including safety tips and rules and regulations.

The Otter Creek Horse Trails are a 65-mile system of interlocking horse trails located on the Independence River Wild Forest and the adjacent Independence River and Otter Creek State Forests. Proof of current negative Coggins certificate is required for all horses and out-of-state horse owners are required to produce a 30-day health certificate.

The trail system uses a series of old, sandy roads and wooded trails to traverse a beautifully diverse area with the trails winding their way along spirea flats and wooded areas, accessing picturesque Adirondack ponds and following or crossing Otter, Little Otter, Beaver Meadow, Chase, Burnt and Crooked Creeks and the Independence River.

The Otter Creek Assembly Area is located in the adjacent Independence River State Forest and provides many amenities for horseback riders including:

• Three parking areas and an overflow parking area for vehicles and horse trailers
• Free at-large primitive camping (no electricity)
• 100 roofed tie stalls
• A pavilion for picnicking
• Two stud stalls
• Potable water system for the horses
• A bathroom with sink and toilets - but no showers

NOTE: The water is turned on in mid-May and turned off after Columbus Day/Canadian Day Weekend. Port-a-johns are available on-site during the summer season.

Immediately upon arrival at the Assembly Area each camping party shall complete all required information on a self-issuing camping permit (PDF). Place the DEC portion of the camping permit in the drop box at the registration kiosk. Display the other portion on the dashboard of the vehicle identified on the camping permit at all times. The form can be downloaded from this page ahead of time, but cannot be fully completed until arrival at the Assembly Area to determine site availability. This is not a reservation!

Horses may not be run, galloped or cantered in the assembly area. Horses remaining in the assembly area overnight must be tethered in a DEC covered tie stall, with the exception that those horses remaining overnight in an area designated as overflow and day use may be tethered to, or harbored in their trailers. Please sign in at the trailhead register at Parking Lot 1. It is important for search and rescue and funding purposes.

In accordance with Agriculture and Markets Rules and Regulations Part 64, horse owners may be required to produce a current negative Coggins certificate. In addition, out-of-state horse owners may be required to produce a 30-day health certificate. You must bring your own horse care utensils. Please take out what you bring in.

General Information on Paddling - includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Flatwater paddling opportunities exist on many water bodies in the Independence River Wild Forest.

Francis Lake Hand Launch provides a pathway and dock suitable for launching a canoe, kayak or small boat into the 120-acre Francis Lake. There are two campsites on the lake. It is located in a quiet wooded setting off of Stillwater Road. Loons are frequently seen on the lake.

Payne Lake Hand Launch provides a pathway and dock designed for use with mobility devices and is suitable for launching a canoe, kayak or small boat onto the 19-acre Payne Lake. The small lake is located in a quiet area and is stocked annually with brook trout and provides visitors with fishing opportunities.

Paddlers can launch at the Stillwater Reservoir Boat Launch to access the 6,200-acre Stillwater Reservoir. There are 46 primitive campsites along the shores of the reservoir. Paddlers should use caution on this water. Due to its size and east-west orientation, high winds often create large waves. The water also receives heavy use by motorboats. Paddlers should stay close to shore during periods of high winds.

Paddlers can access 280-acre Moshier Reservoir from the Necessary Dam Road Hand Launch just below the Stillwater Dam and paddle the nearly 3-mile length of the reservoir and back.

General information on Boating - including safety tips with links to rules and regulations and lists of DEC boat launches by county.

Boating on the 6,200-acre Stillwater Reservoir is a popular summer activity. Boaters can launch at the Stillwater Reservoir Boat Launch. There are 46 primitive campsites along the shores of the reservoir. Camping is free but campers are required to register at the boat launch.

General Information on Hiking - includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

A 100 plus-mile network of trails and roads are available for hiking. The trails gently rise and fall through a variety of woodland and open habitat with many ponds and lakes serving as a destination point or scenic view along the trail. The trails highlighted here are some of the more popular.

Hiking is allowed on the 65-mile Otter Creek Horse Trail System.

