The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the final Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for the Speculator Tree Farm, Perkins Clearing and Burnham Mountain Conservation Easement Tracts in Hamilton County. The RMP was developed in partnership with Lyme Adirondack Forest Company, the landowner. 

“Conservation easements are vital tools that preserve open space, maintain sustainable forest management, protect sensitive areas, and support the people who live, work and visit within these beautiful landscapes,” said DEC Region 5 Director Joe Zalewski. “By maintaining the Lyme Adirondack Forest Company easement lands as community assets and supporting outdoor recreational access that complements sustainable forestry, DEC ensures that they serve both environmental and community needs.” 

The conservation easement properties include multiple tracts totaling 38,233 acres in the towns of Lake Pleasant, Wells, and Arietta and the Village of Speculator. The properties border several state Forest Preserve management units, including the Jessup River Wild Forest, the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, and the West Canada Lakes Wilderness. 

These tracts have significant recreational value and the properties have a long history of recreational use through private hunting camps open to the public for hunting and other forms of recreation since 2005, as well as by fee prior to the conservation easement. There are several access points to the 138-mile Northville-Placid Trail, New York State’s oldest long-distance trail. Snowmobiling is among the most popular of all the outdoor pursuits on these tracts. 

Recreation Management Actions 

The final RMP outlines recreation management actions to be implemented in a phased manner, including:  

Snowmobiling routes on Speculator Tree Farm CE: The existing snowmobile network consists of approximately 36 miles of trails. The RMP proposes an additional 5.7 miles of snowmobile trails. The town and village roads provide an added 32 miles of snowmobiling on the property. 

Motor vehicle routes: Approximately one mile of new roads will be opened with associated parking areas on High Bank Road, providing access to a scenic overlook, and Jessup Falls Road, providing access to a day-use area with waterfalls and fishing. Once implemented, the property will host 39 miles of roads open to motor vehicles. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are considered motor vehicles for the purposes of this RMP and are permitted on roads open to public motor vehicles as well as Cave Hill Road and the Fly to Elm multi-use trail. 

Hiking routes: Improvements to the Pine Mountain Trail, Jessup Falls Trail, High Bank Overlook and the North Country National Scenic Trail. 

Primitive camping: Three campsites will be upgraded to meet accessible standards along with the addition of three new campsites and one new accessible lean-to. 

Biking routes: A trail network is proposed to be developed in partnership with the Oak Mountain Ski Center property and local community. Fly to Elm, a multi-use trail, will be developed at the northern end of Elm Lake Road, connecting to Fly Creek Road. 

Paddling: Improvements to existing car-top boat launches. 

Access for people with disabilities: Includes a new lean-to and potential trail development, day use site, car-top boat launch, and additional campsites. 

DEC will not provide public ATV access on the property at this time. 

Sustainable Forest Management

One of the stated purposes of the Conservation Easement is to ensure that sustainable forest management and the long-term production of forest products is available to current and future landowners. It is common to see foresters, loggers, and logging equipment on the property during all seasons. Visitors should remain diligent of machinery and consult the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage for potential logging closure zones. 

Lyme Adirondack Forest Company is dually certified to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sustainable forest management standards. These certifications require sustainable forest management and an annual third-party audit to ensure compliance by both organizations. 

The Kunjamuk Young Forest Demonstration Project is a Wildlife Management Institute initiative conducted in partnership with Audubon New York, where Lyme demonstrates how commercial timber harvesting can create forest habitat for breeding birds and other wildlife in a carefully planned, science-based, and sustainable manner. The 70-year project, begun in 2015, maintains approximately 10 percent of the forest in a young-forest condition at any given time. Many birds nest in young forests including the American Woodcock, Ruffed Grouse, Alder Flycatcher, Canada Warbler, Whip-poor-will and White-throated Sparrow. Additional information, including breeding bird survey findings, is available through the Wildlife Management Institute. 

Lyme has been partnering with the Wildlife Management Institute since 2009. Work has focused on creating habitat diversity across their ownership with a focus on species of greatest concern as identified in the New York State Wildlife Action Plan. 

Learn more about recreational access for the Speculator Tree Farm, Perkins Clearing and Burnham Mountain Conservation Easement Tracts. For more information on DEC’s Conservation Easement program, visit Conservation Easements - NYSDEC.