If you want to do something fun, you can trace how the Alder Pond Dam diverts water from the upper Black River lakes (such as North Lake, Woodhull Lake, South Lake, Sand Lake) into the Black River Canal, the upper part which is still used for moving water to the Lansing Kill which dumps into the Mohawk River and Delta Reservoir in Westernville.
Located at the intersection of Farr Road and North Lake Road, this lake is near the Black River, about 10 miles south of South Lake.
In the news:
Negro Brook in Onchiota was recently renamed to the John Thomas Brook, for a 19th century Black settler.
https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/stories/john-thomas-brook-name-change
Paul Smith’s College professor Curt Stager led the effort for changing the name of Negro Brook. The source of John Thomas Brook is located near Kate Mountain in the town of Franklin. From there, it flows south to Twobridge Brook one mile northwest of Bloomingdale.
The new name pays homage to Thomas, who escaped slavery and started a farm near Bloomingdale. Stager filed the application with the U.S. Board of Geographical Names, which approved the proposal for John Thomas Brook at its April 13 meeting.
The application received letters of support from the town of Franklin, Franklin County, ADI, Historic Saranac Lake, Paul Smith’s College, Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center, North Country Underground Railroad Historical Association and local residents.
Also of interest is this Adirondack Explorer article about exploring the Negro Brook, which is described as a flatwater in an area known as the "Oregon Plains" full of thickets, blowdown and rapids that make for difficult paddling despite being a relatively flat part of the Adirondacks.
https://www.adirondackexplorer.org/outtakes/negro-brook-thickets-blowdown-rapids
Bridge Brook Pond is located west of Tupper Lake. You can access it via a 1/4 mile portage from Tupper Lake or via the Bridge Brook Pond Trail, which runs from the northerly beginning of the forest preserve on NY 421 (Horseshoe Lake Road), 2 miles to Bridge Brook Pond. Black Pond is on the way up to Bridge Brook Pond, you will pass it one mile to the north of NY 421.
More information can be found the Tupper Lake website: https://www.tupperlake.com/hiking/black-and-bridge-brook-ponds
Black Mountain is a three mile hike from Pike Brook Road via a snowmobile trail. The snowmobile trail is a nice hike or ski and follows an old woods road to the summit. The summit contains an old firetower this is fenced off for DEC radio equipment, along with a picnic table, outhouse, and old ranger's cabin.
If you take the steeper trail down the mountain you will arrive at Black Mountain Pond with a Lean-To and Outhouse, and loop around to Lapland Pond, an older lean-to and outhouse on the shore of the lake. Trail blaze color underlays the trail routes on the map.
Yesterday, I walked around the Lewey Lake Campground looking at birds and taking in the scenery. While the roadside information sign suggests there are hiking trails, I didn't see a lot but there were a lot of common birds in the campground -- blue jays, robins, red-winged black birds. But boy where those campsites packed in tight -- nothing like the wilderness camping I'm used to a few miles down the road at Mason Lake and Perkins Clearing.
43.76917976445229,-74.7697504393449
Black Bear Mountain is a popular hiking trail with views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes and Pigeon Lake Wilderness. It's one mile south-west of Inlet and a 1/2 mile north of Eagle Bay. The main parking area is shared with Rocky Mountain. From the parking area, hike 1 miles east following an eroded and often muddy dirt road. From there, take a left, head one mile until a brief steep hike to the top. Great views in 360 degrees when you walk around the top of Black Bear. Overall, the loop is roughly 5 miles.
https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/53596.html
https://andyarthur.org/explore/black-bear-mountain