NY Urges Hikers to Avoid Mountain Trails Until June

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation is urging hikers to avoid hikes on trails above 3,000 feet until early June 2014.

DEC officials say they particularly want hikers to avoid higher elevation trails in the Dix, Giant and High Peaks Wilderness Areas in the northern Adirondacks, due to muddy conditions and the potential damage hiking can cause to vegetation and soft ground.

Hikers are advised to only use trails at lower elevations during the spring mud season to avoid damaging natural resources and to promote safety. Lower trails usually dry soon after snowmelt and are on less erosive soils than the higher peaks. DEC asks hikers to avoid the following trails:

High Peaks Wilderness Area

All trails above 3,000 feet; where wet, muddy, snow conditions still prevail, specifically:

Algonquin

Colden

Feldspar

Gothics

Indian Pass

Lake Arnold Cross-Over

Marcy

Marcy Dam – Avalanche – Lake Colden

Phelps Trail above John Brook Lodge

Range Trail

Skylight

Wright and

All “trail-less” peaks

Dix Mountain Wilderness Area

All trails above Elk Lake and Round Pond

Giant Mountain Wilderness Area

All trails above Giant’s Washbowl, “the Cobbles,” and Owls Head.

Alternative Hikes

DEC suggests the following alternative trails for hiking, subject to weather conditions:

High Peaks Wilderness

Ampersand Mountain

Cascade Mountain

Porter Mountain from Cascade Mountain (avoid all other approaches)

Big Slide

The Brothers

Debar Mt. Wild Forest

Azure Mountain

Giant Mt. Wilderness

Giant’s Washbowl

Roaring Brook Falls

Hurricane Mountain Wilderness

The Crows

McKenzie Mt. Wilderness

Baker Mountain

Haystack Mountain

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area

Pharaoh Mountain

Saranac Lakes Wild Forest

Panther Mountain

Scarface Mountain

Get more information on Adirondack Hiking Trails.