The 168,920 acre West Canada Lakes Wilderness is located in the southwestern Adirondack Park, in the towns of Arietta, Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant and Morehouse in Hamilton County and the Town of Ohio in Herkimer County.  This wilderness has some of the most remote lands and waters in all of Adirondack Park.

West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area's major attribute is its many lakes and ponds, including Spruce Lake, Whitney Lake, the Cedar Lakes and the West Canada Lakes. The terrain ranges from swamp flats and rolling hills to steep mountains such as Panther, Lewey and Fort Noble. The peaks of Pillsbury and Snowy Mountains lie just outside the area, but views from their fire towers take in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area.

There are few trailheads that lead directly into this rugged and remote wilderness.  One of the trailheads is off of a dirt road inside of Moose River Plains Wild Forest.  To reach this trailhead to the West Canada Lakes Trail you must drive nearly 15 miles on dirt roads.  This trailhead will also be the future North Country National Scenic Trail.

There will be nearly 30 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail that will pass through West Canada Lakes Wilderness.  This will give backpackers some of the most remote and rugged hiking located anywhere along the whole trail.  The future crossing of the Indian River will be challenging for all backpackers on the NCT.

Almost 28 miles of the Adirondack Park long distance Northville-Placid Trail also passes through this wilderness.  The Northville-Placid Trail and North Country Trail will actually coincide briefly between West Canada Creek and West Lake.

There are 15 overnight shelters in this huge wilderness.  Theses shelters include Spruce Lake #1, Spruce Lake #2, Spruce Lake #3, South Lake Lean To, Sampson Lake Lean To, Pillsbury Lake Lean To, West Canada Creek Lean To, West Lake #1, West Lake #2, Brooktrout Lake Lean To, Cedar Lake Lean To #1, #2, #3, and Colvin Brook Lean To.

The forest cover consists chiefly of mixed hardwood-softwood types with large diameter trees of both types on the more fertile soils. There is also considerable area in spruce-balsam swamp and beaver meadows.  Many areas of the wilderness include sections of soils that poorly drain, creating muddy hiking trails in the wilderness.

 

contact CNY HIKING by email at contact@cnyhiking.com

(c) 2006-today CNY Hiking - All rights reserved.  Any use of information from this site without permission is strictly forbidden.