Debar Mountain Wild Forest

The Debar Mountain Wild Forest (DMWF) is located in the northeastern portion of the Adirondack Park, just north of Paul Smiths, and is entirely within Franklin County. The highest point on the unit is Debar Mountain, which, at over 3,300 feet offers a broad distant view of the high peaks region to the south. Some portions of the DMWF have been split from the unit to create the Chazy Highlands Wild Forest, which is located to the northeast of DMWF.

Trails on the unit offer opportunities for hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, horse back riding, mountain biking and snowmobiling. Popular destinations within the unit include Debar Mountain, Azure Mountain and Debar Meadows. Other popular pastimes are hunting, fishing, canoeing and boating. Access to the unit’s water resources is available at Meacham Lake Campground and Buck Pond Campground, as well as on the St. Regis River, Osgood Pond, Jones Pond, Deer River Flow, Mountain Pond, and Lake Kushaqua. Vehicle access to the unit is provided primarily via NYS Routes 3, 30 and 458. Important local roads for access include county route 26 (Old Route 99), Red Tavern Road, Kushaqua-Mud Pond Road, Gabriels-Onchiota Road, Blue Mountain Road, and Oregon Plains Road.

Negro Brook in Onchiota

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In the news:

Negro Brook in Onchiota was recently renamed to the John Thomas Brook, for a 19th century Black settler.

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/john-thomas-brook-name-change

Paul Smith’s College professor Curt Stager led the effort for changing the name of Negro Brook. The source of John Thomas Brook is located near Kate Mountain in the town of Franklin. From there, it flows south to Twobridge Brook one mile northwest of Bloomingdale.

The new name pays homage to Thomas, who escaped slavery and started a farm near Bloomingdale. Stager filed the application with the U.S. Board of Geographical Names, which approved the proposal for John Thomas Brook at its April 13 meeting.

The application received letters of support from the town of Franklin, Franklin County, ADI, Historic Saranac Lake, Paul Smith’s College, Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association and local residents.

Also of interest is this Adirondack Explorer article about exploring the Negro Brook, which is described as a flatwater in an area known as the "Oregon Plains" full of thickets, blowdown and rapids that make for difficult paddling despite being a relatively flat part of the Adirondacks.

https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/outtakes/negro-brook-thickets-blowdown-rapids

Debar Mountain Trail

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Debar Mountain Trail

Debar Mountain Trail (3,305 feet) extends 3.7 miles and ascends 1,725 feet from the trailhead within Meacham Lake Campground to the summit of the mountain. The trail ascends only 170 feet in the first 1.9 miles and ascends 755 feet in the next 1.3 miles. The last portion of the trail is steep, climbing 800 feet in the 0.5 mile to the summit. A lean-to is located along the trail just before the last steep section to the summit. Views at the top are limited by the trees growing on the summit but include the High Peaks to the south. When the campground is open, hikers are required to pay a day-use fee.