Independence River Area Trail Network (11.3 miles of trail) - The Independence River Area Trail Map (PDF) is available to view and download.

• Beach Mill Trail extends 5.3 miles along the north bank of the Independence River from a trailhead at the end of Beach Mill Road.
• Panther Pond Trail extends 1.1 miles to the Panther Pond Lean-to from a trailhead at the end of Smith Road, and extends another 3.2 miles to the Independence River where it meets up with the Beach Mill and Fish Trails
• Fish Trail extends 1.7 miles to the Independence River from a trailhead at the end of the Stony Lake Road.

All three trails meet immediately north of a footbridge on the Fish Trail on the north bank of the Independence River.

Gleasmans Falls is a popular destination from the Beach Mill Trailhead - 5.8 miles roundtrip.

Big Otter Lake Trail Network (16.3 miles) is mainly accessed from the Pine Lake Trailhead at the end of Partridgeville Road near Otter Creek and Creek and Drunkard Creek Trailhead at the end of Steam Mill Road. The Big Otter Lake Trail Map (PDF) is available to view and download.

Pine Lake Trailhead includes:

• Big Otter Lake Trail extends approximately 5 miles to North Inlet of Big Otter Lake, this includes 3 miles on Big Otter Lake Road.
• Pine Lake Trail extends 3.5 miles to Pine Lake, the Pine Lake Lean-to and Pine Creek Trail.
• Pine Creek Trail continues east 2.5 miles to Big Otter Lake connecting with Lost Lake Trail near Pine Lake and Big Otter Lake East Trail and Big Otter Lake West Trail at its terminus. Lost Lake Trail and Big Otter Lake East Trail enter the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness and its network of trails.
• Pine Creek Trail continues west 2.8 miles to Pico Mountain Trail.
• Pico Mountain Trail leaves the Pine Lake Trail approximately 0.3 mile from the trailhead and extends 3.7 miles to Drunkard Creek Trailhead.

Other Trails:

Sunday Creek Trail extends 0.5 mile along Sunday Creek from Moshier Falls Trailhead. The 0.5-mile Pepperbox Trail provides access to Pepperbox Wilderness over the Beaver River.

Sunday Lake Trail extends 0.3 mile from Sunday Lake Road off of McCarty Road to Sunday Lake.

Red Horse Trail in the Five Ponds Wilderness extends 5.3 miles from a trailhead on the shores of Big Burnt Lake on the north side of Stillwater Reservoir to Trout Pond, Salmon Lake, Witchhopple Lake, and Clear Lake. The trailhead is accessible from the water only. A lean-to is located at Trout Pond.

Halfmoon Lake Trail extends 0.9 mile from a trailhead at the end of Halfmoon Lake Road (accessed from the Number Four Road) to Halfmoon Lake and a designated primitive campsite.

Shingle Mills Falls on Otter Creek is located on at the end of the 0.1 mile trail from the trailhead at the end of Shingle Mills Fall Road off of the Partridgeville Road.

Stillwater Fire Tower Trail ascends 1.2 miles and 550 feet from the trailhead on Big Moose Road to the summit of Stillwater Mountain (2,264 feet). The summit provides views of Stillwater Reservoir and the surrounding area. The fire tower on the summit has been renovated and is open to the public. The Observer's Cabin is located along Big Moose Road opposite the trailhead. The Stillwater Fire Tower Trail Map (PDF) is available to view and download.

The fire tower and most of the trail are located on Big Moose Conservation Easement (private land). The public is allowed to use the fire tower trail but may not trespass on lands off of the trail or summit. The trail and summit are closed to public use from the second Tuesday in October through December 20 annually.

No roads or trails currently lead to the Three Lakes Tract Conservation Easement, however, members of the public may bushwhack to the property from the Independence River Wild Forest and walk existing roads/trails on the conservation easement.

General Information on Backcountry Camping - includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Numerous designated campsites are available throughout the area, many can only be accessed by water.

