Written Comments Accepted until Sept. 16; Public Meeting Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking public input on the Draft Recreation Management Plan for recreational access within the Speculator Tree Farm, Perkins Clearing, and Burnham Mountain Tracts in Hamilton County. DEC will accept emailed and written comments until Sept. 16, 2025. The public may also provide comments at an in-person meeting at the Lake Pleasant Central School Auditorium, 120 Elm Lake Road, Speculator, on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. DEC will begin the meeting with a brief review of the draft plan before opening the floor to members of the public to provide spoken comments for the record. Registration for this meeting is not required. 

"DEC's goal is to protect the natural resources, provide outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors, and ensure these lands are an asset to the communities and a benefit to local economies,” said Regional Director Joe Zalewski. “These conservation easements preserve open space, protect against development, require sustainable forest management practices, and safeguard sensitive areas and ecological resources.”  

The easement properties encompass several tracts totaling 38,233 acres in the towns of Lake Pleasant, Wells, and Arietta, and the village of Speculator. The properties share boundaries with several State Forest Preserve management units, including the Jessup River Wild Forest, Siamese Ponds Wilderness, and West Canada Lakes Wilderness.  

An Interim Recreation Management Plan (IRMP) established recreation opportunities in 2004 until a Recreation Management Plan is developed and approved. The temporary, interim plan includes 36 miles of snowmobile trails and motor vehicle roads, several trailheads and parking areas including access points to the 138-mile Northville-Placid Trail, 17 primitive campsites, and one day use area.   

DEC proposes the following phased approach actions in the draft RMP:  

• Snowmobiling routes – Speculator Tree Farm East Mountain Loop Trail – 3.8 miles and the Fly Creek Road to Pine Mountain Trail – approximately 2.5 miles of trail, partly ungroomed;  

• Motor vehicle routes – Open one mile of new roads and build associated parking areas on High Bank Road to a scenic overlook and Jessup Falls Road to a short falls and fishing spot. 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;

• 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 upgraded to accessible standards, three new campsites, and one new accessible lean-to;  

• Biking routes – Trail network development in partnership with the Oak Mountain Ski Center property and local community; 

• Paddling – Improvement of existing car-top boat launches; and, 

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