The picnic table and fire pit was in pretty rough shape, although the outhouse looked a little better off. It's obvious the state has put no repair or effort into the upkeep of this camping area since the early 1970s, although it does appear that it has been mowed.
Taken on Saturday May 21, 2011 at Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest.Cheney Pond Road is a dirt road off of Boreas Road, about 15 miles east of Newcomb. It is a rough road, with the pass year’s washouts, don’t try it without a truck. It will take you a rather pretty lake and damed up river you can paddle around.
Here is a printable map you can click to see full size then download.
And now down as Cheney Pond…
If you want to spend the night, you can roadside camp at a site with a picnic table and outhouse, tent camp at an “informal” campsite with a fire pit near the lean-to or camp in the lean-to. None of the campsites at Vanderwhacker Wild Forest have “Camp Here Disks”.
Heading out on the lake in the kayak…
The Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest Unit Management Plan mentions the following about Roadside Camping in the area…
“The area has a diverse mix of camping options available to visitors. There are designated interior camping facilities at Stony Pond, Cheney Pond, 29th Pond, and Newcomb Lake. There are also many Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest roadside locations used seasonally by hunters and during the summer by others along the Northwoods Club Road, the Moose Pond Road, State Route 28N and at other locations. There is generally an increasing in camping in VMWF during the regular big game season.”
— NYSDEC Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest UMP.
| Road | Number of Campsites |
|---|---|
| Boreas Road | 1 |
| Moose Pond Road | 3 |
| North Woods Road | 3 |
| NY 28N at Boreas River | 1 |
|
The trail up Goodnow Mountain follows an Old Wood Road part of the way, except for the last 1/2 mile which splits off on a separate trail to a parking area away from the main SUNY ESF Campus.
Taken on Sunday July 11, 2010 at Goodnow Mountain.
This was quite a ways from the old barn up farther on the hill, but may have been discarded off a ledge, or maybe there was another house around.
Taken on Sunday July 11, 2010 at Goodnow Mountain.
This old well was located next to the barn on Goodnow Mountain.
Taken on Sunday July 11, 2010 at Goodnow Mountain.
Next to the old well.
Taken on Sunday July 11, 2010 at Goodnow Mountain.