The 6,200-acre Stillwater Reservoir provides remote camping opportunities on 46 campsites located on the shores and islands of the reservoir. In addition, the area offers a multitude of other recreational opportunities including boating, paddling, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. The area is a popular outdoor recreation destination in all four seasons.

Camping is allowed in designated campsites only. Campsites are available on a first come-first served basis and cannot be reserved. Two campsites Site #43 and Site #44 can be accessed by motor vehicle via Big Moose Road. The remaining 44 campsites can only be accessed from the water.

The following sites have a maximum group size limit of 6 people: Site Numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 43, 45 and 46

The following sites have a maximum group size limit of 8 people: Site Numbers 1, 3, 4, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 41, 42 and 44

Three sites have been designated as large group sites with a maximum group size limit of 20: Site Numbers 20, 26 & 37

All campers must register at the registration kiosk located at the Stillwater Reservoir Boat Launch. Campers planning to spend more than three nights or with a group of 10 or more people must obtain a permit from the local Forest Ranger. Contact DEC Ray Brook Dispatch at 518-897-1300 for the name and contact information of the local Forest Ranger.

Designated roadside campsites are located along:

• Big Moose Road has two campsites, both along the shore of Stillwater Reservoir, which are identified above.
• Basket Factory Road has ten campsites.
• Shingle Falls Road Campsite is located near the intersection with Partridgeville Road.
• Bailey Road has three campsites.
• Smith Road has ten campsites.

Additionally designated campsites are located on:

• Francis Lake
• Halfmoon Lake
• Evies Pond
• Little Otter Lake
• Pitcher Pond
• Catspaw Lake

Two lean-tos are also located in the area. The one on Panther Pond is approximately a mile from Panther Pond Trailhead, at the end of Smiths Road. The other is located on Pine Lake, approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead off Partridgeville Road.

A Lean-to is also located on Trout Pond, accessible from the Red Horse Trail in the nearby Five Ponds Wilderness. The Red Horse Trailhead is located on the north shore of Stillwater Reservoir (Big Burnt Lake) and is accessible from the water only.

General information on fishing includes fishing tips with links to seasons, rules and regulations. You can ensure 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.

The Independence River and many other small steams contain wild native brook trout populations.

Otter Creek is stocked with brown trout.

Little Otter Lake and Payne Lake are stocked with brook trout.

Shallow water bodies like Francis Lake and Catspaw Lake have warm water species like pickerel, yellow perch and bullhead.

Stillwater Reservoir supports smallmouth bass, brook trout and splake; Moshier Reservoir contains tiger muskellunge and panfish.

Ice fishing is allowed on Stillwater Reservoir, Moshier Reservoir and Francis Lake.

North Central NY Fishing provides links to top fishing waters, public fishing rights, stocking and maps of larger waters in this part of the state.

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

Waterbodies on the Three Lakes Tract Conservation Easement are open for public fishing subject to established seasons, rules and regulations.

Wildlife Management Unit: 6J

General Information on Hunting include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules & regulations.

This is a popular area for big game hunters seeking white-tailed deer and black bear.

All the lands and waters within Independence River Wild Forest and the Three Lakes Easement Tract are open to hunting.

Hunters may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads and trails used by hikers and horseback riders, boat launches used by boaters and hand launches used by paddlers to access the lands and waters in this area.

Wildlife Management Unit: 6J

General Information on Trapping - include how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules & regulations.

All the lands and waters within Independence River Wild Forest and the Three Lakes Easement Tract are open to trapping.

Trappers may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads and trails used by hikers and horseback riders, boat launches used by boaters and hand launches used by paddlers to access the lands and waters in this area.

General Information on Biking - including how-to and safety tips with links to rules and regulations.

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

No roads or trails are specifically designated for biking; however, biking is permitted on all roads, on all seasonal access roads and trails used by used by hikers and horseback riders.

Cyclists should respect other recreationists using roads and trails. Some horses may be skittish around bicycles.

General Information on Snowmobiling - includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

There are 68 miles of designated snowmobile routes in the Independence River Wild Forest, which connect to the surrounding snowmobile network in Herkimer and Lewis Counties.

