Raquette Boreal Complex

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

While the mileage of hiking trails is low for the amount of land in the complex, there are no mountains in the area so hikes are fairly easy.

Long Pond Trail in the Whitehill Wild Forest extends 3.4 miles between its trailhead on the Goldmine Conservation Easement Tract and the Clear Pond Parking Area. The trail passes Lilypad Pond, Long Pond, and Little Rock Pond before reaching Clear Pond. The trail ascends 300 feet in the first 0.6 mile and then descends the same distance in the next mile. The remainder of the trail consists of small ascents and descents. A designated tent site is located on the shores of both Lilypad Pond and Long Pond.

Clear Pond Loop Trail extends 1.4 miles from the Clear Pond Parking Area around the shore of Clear Pond. It includes 0.3 mile of the Long Pond Trail. Four designated tent sites and one campsite are located on the shore of Clear Pond.

Rock Pond Trail intersects the Clear Pond Loop Trail 0.3 mile from the Clear Pond Parking Area. The trail extends 2.2 miles to the Pickettville Road.

Jamestown Falls Trail extends 0.2 mile to the shore of the Raquette River just below the scenic falls.

Moody Falls Trail extends 0.25 mile and descends 40 feet from the trailhead to the bank of the Raquette River a short distance downstream of Moody Falls.

On the Preston Lot Conservation Easement Tract, there are 2 miles of unpaved roads through the property that are open to hiking and other public non-motorized transportation.

On the Hollywood Mountain Conservation Easement Tract, there is an unpaved road through the property that is open to hiking and other public non-motorized transportation.

On the Hungry Bay Conservation Easement Tract, there is a 0.4 mile trail through the property that is open to hiking and other non-motorized transportation. The trail leads to the Blake Falls Reservoir.

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

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

Clear Pond has four designated tent sites and one campsite on its shores which can be accessed from the Clear Pond Parking Area via the Clear Pond Loop Trail.

Long Pond has a designated tent site on its shore that can accessed from the Long Pond Trailhead or the Clear Pond Parking Area via the Long Pond Trail.

Lilypad Pond has a designated tent site on its shore that may be accessed from the Long Pond Trailhead via the Long Pond Trail.

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

General information on biking includes 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.

Biking on Forest Preserve lands is generally allowed on roads open to motor vehicles and designated snowmobile trails, but there are also numerous trails and old roads throughout the complex that are suitable for off-road bicycles.

The seasonal access roads and trails on Goldmine, Preston Lot, Hungry Bay and Hollywood Conservation Easement Tracts are open to biking.

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

Raquette River: A 15-mile section of the Raquette River from Piercefield Flow to Carry Falls Reservoir is considered one of the premier whitewater paddling routes in New York State. The scenery is spectacular along this route with virgin white pine and hemlocks along the riverside.

If you are not an experienced whitewater paddler you should hire a guide. While there are flatwater sections around the launch sites, there are also numerous rapids in this section of the river ranging from Class II to Class IV. Several long, hard portages around waterfalls also are present.

This section of river may be accessed from Dead Creek, Sevey Hand Launch, Moody Falls Hand Launch, Jamestown Falls Hand Launch, and Parmenter Hand Launch.

This full route and the whitewater sections should not be attempted by beginners as it requires considerable expertise in white water canoeing skills and some endurance.

Dead Creek: There is no formal hand launch on Dead Creek, however, a pull-off and picnic area located along State Route 3 next to the bridge provides access to the water. Across the road from the parking area is a path that leads to an informal put-in site. A half mile or so paddle downstream on the meandering creek brings you to a flatwater section of the Raquette River around Sols Island. The section upstream from the access site consists of a mile or more of the meandering flatwater with numerous beaver dams.

Jordan River: Upstream (east) of the Lassiter Main Haul Road Bridge, the Jordan River provides a true boreal forest flatwater paddling experience as the river meanders through forests of balsam fir, tamarack and black spruce, as well as a variety of wetlands and flows over numerous beaver dams.

Downstream from the bridge the river contains significant whitewater sections, including Tebo Falls. Paddling the rapids downstream from here should only be done during periods of high water. The Tebo Falls rapids are rated Class IV - V. It is a potentially dangerous section and should be considered only by experienced whitewater paddlers.

The river can be accessed using the 1.5-mile Jordan River Canoe Carry which leaves the east shore of Carry Falls Reservoir nearly three miles north of the Parmenter Boat Launch. The canoe carry connects to Lassiter Main Haul Road approximately 0.2 mile north of the Jordan River Bridge where paddlers can put in.

West Branch St. Regis River: There are four hand launches for accessing the West Branch St. Regis River along the Main Haul Road of the Five Mile Conservation Easement Tract. This section of the river is only navigable during periods of high water and consists mainly of flatwater with a few small rapids. There are two portages on the conservation easement where the river is closed to public use, at the Main Camp and the Saunders Camp exclusion areas.

