NOTE:  This information is based from the information gathered from the DEC plan available at the DEC website.  The info below is for just part of what will be the North Country Trail in the Adirondacks.

The 92,000 acre Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest is located in the central Adirondack Park. This wild forest borders or contains 44 ponds and small lakes, as well as portions of the Hudson River and much of the Boreas River.  Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest lies both east and west of NY 28N in western Essex County.

The future North Country National Scenic Trail travels east, crossing the scenic Boreas River utilizing the Northwoods Club Road as a temporary connector for approximately 0.2 miles before entering the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest. A new snowmobile trail is being developed between Northwoods Club Road and N.Y State Route 28N. This trail heads northeast from the Northwoods Club Road and could be utilized as a temporary connector until new foot trail is constructed.

At NY 28N, the North Country National Scenic Trail utilizes the Stony Pond Trail as a temporary connector heading east for approximately 1.8 miles. The Stony Pond Trail branches and the North Country National Scenic Trail will follow the northern branch toward Hewitt Pond.  There is a lean to available at Stony Pond.  Check out the video below of this section of the trail.

The North Country National Scenic Trail follows the Hewitt Pond Trail before turning east just south of Barnes Pond. On a new future trail, the North Country National Scenic Trail continues northeast crossing Hewitt Pond Brook. A footbridge will be needed to cross this brook.  After crossing Hewitt Pond Brook, the North Country National Scenic Trail intercepts an existing herdpath (not shown on the map below) on the north side of the Brook and follows that herdpath south to the Irishtown Snowmobile Trail.

The North Country National Scenic Trail crosses the Irishtown Snowmobile Trail and enters the Hoffman Notch Wilderness on its southwestern boundary.  The DEC plans to have 9.4 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail pass through Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest with nearly four miles of new trail needed.

11/16/2009 NOTE:  The trail from Stony Pond to Hewitt Pond is under water due to a beaver dam 50 feet from the lean to.  See picture below.

Pictures from along the future North Country Trail

Trailhead on NY 28N	Privy at Stony Pond	Stony Pond	Trail to Hewitt Pond	Stony Pond Lean To
Scrappy enjoying view	Beavers causing difficult crossing for trail to Hewitt Pond near lean To	Future North Country Trail.... under water due to beavers	Stony Pond Lean To	Stream
Beaver pond	Crossing a beaver dam	another beaver dam	Boulders	wet section
Future North Country Trail "connector"	Trail register	trail	Future North Country Trail off Northwoods Club Road.	Very wet section of trail