Broadwing_Blog - Broadwing Adventures

Trail #10 - 10 Trails We Should Build Before We Worry about Converting Rails to Trails

12/13/2012

To see the introductory Blog Post to this series and the other trail suggestions click HERE

I have had so much interest in this series I thought I would encourage people to submit what trail they think should be built. Let's keep this conversation going and, if you would like, share a trail in the Saranac Lake area that you think might be appropriate for one or more outdoor recreation uses. Once I have completed posting my ten trails I will start posting trails submitted that I think are appropriate. You can make your submissions by sending them to me HERE. Let me hear from you.

Trail # 10 - Black Pond Trail
This trail already exists from the Forest Home Road to Black Pond. I've skied it many times and once bushwhacked on skis from Black Pond to Little Weller Pond, to Middle Saranac Lake and out to the Ampersand Mountain Parking lot. For these purposes I have the trail intersecting my trail #9. This provides a nice second option for those hiking around Lower Saranac Lake.

Stay tuned tomorrow to see how I connect all these trails so you can see how you can access any of the trails from the other.
Thanks for following along.
Jack

Name

10. Black Pond Trial

Access/Description

From the Forest Home Road to Black Pond and then intersecting with the Lower Saranac Lake Trail.
Difficulty:
Hiking is moderate
Skiing is challenging
Mt. Biking is challenging

Distance

>4 miles

Thoughts?Issues

This is Wild Forest so could be a multipurpose year around trail although for a number of reasons it wouldn't be practical for snowmobiles. A hunter/fisherman’s trail already exists to Black Pond.

5 Comments

Frank

12/13/2012 12:35:20 pm

I like we're your going with these trails. The only drawback is parking at the state launch is a mess in the summer.

Michael McNulty

12/14/2012 11:24:01 pm

I like very much what you have been doing here. A question on an issue that has been brought up several times. Almost all trailheads in the Adirondacks have a parking issue. This of course is due to a large percentage of people that use the trails, residents or visitors, are driving to the trail head. Other than DOT getting involved, how could infrastructure be improved, and is there any other way besides DOT?

Tony Goodwin

1/8/2013 02:14:56 am

Having finally read through trails 1-10, I can say that only one of them provides anything like the experience that will be possible if ARTA succeeds in converting the Adirondack Scenic Railroad to a rail trail. All of the others, while interesting additions to the local trail network, are for skilled mountain bikers or hikers. The proposed route using the old D&H roadbed to Onchiota and then the NYC roadbed to Mountain View and beyond is potentially a similar experience. A few problems, however: 1) It will need a lot of work to create a firm, bikeable surface, and there is no scrap value from rails and ties to help pay for the work. 2) There is apparently a landowner in Onchiota who only allows winter travel on the old road bed, and that section was abandoned so long ago that "rail banking" no longer applies. 3) North of Onchiota, one is essentially bicycling on a heavy-duty power line - not the most aesthetic experience. 4) ATVs and other users have established themselves on that route, and it could be difficult to dislodge them. Starting "clean", we are confident we can keep the route non-motorized in non-snow seasons, and 5) There really isn't much in the way of services or attractions between Saranac Lake and Malone. Granted, it's a long way from Tupper to Beaver River, but that is clearly a doable day trip with good facilities at each end.
We, ARTA, firmly believe that the railroad provides very little value to this area, but a rail trail would round out the trail offerings for this area and get a whole new set of people outside and recreating.

Keith Gorgas

5/17/2016 10:34:06 am

Jack, you probably know that there is already another trail on the other side of the river from the Rt 3 boat launch that goes down to the Lower Locks via the Cold Brook lean-to. Jeff Gonyea used it a lot to check on the Lower Lock. My boys used to camp every weekend of the winter down at that lean-to. From the locks there is a 4 wheeler trail over to the Kiawassa lean-to. There used to be a bridge at the Kiawassa outlet and a road to the locks.

Jack

5/17/2016 11:00:30 am

Thanks Keith. It has been a number of years since I've been in there. I did not know about the 4 wheeler trail. I bushwhacked from the locks to the lean-to years ago. I've also hunted that area a bit.
If you're ever near our office stop by I'd like to look at some maps with you.
Thanks again.

Trail #10 - 10 Trails We Should Build Before We Worry about Converting Rails to Trails

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Jack Drury
& Doug Fitzgerald

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Trail #10 - 10 Trails We Should Build Before We Worry about Converting Rails to Trails

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Access/Description

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Thoughts?Issues

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Jack Drury & Doug Fitzgerald

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Jack Drury
& Doug Fitzgerald