Carry Falls Reservoir (3,009 acres) (Carry Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), the largest body of water in the complex, can be accessed by paddlers and boaters from boat launches operated by Brookfield Power. The reservoir may also be accessed from upstream using the Jamestown Falls Hand Launch and paddling down the Raquette River to the reservoir. Also due to its size, high winds can create large waves in the open portion of the reservoir. Paddlers should stay close to shore or in more sheltered portions of the reservoir during periods of high winds.

Rainbow Falls Reservoir (739 acres) (Rainbow Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), can be accessed by paddlers and boaters from a boat launch located near the dam operated by Brookfield Power.

Stark Falls Reservoir (650 acre) (Stark Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), can be accessed by paddlers and boaters from a boat launch located near the dam operated by Brookfield Power.

Blake Falls Reservoir (710 acres) (Blake Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), can be accessed by paddlers via the 0.4 mile trail located on Hungry Bay Conservation Easement.

Lake Ozonia (405 acre) can be accessed by paddlers and small boats from a hand launch on its northern shore.

Clear Pond (35 acres) can be accessed by paddlers and small boats from an ADA-compliant hand launch on the northeastern shore which is can be used by people with mobility disabilities. A nearby picnic site and campsite are also ADA compliant.

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

The Raquette River and the reservoirs it flows through provide many boating opportunities.

Boaters with trailered or car top boats can access the following waters:

3,009-acre Carry Falls Reservoir (Carry Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), the largest waterbody in the complex, can be accessed from boat launches operated by Brookfield Power. Most of the boating activity in the complex is on Carry Falls Reservoir.

739-acre Rainbow Falls Reservoir (Rainbow Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), can be accessed from the boat launch near the dam operated by Brookfield Power.

650-acre Stark Falls Reservoir (Stark Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), can be accessed from the boat launch near the dam operated by Brookfield Power.

Only boaters with small boats can access the following waters:

Lake Ozonia (405 acre) can be accessed from a hand launch at its northern shore. Motors are restricted to 10 horsepower or less.

Clear Pond (35 acres) can be accessed from an ADA-compliant hand launch on the northeastern shore which can be used by people with mobility disabilities. A nearby picnic site and campsite are also ADA compliant.

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 large impoundment and rivers combined with some small ponds and many small streams provide a variety of fishing opportunities. Anglers may use the same trailheads and trails as hikers, the same boat launches and hand launches as paddlers and boaters, and the same camp sites as campers to access and fish these waters.

The Raquette River, between Piercefield Flow and Carry Falls Reservoir, contains brook trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, bullhead, white sucker, sunfish, rock bass, and some walleye.

West Branch St. Regis River is stocked with brown trout. The river can be accessed using any one of the four hand launches located along the Main Haul Road on the Five Mile Conservation Easement Tract. This section of the river is only navigable during periods of high water and consists mainly of flatwater with a few small rapids. There are two portages on the conservation easement where the river is closed to public use, at the Main Camp and the Saunders Camp exclusion areas.

The Jordan River contains wild brook trout and can be accessed by canoe, kayak, or small row boat from the boat launches and hand launches described in the Paddling (on page link) section.

Carry Falls Reservoir (3,009 acres) (Carry Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), the largest waterbody in the complex, contains smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, northern pike, tiger muskellunge, walleye, yellow perch, bullhead, white sucker, rock bass, and sunfish. The reservoir may be accessed from a boat launch near the dam operated by Brookfield Power. Ice fishing is allowed.

Rainbow Falls Reservoir (739 acres) (Rainbow Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), contains largemouth bass, northern pike, chain pickerel, walleye, yellow perch, and sunfish. The reservoir may be accessed from a boat launch near the dam operated by Brookfield Power. Ice fishing is allowed.

Stark Falls Reservoir (650 acres) (Stark Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), contains smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch, and sunfish. The reservoir may be accessed from a boat launch near the dam operated by Brookfield Power. Ice fishing is allowed.

Blake Falls Reservoir (710 acres) (Blake Falls Reservoir Contour Map, PDF), contains smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, yellow perch and sunfish. The reservoir may be accessed via a 0.4mile canoe carry trail on the Hungry Bay Conservation Easement. The reservoir may be accessed from a boat launch near the dam operated by Brookfield Power. Ice fishing is allowed.

Lake Ozonia (405 acre) is stocked with splake, Atlantic salmon, and rainbow trout, and also contains smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and bullhead. The lake can be accessed from a hand launch at its northern shore. Motors are restricted to 10 horsepower or less. Ice fishing is allowed.

Three ponds in the main parcel of the White Hill Wild Forest are very popular with anglers.

Clear Pond (35 acres) is stocked with brook trout and contains bullhead. The pond, which has a firm sandy bottom along much of the shoreline, can be accessed from an ADA-compliant hand launch on the northeastern shore which is can be used by people with mobility disabilities. A nearby picnic site and campsite are also ADA compliant. The use of baitfish is prohibited on Clear Pond.

