Photo: Jessup River Road

More about Perkins Clearing and Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands...

The 40,000-acre Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands are located just north of the Village of Speculator and Route 8 in the towns of Arietta, Lake Pleasant and Wells in Hamilton County. The 14,332 acre Perkins Clearing Tract lies west of Route 30 and the 21,648 acre Speculator Tree Farm Tract lies east of Route 30.

There are some restrictions for public access and recreation on the conservation easement lands which are described in the Rules and Regulation section below.

Be aware that the Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands are privately owned, actively timbered, and leased camps with 112 cabins are present on the lands. Public access and recreation is allowed with restrictions. Users of these lands must:

Travel on roads and corridors designated open to the public;
Not travel beyond any closed gates (whether locked or not);
Park in designated parking areas only - don't block gates or roadways;
Expect to see logging trucks, skidders and other logging activity; and
Be aware that much of these lands are leased to private sports groups that have access and recreation rights that the public does not have - please respect the rights of the lessees.
Lessees have exclusive use of their cabins and a one-acre area around each one. In addition, two large areas on the north and south sides of the Speculator Tree Farm Tract are leased by outdoor clubs and are not open to the public. The map shows the locations of these "posting leases."

Forest Preserve Lands vs Conservation Easement Lands
There are different requirements for recreating on the conservation easement lands and the adjacent (or nearby) forest preserve lands. Users must be aware of which lands they are recreating on and the rules and regulations that apply. The maps depict the type of land and their boundaries. The boundaries of forest preserve lands are signed. Do not trespass on private lands that are not part of the conservation easement.

Recreation
Approximately 36,000 acres of the Perkins Clearing and Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands are open for public recreation activities including: camping, canoeing, hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hunting, trapping and fishing.

Hiking

Currently there are few hiking opportunities within the Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands. Hikers are welcome to use any of the roadways open to the public or to bushwhack the lands open to the public. Currently trails or a trail system have not been developed on these lands. However, a number of popular hiking trails on adjacent forest preserve lands do begin on the conservation easement lands.

The Cisco Creek trailhead parking area in the Speculator Tree Farm Tract is located at the northern end of the Elk Lake Road. It provides access from the south to the Long Pond Trail and the Kunjamuk Trail in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area.

Undesignated trails to Dug Mountain Brook Falls and Indian Clearing in the Jessup River Wild Forest may be accessed from the end of the Cannon Brook Road on the Speculator Tree Farm Tract.

The trailhead for Pillsbury Mountain in the Jessup River Wild Forest is located at the end of the Old Military Road in the Perkins Clearing Tract.

The trailhead to a spur trail which connects to the Northville-Lake Placid Trail and provides access to the Spruce Lake in the West Canada Lake Wilderness is located at the end of the Jessup River Road in the Perkins Clearing Tract.

Be prepared before going into the woods and know what to do if you get lost in the woods.

Camping

Camping is restricted to designated campsites only, 6 primitive tent sites have been designated. Two campsites are located along the Perkins Clearing Road in the Perkins Clearing Tract. Two campsites are located along Old Route 8/30 in the Speculator Tree Farm Tract. One designated campsite is located along Fly Creek Road. And one designated campsite is located along Robbs Creek Road.

While nuisance black bears are not a big problem in this unit, overnight campers are encouraged to store all food, toiletries and garbage in bear-resistant canisters.

Observe all campfire safety practices. Use only dead and down wood. Don't leave garbage in the fire pit.

Better yet, carry a portable stove. Stoves heat more quickly, are easier to clean and do not leave blackened rocks and partially burned firewood. They are useful in wet rainy weather.

Aerial Photos

Elm Lake and Kunjamunk
The Kunjamunk

Maps and Interactives

Kunjamuk River
Kunjamuk Bay
Jessup River from Jessup River Road to NY 30
Interactive Topographic and Aerial Photo of Catskill Scenic Trail
Elm Lake

... photos, maps and other content from from Perkins Clearing and Speculator Tree Farm Conservation Easement Lands.