Whitehouse, NY

West River Road currently goes 7 miles from Wells to the old ghost town of Whitehouse, complete with two historic chimneys and several campsites. A scenic area, with views of the West Branch of Sacanadaga River and Dugaway Mountain. There is an old cementary located up there, along with one of the biggest pedestrian suspension bridges in Adirondacks. The Northville-Placid Trail also runs about a 1/4 mile from Whitehouse, and is frequently accessed from the Whitehouse Parking Area.

Although a long distance trail many people use the Northville-Placid Trail to access the wilderness for day trips. The Whitehouse Trailhead is used for short hikes across a unique suspension bridge over the West Branch of the Sacandaga River. Other popular destinations from Whitehouse include Big Eddy, Mud Lake, and Hamilton Lake Stream.

While the state has been trying to close off West River Road since the initial purchase of Whitehouse in the early 1970s, as early as 1972 it was proposed to be added to Silver Lake Wilderness. The latest 2006 Silver Lake Wilderness Unit Management Plan also calls for closure of the road, but no action has been taken, the road is still well maintained by the Town of Wells all the way out Whitehouse.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/100874.html

Sacandaga Primitive Area – Whitehouse Campsites

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Sacandaga Primitive Area - Whitehouse Campsites

The DEC recently GPS'd the various designated campsites at Whitehouse area of the Sacanadaga Primitive Area along West River Road in Wells. This provides a pretty accurate map of the various campsite locations. West River Road isn't open to motor vehicles yet, but will open later in May once the frost is out of the ground and the dirt road isn't too soft.