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.

Hays Brook Horse Trails

 Hays Brook Horse Trails

North of Mountain Pond in Paul Smiths is an old routing of NY 30 and several old fire protection roads that are used today for hiking, horseback riding, and accessing backcountry hunting locations. Known as the Hays Brook Horse Trails, there is a small parking area along Mountain Pond Road (Old Route 30), along with a falling apart wooden sign indicating the trail head.