The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) is accepting public comment for proposed amendments to the Wilmington Wild Forest Area Unit Management Plan (UMP) Amendment.

The Wilmington Wild Forest Area is located in the Towns of Wilmington, Jay, Keene, and Saint Armand in Essex County and the Town of Black Brook in Clinton County. The UMP covers about 17,000 acres across several detached Forest Preserve parcels. The core area is located on the east-facing slopes of Whiteface Mountain between the Whiteface Mountain Ski center and the Whiteface Veterans’ Memorial Highway. The APA will accept public comment regarding Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance for this amendment until June 10, 2016.

The Wilmington Wild Forest Area Unit Management Plan was completed in October of 2005. The UMP resulted in the design and construction of trails which proved very popular with mountain bikers. To address increased use, this amendment proposes to construct new trails to link State Land to the hamlet center, provide more beginner trails, increase recreational opportunities for persons with disabilities and reroute some trail segments.

The boundaries of the Wilmington Wild Forest Area encompass the following tracts: Beaver Brook, Black Brook, Clements Mountain, Hamlin Mountain, River parcel in Jay, Signor Lane, Whiteface and Marble Mountains, Wilmington and Stephenson Ranges.

Management proposals include:

1. A new trail to connect the Flume Trails to the Atmospheric Science Research Center (ASRC) area. This trail would be about a mile long on the east side of Marble Mountain.

2. A new trail from the Flume Trails to the Wilmington Reservoir. This will require about two miles of new trail. This trail would connect to the Wilmington Snowmobile Trail near the State land boundary line. The route uses the Wilmington Snowmobile Trail for about 0.25 miles. This trail will be a connection with the Wilmington hamlet area to the Flume Trails.

3. A loop trail would be built south of the parking area on Hardy Road to connect with the Coniferous Trail. There will be about 0.5 miles of new trail built to make a connecting loop with the existing trail. This trail will be built to accommodate beginner mountain bike riders.

4. A trail would be built to provide an additional route for the All-In Trail. This trail would be built as a flow style trail.

5. An accessible loop nature and interpretive trail would be built from the Hardy Road parking area to a scenic vista of a wetland. The trail will be on the west side of Hardy Road. This trail will be about 0.3 miles long. An accessible picnic area with a table and fire ring would be built near the vista.

6. An accessible nature and interpretive trail would be built from the Hardy Road parking area toward the south.

7. Sections of the Cooper Kill Trail would be relocated to improve trail usability and sustainability.

8. A hiking trail would be built from Marble Mountain Lane, at the parking area near the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, to the summit of Marble Mountain. This trail would follow some of the old ski trails on the north side of the mountain.

To download the proposed Wilmington Wild Forest Area Unit Management Plan, visit to the Agency’s website.

Photos of View from Cobble Lookout and Wilmington Wild Forest Map courtesy DEC.