Wilcox Lake Wild Forest is located in the southeastern part of the Central Adirondacks and is made up of approximately 140,000 acres of State Forest Preserve lands in Warren, Hamilton, Saratoga and Fulton Counties. Nearby communities include Stony Creek, Thurman, Bakers Mills, Day, Wells, Hope Falls, and Northville.
Wilcox Lake Wild Forest is bounded on the north by NY 8, on the east by the Hudson River, on the south by the Adirondack Park Blue Line, and on the west by NY 30. This wild forest offers many recreational opportunities, including hiking to the fire tower on Hadley Mountain, camping on Wilcox Lake, and ice fishing on Garnet Lake. With over forty-five miles of marked trails available, there are countless opportunities for hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling in the unit.
The East Branch Sacandaga River, stretching between Wevertown and Wells along NY 8, offers a rugged yet accessible Adirondack experience with a mix of roadside convenience and remote wilderness. This corridor is a popular destination for its “first-come, first-served” primitive camping, diverse trout fishing, and scenic hiking trails that lead to hidden waterfalls and quiet ponds.
Roadside Camping along NY 8
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) maintains approximately 15 designated primitive roadside campsites along NY 8. These sites are free to use but lack amenities like running water or electricity.
Designated Sites: Campsites are marked with a yellow “Camp Here” disc. Notable locations include:
Sites 1-4: Located near the Kibby Pond area; Site 2 overlooks a cliff, and Site 4 is perched above Kibby Brook.
Sites 7 & 8: Situated near the Cod Pond parking area.
Site 10: A gravel pit site located about 1/4 mile south of the Girrad Sugarbush Trailhead.
Accessibility: Most sites are accessible by car, though some may require shoveling in winter or can be muddy in early spring.
Developed Alternative: For those seeking amenities like hot showers and flush toilets, the Sacandaga Campground is located at the confluence of the East and West branches in Wells.
Hiking & Waterfalls
Trails along the East Branch range from short walks to more challenging treks into the Siamese Ponds Wilderness.
Auger Falls Loop: A short, 0.9-mile easy loop leading to a 70-foot drop in the river.
Shanty Brook Trail: A moderate 1.3-mile hike that requires wading across the East Branch to reach a remote waterfall; do not attempt during high spring runoff.
Cod Pond Trail: An easy walk to a quiet pond with a designated backcountry campsite at the end of the trail.
Stewart Creek: Offers scenic views of waterfalls, a flume, and the ruins of the historic Fox Lair Camp.
Fishing & Hunting
The river is a productive trout fishery, with varying regulations depending on the specific reach.
Fishing:
Species: The river is stocked with brown trout, while the upper sections and smaller tributaries like Kibby Brook hold wild brook trout.
Regulations: General trout season runs from April 1 to October 15, with a catch-and-release season using artificial lures from October 16 to March 31.
Access: Many roadside pull-offs along NY 8 provide direct access to deep pools and pocket water.
Hunting:
The surrounding Siamese Ponds Wilderness and Wilcox Lake Wild Forest are open for big game (deer, bear) and small game (grouse, hare) hunting during state-regulated seasons.
Other Activities
Paddling: During the spring snowmelt or after heavy rains, the river provides “white water” opportunities for experienced kayakers and canoeists.
Scenic Driving: The stretch of NY 8 between Wevertown and Wells is considered one of the most scenic drives in the southern Adirondacks, passing through the narrow river gorge.
Except for a small cut for Ski Hi Road, most of the Crane Mountain remains free of cut and fills, dumping, and changes to the terrain they are so common on most mountains as mankind reshapes the landscape.
I was curious about how the contemporary campsites at Fox Lair line up with the historic site so I did a quick overlay of the site with the DEC's campsite data.