Currently, there are 4.8 miles of snowmobile trails crossing the Three Lakes Tract Conservation Easement.

Snowmobile trail maps are available from the local Snowmobile Association and various online vendors.

The Sand Pond Road Parking Area and Stillwater Reservoir Parking Area may be used to park vehicles with snowmobile trailers.

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 throughout the Independence River Wild Forest, on all seasonal access roads and trails used by hikers and horseback riders.

Centennial Recreational Ski Trails (4.9 miles) are designated for cross country skiing and can be accessed from the South Trailhead on Steam Mill Road or the North Trailhead on Partridgeville Road.

Centennial Scoot Trail (3.2 miles) is the major through trail connecting the two parking lots. The trail gently rolls through mixed hardwood and coniferous forests from the South Trailhead. The trail intersects part of the old historic Glenfield and Western railroad system about 1 mile from the trailhead. The Bear Ridge Trail's southern intersection is located approximately 1.6 miles north of the trailhead, after which skiers will find themselves on a high bank overlooking a stream. The Bear Ridge Trail's northern intersection is located 0.5 mile south of the North Trailhead. The section of trail between the northern trailhead and the Bear Ridge Trail includes some easy up and down hill sections and a steep climb/descent at either end of the section. The trail between these hilly sections follows the edge of an open beaver meadow, crosses an old beaver dam/man made impoundment, and crosses two small bridges and streams.

Bear Ridge Trail (1.6 miles) at its northern end drops down a small hill, crosses a bridge and then climbs a steep hill to the top of a knife like gravel ridge (esker). The trail follows the ridge in a southern direction, providing views into spruce-fir swamps on either side. 1.2 miles south of its northern intersection the trail intersects with the old Steam Mill Trail and turns sharply to the west. The trail is quite gentle for the next 0.95 mile to the southern intersection with the Centennial Scoot Trail.

The trails can be used to form a 6.7 mile loop from the Steam Mill Trailhead or a 4.2 mile loop from the Patridgeville Road Trailhead.

When traveling on designated snowmobile trails, skiers should be alert for snowmobiles. Move to the side of the trail to allow snowmobiles to pass.

Snowshoeing - includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.

Snowshoeing is permitted throughout the Independence River Wild Forest, on all seasonal access roads and trails used by hikers and horseback riders.

Centennial Recreational Ski Trails (4.9 miles) are designated for cross country skiing and can be accessed from the South Trailhead on Steam Mill Road or the North Trailhead on Partridgeville Road.

Centennial Scoot Trail (3.2 miles) is the major through trail connecting the two parking lots. The trail gently rolls through mixed hardwood and coniferous forests from the South Trailhead. The trail intersects part of the old historic Glenfield and Western railroad system about 1 mile from the trailhead. The Bear Ridge Trail's southern intersection is located approximately 1.6 miles north of the trailhead, after which skiers will find themselves on a high bank overlooking a stream. The Bear Ridge Trail's northern intersection is located 0.5 mile south of the North Trailhead. The section of trail between the northern trailhead and the Bear Ridge Trail includes some easy up and down hill sections and a steep climb/descent at either end of the section. The trail between these hilly sections follows the edge of an open beaver meadow, crosses an old beaver dam/man made impoundment, and crosses two small bridges and streams.

Bear Ridge Trail (1.6 miles) at its northern end drops down a small hill, crosses a bridge and then climbs a steep hill to the top of a knife like gravel ridge (esker). The trail follows the ridge in a southern direction, providing views into spruce-fir swamps on either side. 1.2 miles south of its northern intersection the trail intersects with the old Steam Mill Trail and turns sharply to the west. The trail is quite gentle for the next 0.95 mile to the southern intersection with the Centennial Scoot Trail.

The trails can be used to form a 6.7 mile loop from the Steam Mill Trailhead or a 4.2 mile loop from the Patridgeville Road Trailhead.

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 (leaves DEC website) 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