Saranac Lakes Wild Forest
The 75,000-acre Saranac Lakes Wild Forest is part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The most prominent features of this unit are the many lakes, ponds, and rivers. These waterways are to this unit what mountains are to the adjacent High Peaks Wilderness. The unit's 144 water bodies range from small ponds entirely owned by the State to large lakes with a mix of State Land and private lands.
About the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest
The Saranac Lakes Wild Forest is a unit of the New York State Forest Preserve managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The unit contains approximately 75,881 acres of Forest Preserve lands and 19,226 acres of water, including numerous lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands.
The Wild Forest provides a wide range of recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, wildlife observation, and nature photography. The area also contains designated campsites, lean-tos, boat launches, trail systems, canoe carries, and fishing access sites.
Management of the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest focuses on protecting natural resources while providing opportunities for public recreation. Conservation priorities include protecting water quality, wildlife habitat, wetlands, forests, scenic resources, and ecological communities while addressing environmental impacts associated with recreational use. Stewardship efforts include habitat restoration, erosion control, invasive species management, visitor education, and resource monitoring to help conserve the area's natural resources for future generations.
History
The Saranac Lakes Wild Forest has a rich history that reflects the evolution of the Adirondack region. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples traveled through its interconnected lakes, rivers, and forests, relying on these waterways for transportation, hunting, fishing, and seasonal travel. During the early 1800s, European settlers arrived, and the region became known for its logging industry, guide services, trapping, and abundant natural resources. By the mid-1800s, the area's scenic beauty attracted increasing numbers of visitors, leading to the development of hotels, sporting camps, and the famous Adirondack guide boat tradition that helped establish the Saranac Lakes region as a premier outdoor destination.
As the Adirondacks grew in popularity, efforts to conserve the region's forests and waterways also expanded. In 1885, New York State established the Forest Preserve to protect public forest lands and conserve valuable natural resources. The creation of the Adirondack Park in 1892 further strengthened these conservation efforts, and in 1894, the "Forever Wild" clause was added to the New York State Constitution, permanently protecting Forest Preserve lands from sale, lease, or extensive development.
The area's history continued to evolve throughout the 20th century. In 1925, the Clara Barton Memorial Forest was established near Lake Clear as a living memorial honoring the founder of the American Red Cross. Nearby Lake Placid gained worldwide recognition by hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, bringing international attention to the Adirondack region. In 1972, the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan established management guidelines for state-owned lands throughout the park, helping balance natural resource protection with public recreation.
Today, the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest remains one of the Adirondacks' most treasured public landscapes. Its forests, lakes, ponds, rivers, wetlands, and mountains provide exceptional opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, mountain biking, skiing, and other outdoor activities. Ongoing stewardship focuses on protecting water quality, conserving wildlife habitat, restoring disturbed areas, managing invasive species, reducing erosion, and preserving the scenic and ecological character that has made this landscape an important part of New York's Forest Preserve for well over a century.
Environmental Conservation Challenges
Environmental Conservation Challenges
The Saranac Lakes Wild Forest is one of the Adirondack Park's most heavily visited public recreation areas. While outdoor recreation provides exceptional opportunities for hiking, camping, paddling, fishing, wildlife observation, and other activities, increasing visitation also places pressure on forests, lakes, wetlands, wildlife, and recreational facilities. Protecting these natural resources requires responsible recreation, environmental education, and ongoing stewardship.
Litter and Illegal Dumping
Litter remains one of the most visible environmental challenges throughout the Wild Forest. Trash left at campsites, trails, parking areas, shorelines, and boat launches can harm wildlife, pollute waterways, and diminish the natural beauty of public lands. Common litter includes food packaging, beverage containers, fishing line, plastic materials, broken glass, and abandoned camping equipment. Proper waste disposal and volunteer cleanups help reduce these impacts.
Common Loon Conservation
The lakes and ponds of the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest provide important nesting and feeding habitat for Common Loons. Because loons build their nests close to the water's edge, they are especially sensitive to human disturbance during the nesting season. Boating, paddling, fishing, camping, and shoreline recreation near nesting areas may disrupt nesting behavior and reduce nesting success. Maintaining clean lakes, protecting natural shoreline vegetation, and minimizing disturbances near nesting areas help conserve healthy loon populations.
Vegetation Damage
Heavy recreational use can damage native vegetation surrounding trails, campsites, shorelines, and day-use areas. Trampling plants, expanding campsites, creating unauthorized paths, and cutting or damaging trees reduce wildlife habitat, increase erosion, and slow the natural recovery of sensitive ecosystems. Protecting existing vegetation and restoring disturbed areas help preserve the ecological health of the Wild Forest.
Trail Overuse and Soil Erosion
Popular hiking trails and access routes receive heavy use throughout the year. Repeated foot traffic can compact soils, expose tree roots, create muddy conditions, and widen trails as visitors walk around wet areas. These impacts accelerate erosion and damage surrounding vegetation. Trail maintenance, erosion control, and encouraging visitors to remain on designated trails help protect both natural resources and recreational opportunities.
Shoreline and Campsite Impacts
Popular shorelines and designated campsites experience continual use throughout the recreation season. Loss of vegetation, soil compaction, shoreline erosion, and the expansion of unofficial campsites can degrade natural habitats and reduce the quality of the visitor experience. Restoration efforts help stabilize these areas and protect surrounding ecosystems.
