Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest 📍

Located in the southwest corner of the Catskill Park, Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest contains more than 13,500 acres of “forever wild” Forest Preserve. With an extensive trail network to several ponds, this wild forest is ideal for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, backpacking, canoeing and cross-country skiing.

The Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest is located 8 miles south of Margaretville (Route 28) and 18 miles north of Livingston Manor (Route 17). It lies mainly within the western Ulster County town of Hardenburgh, with small appendages in the towns of Middletown and Andes in Delaware County.

The terrain is a combination of high mountain ridges, steep sided valleys, numerous brooks and ponds, with elevations ranging from a low of 1,740 feet along Mill Brook to a high of 3,723 feet at the summit of Balsam Lake Mountain.

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🗺️ Maps 🖼️ Photos

Paddling Gear Back

Andy | September 3, 2021

With all the camping gear in the kayak, or most of it, including the stove and pot top on the deck. The kayak rode well with all the gear.

Sunday August 29, 2010 — Big Pond — Big Pond 🗺 — Touch Me Not Trail From Big Pond To Alder Lake 🗺— PDF with All Maps 📚

Inholding

Andy | August 31, 2021

While most of Big Pond is part of the Middle Mountain Wild Forest, about 200 feet of shore line is privately owned. The folks in the cabin where really friendly when they stopped by in their electric pontoon boat, but it did kind of wreck the scenic view especially from where I was camping.

Sunday August 29, 2010 — Big Pond — Big Pond 🗺 — Touch Me Not Trail From Big Pond To Alder Lake 🗺— PDF with All Maps 📚

Crash

Andy | August 24, 2021

Put down that camera, and pay attention to where your paddling, Andy!

Sunday August 29, 2010 — Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest — Alder Lake - Millbrook Range 🗺 — Alder Lake Campsites 🗺 — Balsam Lake Mountain Trail 🗺 — Kelly Hollow Trail 🗺 — Mongaup Hardenburg Trail 🗺— PDF with All Maps 📚

SVGZ Graphic: Population Born Out of State

Dry Brook Range

Andy | August 23, 2021

The hills around here are much different from the Catskills up North and East from here, they remind me a lot of the Palisade Mountains north of New York City.

Thematic Map: Percent of Employment as Fast Food Workers

Flag on Tower

Andy | August 2, 2021

Saturday August 8, 2009 — Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest — Alder Lake - Millbrook Range 🗺 — Alder Lake Campsites 🗺 — Balsam Lake Mountain Trail 🗺 — Kelly Hollow Trail 🗺 — Mongaup Hardenburg Trail 🗺— PDF with All Maps 📚