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About The Area:
Snowmobile season kicks off with a bang featuring Snodeo in
early December, which lets you see all of the latest
snowmobiles and equipment while providing the opportunity to
ride the well groomed trail system in the Old Forge area.
These famous trails take snowmobilers through the majestic
woodlands of the Adirondack Mountains, and with hundreds of
miles of groomed trails and the usual powder snow from early
December until March, it doesn't get any better. As a matter
of fact, the Old Forge region experiences plenty of snow...
Usually as much as two hundred inches.
In addition, a joint trail system with neighboring Inlet,
New York allows Old Forge to offer some 700 miles of groomed
trails accessible from the area. You can experience open country riding in the Moose
River Region, which uses State Land to connect to Indian
Lake
While in Old Forge, snowmobilers have been pleased with the
offering from Merchants, Restaurants and Pit Stops where
Merchants and Inn Keepers know how to keep their guests
happy. This has again been demonstrated by "Snow Goer
Magazines, Snow Time Awards" and Old Forge aims to continue
its tradition of friendliness and good service. Its the Best
in the East.
Besides good lodging and good food, with several motels,
lodges and housekeeping cottages right on the trail system.
The dealerships will help visiting snowmobilers keep their
machines in good running condition with gas, oil, parts and
accessories. Some snowmobile rentals are also available, but
you should be sure to call ahead to check for availability.
Winter activities are abundant in this land of beautiful
scenery and so are people who want to make your stay a very
pleasant one.
Old Forge and snowmobiling are a team that has been in
existence for more than thirty years. This team has built a
solid national reputation for Old Forge, and the more than
12,000 permits issued each year are proof of the Regions
ever growing popularity among snowmobilers.
Discover Old Forge this winter. Also remember that
snowmobilers have traditionally paid through a permit system
to help keep this areas trail system well groomed, and
riders planning to vacation the area should obtain a trail
permit.
Below is a brief narrative of the surrounding towns that
make up Old Forge's snowmobile network.
OLD
FORGE:
Old Forge is a recreational oasis located at the beginning
of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. It’s a year-round playground
offering a variety of activities to visitors of all ages. In
the summer there is boating, canoeing, swimming, water
skiing, golf, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and camping
or tenting at one of the nearby campsites.
A public beach and boat docks are located in the heart of
the village. Popular attractions are the Adirondack Scenic
Railroad, the Enchanted Forest/Water Safari Amusement Park,
and the sightseeing and dinner cruises on the Fulton Chain
of Lakes. There are a variety of motels, cottages and camps,
great restaurants, specialty shops, gift shops and retail
stores.
Spectacular falls colors draw hundreds of visitors in
autumn, and the 90-mile Adirondack Canoe Classic starts in
Old Forge Pond. Then hunters come for black bear and deer.
By January, it’s a winter wonderland with snowmobiling on
hundreds of miles of groomed trails. Other winter activities
include cross-country skiing, show shoeing, and ice fishing
and alpine skiing and snow tubing on McCauley Mountain.
Spring offers the thrill of rafting or kayaking through the
rapids of the mighty Moose River. Then it’s time to start
all over again.
BEAVER
RIVER:
Beaver River, located at the South Eastern end of Stillwater
Reservoir, is surrounded by one hundred and seventy thousand
acres of wilderness and the only access is by water.
In the summer, visitors come by boat, canoe or seaplane.
Winter access is on groomed snowmobile trails or on
cross-country skis across the ice.
This quiet "island" hamlet, six-tenths of a square mile in
size, comprises private camps, which accommodates visitors
who come all four seasons to fish, hunt, cross-country ski
or snowmobile.
Generators provide electric power. Food, fuel and
supplies are transported by boat or barge in summer or on a
truck with special wheels that fit the railroad tracks.
BIG
MOOSE:
Big Moose is located five miles north of Eagle Bay. It
borders Big Moose Lake, which got its name, according to Roy
Higby, author of A Man From The Past, because its many
picturesque bays made it resemble the outline of a bulk
moose head. In the South Bay of the lake, Chester Gillette
committed the murder of Grace Brown, made famous in Theodore
Dreiser’s book, The American Tragedy. The names were changed
in his book.
Cottages, camps, inns, fine restaurants and taverns
accommodate visitors. Boat rentals are available. Hiking on
a network of trails leading from the lake allows visitors to
experience the beauty and serenity of the wilderness.
Big Moose Community Chapel, a local treasure built by former
resident Earl Covey, is a unique example of church
architecture. Sunday services are held through the fall, and
the Chapel is the setting for many weddings, and an annual
bazaar.
Snowmobilers have access to the Town of Webb trail system
and a dirt road leads to Stillwater.
EAGLE
BAY:
Eagle Bay, a quiet hamlet 10 miles north of Old Forge, lies
near Eagle Creek where a pair of American Eagles nested for
many years in a tree overlooking the water.
Cottage and camp rentals provide access to a sandy beach
overlooking beautiful Fourth Lake. A super market,
Laundromat, post office, gift shops, taverns and restaurants
accommodate the need of tourists.
INLET:
Inlet’s motto is “Share Our Good Nature”. Located at the
head of Fourth Lake, it is surrounded by state land. The
wilderness lies in close proximity to the town and there are
many lakes, ponds, rivers and streams just waiting to be
explored by visitors.