Water Quality Protection
The Wild Forest contains hundreds of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands that support fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation. Protecting these waters from pollution, erosion, sedimentation, and improper waste disposal is essential to maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems and clean water resources.
Invasive Species
Aquatic and terrestrial invasive species threaten native plants, wildlife, and ecological communities. Boats, trailers, fishing gear, and other recreational equipment can unintentionally transport invasive species between waterbodies. Cleaning, draining, and inspecting equipment before entering or leaving the Wild Forest helps reduce their spread.
Wildlife Habitat Protection
The forests, wetlands, lakes, and shorelines of the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest provide habitat for a diverse variety of wildlife. Conserving these habitats, minimizing human disturbance, and promoting responsible recreation help protect native species while preserving the ecological integrity of the Forest Preserve.
What We Do
In 2025, the Morgan Duke Conservation Society entered into a Volunteer Stewardship Agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to support conservation and stewardship efforts on New York's public lands. Through this partnership, our volunteers work to protect wildlife, improve natural habitats, and help preserve public recreation areas for future generations.
Our volunteers help reduce hazards to wildlife, including Common Loons and other native species, by removing discarded fishing line, fishing tackle, litter, and other debris from shorelines, trails, campsites, boat launches, parking areas, and surrounding vegetation. Removing these materials helps reduce the risk of wildlife entanglement, protects water quality, and preserves sensitive habitats.
In addition to litter cleanup, our volunteers participate in a variety of conservation and stewardship projects that support the protection and restoration of New York's natural resources. Depending on project needs and authorization, these efforts may include habitat restoration, native tree planting, invasive species removal, trail and campsite stewardship, painting and maintaining public-use facilities, environmental education, and assisting with other approved conservation initiatives.
Wildlife
The Saranac Lakes Wild Forest is home to a diverse variety of wildlife that depends on healthy forests, wetlands, lakes, rivers, and mountains for food, shelter, and breeding habitat. These natural communities support mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and countless invertebrates that play important roles in maintaining a balanced ecosystem.
The area's waterways provide habitat for Common Loons, waterfowl, beavers, river otters, turtles, and a variety of fish species, while its forests support Black Bears, White-tailed Deer, Moose, Bobcats, Coyotes, Red Foxes, and numerous small mammals. Bald Eagles, Osprey, hawks, owls, songbirds, and other migratory birds can also be found throughout the region.
Healthy forests and clean waterways are essential for wildlife survival. Natural vegetation provides food, nesting areas, and shelter, while wetlands help filter water, reduce flooding, and create important breeding habitat for amphibians, birds, and aquatic species.
Wildlife throughout the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest faces a variety of environmental challenges, including habitat disturbance, litter, discarded fishing line, invasive species, erosion, and increasing recreational use. Protecting natural habitats, maintaining clean shorelines, conserving forests, and practicing responsible recreation all help ensure that native wildlife continues to thrive for future generations.
Wildlife You May Encounter
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Common Loon
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Bald Eagle
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Osprey
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Black Bear
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Moose
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White-tailed Deer
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Bobcat
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Coyote
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Red Fox
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Beaver
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River Otter
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Brook Trout
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Waterfowl
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Songbirds
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Turtles
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Frogs and Salamanders
The Morgan Duke Conservation Society supports wildlife conservation through volunteer stewardship, litter removal, habitat restoration, environmental education, and other approved conservation projects that help protect the forests, lakes, rivers, and wetlands wildlife depend upon.
Explore the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest
The Saranac Lakes Wild Forest is home to an extensive network of lakes, ponds, rivers, mountains, forests, and recreational trails that attract visitors from around the world. Its diverse landscapes provide opportunities for hiking, paddling, camping, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and countless other outdoor adventures throughout every season.
The region includes many well-known waterways, including Upper Saranac Lake, Middle Saranac Lake, Lower Saranac Lake, Lake Flower, Fish Creek Ponds, Rollins Pond, Lake Clear, Follens by Clear Pond, and numerous smaller lakes and ponds that support healthy aquatic ecosystems and exceptional recreational opportunities. These waters provide important habitat for Common Loons, Bald Eagles, Osprey, Brook Trout, River Otters, Beavers, and many other native wildlife species.
Several major rivers and streams flow through the Wild Forest, including the Saranac River, Raquette River, Ausable River, and Fish Creek. These waterways contribute to the region's ecological diversity by supporting wetlands, floodplains, fisheries, and wildlife habitats while providing opportunities for paddling, fishing, and scenic exploration.
Visitors can explore a variety of mountains and trail systems throughout the Wild Forest. Popular destinations include Ampersand Mountain, Scarface Mountain, Baker Mountain, Floodwood Mountain, and other trails that offer scenic overlooks, mature forests, wetlands, and diverse wildlife habitats. These trails provide year-round recreational opportunities while connecting visitors with the natural beauty of the Adirondack Park.
Volunteering
Conservation Volunteer
Everyone is welcome including individuals, families, middle school students, high school students, college students, scout groups, school clubs, community organizations, civic groups, and volunteer groups.
Volunteers under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian
