Five Ponds Wilderness Area

This long 15+ mile loop hike begins at the parking lot on the South Shore road in the Hamlet of Wanakena at the start of the Dead Creek Flow Trail.

The first two miles follow the bed of a logging railroad constructed by the Rich Lumber Company prior to state acquisition of that parcel in 1919. In the mid-1930's, it was upgraded to a truck trail for state administrative use. It is now used only as a foot trail, in conformance with wilderness management guidelines.

After leaving the former roadbed, the trail follows old logging roads to meet with a short (0.2 mile) trail that provides access for boaters from Janack's Landing.  The Janacks Landing Lean To is also here.

At the next intersection (Sand Hill Junction), a yellow trail provides access to the Cat Mountain Trail and Cowhorn Junction Trail, while the red trail continues toward the Plains. A short distance later, the trail turns south to leave the former Plains Trail, which was abandoned due to excessive beaver activity. The new Plains Trail was constructed in 1986 on higher ground. This trail ends on the High Falls Trail, which shares its history with Dead Creek Flow Trail. From here, it is a short distance to High Falls.

There are a couple of lean to's available near High Falls.

As you continue along an abandoned logging railroad that ran between High Falls and Wanakena. Adjacent to the Oswegatchie River, this trail will likely contain some beaver flooding. At the north end of this trail is the Wanakena primitive corridor, which is a one mile remnant of a former truck trail kept in driveable condition to allow the Wanakena Water Company to maintain its facilities. From the barrier at the north end of the corridor, it is approximately 0.5 mile along the South Shore Road to the parking lot.

The Five Ponds Wilderness is located in the towns of Fine and Clifton in St. Lawrence County, the town of Webb in Herkimer County and the town of Long Lake in Hamilton County. It is bounded on the north by Cranberry Lake, a portion of the Oswegatchie River, the road leading to Inlet and private lands; on the east by the Colton town line and private lands in the vicinity of Gull Lake, a road leading to Gull Lake and the Remsen to Lake Placid railroad; on the south by Stillwater Reservoir; on the southwest by the Wilderness Lakes Primitive Area and on the west by private land and lands classified as wild forest.

The terrain is low, rolling and interspersed with many small ponds. Swamp areas and small brooks are numerous. The forest cover varies from pole-size hardwoods in the sections that were heavily logged and burned more than forty years ago to virgin pine and spruce stands. This is one of the few locations in the northeastern United States where stands of virgin timber can be found.

TRAILHEAD: The 15.1-mile High Falls Loop (moderately difficult);and Dead Creek Flow Trail start at a parking lot on the South Shore Road in the hamlet of Wanakena, 2 miles south of NY 3.  Recommended side trips include High Falls (0.5 mile from main loop) and Cat Mountain (1.5 miles from main loop & 550 foot elevation gain).

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