Sable Highlands Conservation Easement Tract

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

Currently there are no official hiking trails on the portion of the Sable Highlands CE or the Chazy Highlands Management Complex covered by this webpage, although all roadways in Public Use Areas and Linear Recreation Corridors currently open to the public may be hiked. There are no maps of these roads, so hikers must have map and compass skills to properly navigate around.

Many users also enjoy walking on the numerous miles of logging roads in the area. These informal routes are open to non-motorized recreation use.

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

On the Sable Highlands Conservation Easement, camping and campfires are only allowed at designated campsites.

All of the conservation easement land campsites may only be accessed by foot, non-motorized watercraft (where applicable) or mountain bike. Only people with a permit through the Motorized Access Program for People With Disabilities (MAPPWD) can access the campsites by motor vehicle. Campers planning to hike or bike to either of the two campsites in the Plumadore-Inman PUA are encouraged to park in the nearby Loon Lake Mountain trailhead parking area on the west side of County Route 26, which is in the neighboring Kushaqua Conservation Easement Tract.

On the portion of the Chazy Highlands Management Complex covered by this webpage, there are no designated campsites, but at-large backcountry camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.

While nuisance black bears are not a big problem in this unit, overnight campers are encouraged to store all food, toiletries and garbage in bear-resistant canisters.

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

On the Sable Highlands CE, paddlers can access Grass Pond and Fishhole Pond in the Plumadore-Inman PUA using the accessible waterway access sites. Be aware that only paddle craft and small boats powered by electric motors are allowed on these waters. The North Branch of the Saranac River can be accessed from the Saranac River PUA; this section of the river is fast moving and is not recommended for beginners.

Experienced paddlers can enjoy a trip on the North Branch of the Saranac River. There are also public boat launches on Upper Chateaugay Lake and on Chazy Lake.

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

On Sable Highlands CE, Grass Pond and Fishhole Pond in the Plumadore-Inman PUA both have accessible waterway access sites and are open to small motorized boats only. While boats with motors are allowed on the ponds, DEC recommends the use of boats no longer than 14 feet with electric motors to protect aquatic vegetation and shorelines.

There is a hard surface boat ramp on the northern end of Chazy Lake in Dannemora and on the northern end of Upper Chateaugay Lake in Ellenburg, along with other informal boating opportunities.

Don't Spread Aquatic Invasive Species! Boats and trailers can spread invasive species from waterbody to waterbody unless properly cleaned after use. Regulations prohibit boats from launching from or leaving DEC launch sites without first draining the boat and cleaning the boat, trailer and equipment of visible plant and animal material.

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

Biking is permitted on maintained roads that are open to public bicycling. Many users also enjoy biking on the numerous miles of logging roads in the area. These informal routes are open to non-motorized recreation use.

On the Sable Highlands CE, numerous logging roads provide ample opportunities for biking. Mountain bike use is allowed on any road or trail in a Public Use Area and on Linear Recreation Corridors open to the public except those that are specifically posted closed for mountain bike use. CAUTION: Logging may be occurring on the property and timber harvesting equipment may be utilizing these roads and trails.

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

On the Sable Highlands CE, numerous high-quality ponds, lakes and streams supporting diverse fisheries resources can be found on the Public Use Areas. The public may access all streams, rivers, ponds and lakes on Public Use Areas for fishing using non-motorized methods unless specifically prohibited.

The North Branch of the Saranac River provides opportunities to fish for brown trout and brook trout. A parking area has been designated and signed.

Hatch Brook is stocked with brown trout and also has a wild brook trout population.

Grass Pond in the Plumadore-Inman PUA has a fishing/waterway access site and contains brook trout. The access site is off County Route 26 (Loon Lake Road). A parking area has been designated and signed at this location.

Also in the Plumadore-Inman PUA, Fishhole Pond is stocked with brook trout and it too has a fishing/waterway access site. NOTE: The lands around the access road are closed to the public. Parking and stopping along the road or other access of these lands is prohibited.

There is a short foot trail to provide fishing access to Plumadore Brook in the Plumadore-Inman PUA. It begins at the parking area closest to Duck Pond and travels to the stream bank.