Lilypad Pond is stocked with brook trout and can be accessed from the Long Pond Trailhead via the Long Pond Trail. The pond has high, rocky shorelines. The use of baitfish is prohibited on Lilypad Pond.

Long Pond is stocked with brook trout and can be accessed from the Long Pond Trailhead via the Long Pond Trail. The pond has high, rocky shorelines. The use of baitfish is prohibited on Long Pond.

Alder Meadow Brook and Dead Creek pass through the White Hill Wild Forest; both contain wild brook trout.

Preston Lot Conservation Easement Tract: Cold Brook is popular with anglers seeking wild brook trout. Other small brooks on the Preston Lot Conservation Easement Tract also contain wild brook trout.

Dead Creek Conservation Easement Tract: Dead creek transects the southern portion of the easement and can be accessed by foot.

North Central NY Fishing provides information on fishing in the western 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: 6F & 6J

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

All the Forest Preserve lands and waters on them in the complex are open to hunting. Most of the lands and waters within the Conservation Easement Tracts are also open to hunting except as described below.

Hunters may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads and trails as hikers, the same boat launches and hand launches as paddlers and boaters, and the same camp sites as campers to access the lands and waters in this area.

The complex provides a variety of hunting opportunities. Hunting has historically focused on big game, deer and bear. Small game hunting and fur-bearer trapping are also prominent. One of the most popular hunting periods in the complex is during the early season for black bear. During the regular big game season, the pursuit of white-tailed deer draws hunters to the area. Small game and furbearers that can be found include coyote, bobcat, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, fisher, mink, muskrat, striped skunk, river otter, beaver, porcupine and varying hare.

Hunting is allowed on the following Conservation Easement Tracts: Kildare, Preston Lot, Goldmine, Hungry Bay, Stark, Peaked Hill, and Hollywood Mountain.

These conservation easement tracts can be accessed as follows:

• Goldmine and Hungry Bay Conservation Easement Tracts can be accessed from White Hill Road.
• Stark Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Stark Road.
• Peaked Hill Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Raquette River Road.
• Preston Lot Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Round Pond Road, a seasonal use road off East Hill Road in Parishville.
• Hollywood Mountain Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from State Route 56.
• Dead Creek Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Carriage Road or Conifer Road.
• There is no public motorized access to the Kildare Tract. Public access to the Kildare Tract currently requires traversing the Carry Falls reservoir by boat. The Jordan River can be accessed via a canoe carry on the reservoirs east shore.

Hunting is prohibited on the Five Mile Conservation Easement Tract.

Wildlife Management Unit: 6F & 6J

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

All the Forest Preserve lands and waters on them in the complex are open to trapping. Most of the lands and waters within the Conservation Easement Tracts are also open to trapping except as described below.

Trappers may use the parking areas, roads, seasonal access roads, trailheads and trails as hikers, the same boat launches and hand launches as paddlers and boaters, and the same camp sites as campers to access the lands and waters in this area.

The complex provides a variety of hunting opportunities. Hunting has historically focused on big game, deer and bear. Small game hunting and fur-bearer trapping are also prominent. One of the most popular hunting periods in the complex is during the early season for black bear. During the regular big game season, the pursuit of white-tailed deer draws hunters to the area. Small game and furbearers that can be found include coyote, bobcat, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, fisher, mink, muskrat, striped skunk, river otter, beaver, porcupine and varying hare.

Trapping is allowed on the following Conservation Easement Tracts: Kildare, Preston Lot, Goldmine, Hungry Bay, Stark, Peaked Hill, and Hollywood Mountain.

These conservation easement tracts can be accessed as follows:

• Goldmine and Hungry Bay Conservation Easement Tracts can be accessed from White Hill Road.
• Stark Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Stark Road.
• Peaked Hill Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Raquette River Road.
• Preston Lot Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Round Pond Road, a seasonal use road off East Hill Road in Parishville.
• Hollywood Mountain Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from State Route 56.
• Dead Creek Conservation Easement Tract can be accessed from Carriage Road or Conifer Road.
• There is no public motorized access to the Kildare Tract. Public access to the Kildare Tract currently requires traversing the Carry Falls reservoir by boat. The Jordan River can be accessed via a canoe carry on the reservoirs east shore.

Trapping is prohibited on the Five Mile Conservation Easement Tract.

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

Several state snowmobile trails cross through the complex including the C8, S81A, S86A and S87 in the north and S79 and C7C in the south. Snowmobiling is allowed on designated snowmobile trails only.

Rock Pond Trail is a designated snowmobile trail as is Clear Pond Road and a portion of Clear Pond Trail.

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

All of the designated snowmobile trails in the complex are maintained by the St. Lawrence County Snowmobile Association (leaves DEC website).

More information on snowmobiling, including an interactive trail map, is also available from the New York State Snowmobile Association (leaves DEC website).

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