Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area

• Open for Recreation: Year-round
• Fee: Free
• Contact Information:
  • DEC Region 5 Ray Brook Office (M-F, 8:30AM - 4:45PM), (518) 897-1291; [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: Town of Chazy, Clinton County
• Wildlife Management Unit: 5A
• Map: Lake Alice WMA Map (PDF) || DECinfo Locator

The primary purposes of Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. The area encompasses 1,468 acres. The principal portions of this management area were acquired in two stages from the William H. Miner Foundation-648 acres in 1953 and 750 acres in 1970. Prior to state ownership, the area was primarily used for agriculture and timber harvesting. In addition, water control structures were built along Tracy Brook to generate hydro-electric power. This mosaic of cropland, woodland, and impounded open water provided an ideal base upon which to establish a wildlife management area.

Accessible Features

From the Ridge Road Parking Area, wheelchair accessible features include the:

• Hiking trail with viewing platforms; and
• Viewing blind

The hiking trail is 0.4 miles total with two loops and has a gentle grade (max. slope 10%), wide tread (min. width 3 feet), and firm crushed stone surface.

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

Take Exit 41 of the Adirondack Northway (I-87). Turn west onto Miner Farm Road (Route 191), turn left if coming from the south or turn right if coming from the north.

• Take the Miner Farm Road for 0.5 miles and turn left onto Ridge Road. Take Ridge Road 1.3 miles to the main parking area on the right. The lake can be accessed from this location (44.872°N, 73.480°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
• Two additional parking areas are found on the Miner Farm Road. Continue past the intersection with Ridge Road.
  • The first parking area is on the left 1.9 miles past the Ridge Road intersection (44.888°N, 73.497°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
  • The second parking area is on the left 2.6 miles past the intersection (44.885°N, 73.505°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions
• Parking areas are located on MacAdam Road. From Miner Farm Road turn left onto Ridge Road as previously described. Travel one mile to the intersection with MacAdam Road. Turning left or right onto MacAdam Road will bring you to these parking areas (44.8765°N, 73.4795°W) - Get Google Map Driving Directions

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

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 conflicts with other users.

All users of Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area must follow all Wildlife Management Area Regulations and should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.

Boundaries and parking areas are clearly marked and any special regulations are conspicuously posted at all access points.

Activity Rules & Regulations

• Hunting Regulations
• Trapping Regulations
• Fishing Regulations
• Wildlife Management Area Regulations (PDF) - updated in 2022

Prohibited activities at Lake Alice WMA include:

• Waterfowl hunting within a 100 acre restricted zone (outlined on the map linked at top of page) to provide a resting area for waterfowl

For a complete list of all WMA rules and regulations please see the Wildlife Management Area Regulations PDF above.

Outdoor Safety Tips

• Hunting Safety Tips
• Hiking Safety Tips

NOTE: Ticks are active whenever temperatures are above freezing, but especially so in the late spring and early fall. Deer ticks can transmit Lyme and several other diseases. More information on deer ticks and Lyme disease can be obtained from the NYS Department of Health.

How We Manage Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area

Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Lake Alice WMA is managed by DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife conservation and wildlife-associated recreation (hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and photography). Funding to maintain and manage this site is provided by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration or "Pittman-Robertson" Act, which is acquired through excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, and archery equipment.

Today, Lake Alice is managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a variety of recreational and scientific purposes, including: natural resources education, wildlife observation and photography, fishing, trapping, hunting, and canoeing. One of the primary objectives is to provide nesting and feeding habitat for a variety of waterfowl.

Management techniques such as the construction of potholes, dikes, and islands, as well as ditching and shoreline clearing have greatly increased the amount of waterfowl nesting and feeding habitat at the site. As a result of these efforts, wood ducks, black ducks, mallards, mergansers, teal, and Canada geese are readily observed on the management area. In addition, wood duck nest boxes have been erected throughout the area. These artificial nest locations mimic the natural, but scarce, tree cavities utilized by this species of duck.

Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area consists of an assortment of ecological communities ranging from emergent marsh to hemlock-northern hardwood forest. This variety in habitat allows the area to support diverse fish and wildlife populations. The DEC employs various management techniques within some of these different habitats to improve breeding and feeding conditions for numerous wildlife species.

One of the ecological communities present is the northern hardwood forest. The DEC is utilizing patch clear-cuts on approximately 70 acres of northern hardwoods to produce a mosaic of forest canopy levels on the management area. By cutting 16 separate 2.5 to 5 acre plots over a 40 year rotation, a variety of cover types can be generated at the site. This type of timber management provides habitat for ruffed grouse, a bird species which requires clearings and dense young hardwoods for nesting and brood rearing, while requiring more mature stands for courtship and roosting. The habitat created in this area is also suitable for wild turkeys, woodcock, and deer.

View the Habitat Management Plan for Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area (PDF), approved in April 2019, which identifies the WMA-specific target species and habitat goals for the WMA.

Nearby State Lands, Facilities, Amenities and Other Information

Web links below can provide information about other recreation, attractions, and amenities in this area.

Gas, food and supplies, dining, and lodging is available in the nearby communities of Rouses Point, Chazy, Champlain, and Plattsburgh.

• The Adirondack Coast
• Adirondack Regional Tourism Council 

State Lands and Facilities

• Montys Bay Wildlife Management Area
• Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area
• Flat Rock State Forest

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.