The Adirondack Discovery Program offers a series of free
daytime outings and evening lectures to acquaint visitors
with the beauty of nature that abounds here.
There are two public launches. Boat rentals are available.
Fishing, horseback riding, golf and scenic plane rides are
also enjoyed by visitors. Popular winter sports are
snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and ice
fishing.
The town has a variety of shops and accommodations, a movie
theater and two churches. Historic Arrowhead Park, which
regularly schedules concerts, art works displays, and other
special events. Also has a public beach, tennis courts and a
picnic area with a playground.
STILLWATER:
The tiny hamlet of Stillwater is a remote wilderness retreat
located at the west end of the Stillwater Reservoir, 11
miles north of Big Moose and 28 miles from Lowville. It has
a year-round population of 20, but it swells to many the
number in the summer with campers, kayakers, canoers and
hikers. It’s the starting point for hiking into Five Ponds
and the Pepperbox Wilderness areas.
Canoers and kayakers enjoy Stillwater’s changing water
conditions where the wind and waves are not unusual. The
Reservoir is host to a large population of loons, as well as
nesting bald eagles, and it’s stocked with small mouth bass,
splake, lake trout and yellow perch. During the winter
months it’s a popular snowmobile destination.
Food, lodging, groceries, gas, fishing licenses, gifts, and
supplies are available in the village, as well as boat,
canoe and barge rentals, a boat launch and a Ranger’s
Station.
The reservoir has 128 miles of shoreline and 42 islands. It
normally measures 53 to 60 feet at its deepest.
THENDARA:
Thendara, an Indian name meaning, “Rim of the Forest”, was
formerly named the Fulton Chain. In 1919, Lyon deCamp, owner
of 17,000 acres of land in the area, moved into Van Auken’s
Tavern and stayed for 29 years. Determined to make the town
into a resort area, he changed the name of Fulton Chain to
Thendara and changed Hellgate Ponds, south of the village,
to the Okara Lakes, naming them “Eska” and “Tekini”, meaning
“the eyes”.
Thendara, once a major logging and railroad center, is the
home of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad which carries
passengers in vintage coaches through the areas of
wilderness unseen from the highway.
Motels and restaurants offer accommodations to visitors.
Shops with sporting goods and outdoor equipment are located
on the strip leading into Old Forge. The dividing line
between Thendara and Old Forge is the bridge over the Moose
River on Route 28.
The
following areas are on the outer edges of Old Forge:
INDIAN
LAKE:
Indian Lake, nestled in the beautiful Central Adirondack
Mountains, is the Whitewater Capital of New York State
offering thrilling rafting trip through the spring rapids of
the Hudson River Gorge.
From spring through fall Indian Lake and nearby Algonquin
and Abenake Lakes offer good paddling for canoeists, and a
fishing paradise for anglers with a bounty of landlocked
salmon, large and smallmouth bass and northern pike. Boat
and canoe rentals are available as well as supplies and
launching ramps.
There are ice caves at Chimney Mountain to explore, and
craft fairs and other events that entertain visitors.
Brilliant fall colors attract sightseers in autumn. Big game
season draws hunters to the area for black bear and deer.
When the first snowflakes fly the winter season begins with
cross-country skiing, skating, snow shoeing, snowmobiling
and ice fishing. Nearby Gore Mountain offers challenging
downhill slopes for alpine skiers.
LONG
LAKE:
Long Lake is at the geographic center of the Adirondacks.
The lake is 14 miles long and it is part of the canoe route
from Old Forge to Paul Smiths. Bird watching is a popular
pastime. Loons are common on the lake with an occasional
sighting of a Bald Eagle, along with many other notable
species.
A seaplane charter service is available for sightseeing, and
fishing and hunting trips. Hotels, motels, cottages and bed
and breakfasts provide comfortable lodging. State campsites
are also available. Restaurants and inns offer a choice of
good cooking or fine dining.
Aside from hiking and fishing, the town has a sand beach
with picnic tables and a swimming raft. Visitors often
include a trip to Buttermilk Falls. Snowmobiling and
cross-country skiing are popular winter sports.
SPECULATOR, LAKE PLEASANT, PISECO & MOREHOUSE:
The four hamlets of Speculator, Lake Pleasant, Piseco and
Morehouse are year-round vacation areas offering fishing,
boating, swimming, canoeing, hiking, horseback riding,
hunting, cross-country skiing, groomed snowmobile trails,
downhill skiing at Oak Mountain, ice skating in a covered
pavilion and ice fishing. Surrounded by wilderness, crystal
clear lakes, winding streams and mountain peaks, the area
offers visitors a taste of unspoiled nature at its best.
Piseco has a small airport to accommodate fly-in visitors.
Every July, Piseco holds a Triathlon, a craft fair and a
chicken barbeque.
Speculator hosts a Sea Plane fly-in and a golf tournament in
July, along with an outdoor art show and a Peddler’s Market.
In September, they present a Reenactment of a Civil War
Encampment.
Lake Pleasant offers an antique boat regatta during the July
and Morehouse has a big craft fair. Charming inns, cottages,
camps and state campsites offer accommodations to
vacationers. A variety of restaurants serve visitors
throughout the year.
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