Upper Chateaugay Lake contains lake trout, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, rainbow smelt, yellow perch, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, and rock bass. The lake is managed as a two-story fishery. Northern pike are present due to an illegal introduction. They now dominate the fishery and can exceed 15 pounds. The lake is stocked with approximately 2,700 landlocked salmon and 6,300 lake trout. Rainbow trout stocking was cancelled in 2010. Special fishing regulations apply. See the Freshwater Fishing Regulation Guide (PDF).

Fish species present in Chazy Lake are lake trout, landlocked salmon, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, brown bullhead, yellow perch, rainbow smelt, and pumpkinseed. The lake trout, rainbow trout and landlocked salmon fishing is concentrated in the center of the lake over the deepest water. While not very numerous, the pike can attain large sizes. Chazy Lake is stocked with rainbow trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon. Special fishing regulations apply. See the Freshwater Fishing Regulation Guide (PDF).

Adirondack/Lake Champlain 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.

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: 5C

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

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

The diverse habitat supports a wide variety of big and small game wildlife species. All public use areas, State Forest, and Wildlife Management Areas in the vicinity are open to public hunting and trapping during the legal hunting seasons, except where specifically prohibited by posted notice.

Areas where recent timber harvests (logging) have taken place provide excellent habitat and hunting opportunities for deer, bear and ruffed grouse. Maps have been developed that show the areas where timber has recently been harvested and the locations of roads open to motor vehicles, parking areas, trails and designated campsites:

• Cold Brook PUA Map
• Figure 8 PUA Map
• Saranac River PUA Map

Wildlife Management Unit: 5C

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

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

The diverse habitat supports a wide variety of big and small game wildlife species. All public use areas, State Forest, and Wildlife Management Areas in the vicinity are open to public trapping during the legal hunting and trapping seasons, except where specifically prohibited by posted notice.

Maps have been developed that show the areas where timber has recently been harvested and the locations of roads open to motor vehicles, parking areas, trails and designated campsites:

• Cold Brook PUA Map
• Figure 8 PUA Map
• Saranac River PUA Map

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

On the Sable Highlands CE, several trails pass through the Public Use Areas, on designated Linear Recreation Corridors and on the municipal roads. These routes provide important connections between communities in the area and constitute key links in the inter-county snowmobile trail network. Due to winter logging operations snowmobile trails may be rerouted.

A parking area has been built on Goldsmith Road for vehicles and trailers. The southern end of Linear Recreation Corridor 8 (Liberty Road) lies several hundred feet to the east of the parking area and connects to the C8A Snowmobile Corridor Trail (Wolf Pond Road) via Linear Recreation Corridor 7 (Wolf Pond Mountain Road). West of its intersection with LRC 7, LRC 8 travels toward the hamlet of Loon Lake where it connects to the C7 Snowmobile Corridor Trail which provides direct access to Onchiota and points south or Mountain View and points north.

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.

Many users also enjoy cross-country skiing on the numerous miles of logging roads in the area. These informal routes are open to non-motorized recreation use.

On the Sable Highlands CE, people may ski on unplowed roads in Public Use Areas and on Linear Recreation Corridors that are not open to public motorized use and that can be safely accessed from public roads. Skiers are discouraged from using groomed snowmobile trails.

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

Snowshoeing is permitted on all hiking trails.

Many users also enjoy snowshoeing on the numerous miles of logging roads in the area. These informal routes are open to non-motorized recreation use.

On the Sable Highlands CE, people may snowshoe on unplowed roads in Public Use Areas and on Linear Recreation Corridors that are not open to public motorized use and that can be safely accessed from public roads. Snowshoers are discouraged from using groomed snowmobile trails.

General information on horseback riding includes safety tips and rules and regulations.

Horseback riding is permitted on maintained roads that are open to public horseback riding.

Many users enjoy horseback riding on the numerous miles of logging roads in the area. These informal routes are open to non-motorized recreation use.

On the Sable Highlands CE, numerous roads and skid trails on the property lend themselves well to equestrian use. Horseback riding is allowed on any road or trail in a Public Use Area or Linear Recreation Corridor open to the public except those that are specifically posted as closed to equestrian use. No horse assembly areas have been developed at this time.

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 birds (Common Loon, Peregrine Falcon) and mammals (Moose, Black Bear) are unique to the Adirondacks or are mainly found here. Over 50 species of mammals and hundreds of species of birds inhabit or pass through the Adirondacks at one time of the year or another.

This area contains one of the largest concentrations of moose in New York.