An accessible trail was recently completed in the Town of North Hudson, Essex County in the Adirondack Park. The new trail provides recreational opportunities to visitors of all abilities to access the Boreas Ponds adjacent to the High Peaks Wilderness Area.
The area has stunning views of the Great Range and the experience of being surrounded by a vast, wild landscape.
A local contractor, Martin’s Excavating, worked on this two-part project. First, they improved the condition of the dam access road including grating, compacting, and resurfacing the road. They then constructed a new accessible trail that serves as a connection between motorized access and the waters of Boreas Ponds.
The road and trail will be open after the spring snow melt. Parking is at the Four Corners parking area near the LaBier Dam. The Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities route extends approximately 0.7 miles beyond the Four Corners to the Boreas Ponds Parking Area and the new trail proceeds 500 feet to the ponds.
The 20,760 acre Boreas Pond Tract was acquired by New York State in 2016 from the Adirondack Nature Conservancy. It was the final phase of a multi-year project to acquire 65,000 acres of the former Finch, Pruyn lands.
This trail project was funded by the Environmental Protection Fund, Overuse, which was allocated by the legislature as a dedicated source of revenue for areas in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks that accommodate more visitation, relieving pressure on other high-use areas.
Photo: The accessible trail to the edge of the Boreas Ponds (provided by DEC).
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