a 50-mile loop trail cranberry lake 50 five...
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rare or absent. To avoid the insect ‘welcome wag-on,’ plan your trip so as to avoid the itchy months of late May, June and July. Speaking of disease, always filter and/or boil any water collected from the streams, ponds and lakes along the CL50 in order to avoid very common water-borne illnesses like Giardia.
Fall is a great time to enjoy the CL50, but be aware that hunters may also be using the area during this time. Especially in late fall, wear bright-colored clothing and travel in groups to reduce your chances of surprising a stealthy hunter. Winter use of the CL50 is rare but possible. Day length is short, temperatures and/or wind chill can be severe and snow depths significant. Expect to have to break trail on skis or snowshoes, which is time and energy consuming. Furthermore, rescue in winter is more difficult and risky due to the weather and remoteness of the area. A winter traverse of the CL50 offers unique rewards and ex-periences, but it should only be attempted by those who are well equipped, prepared and conditioned.
No matter the season, well-prepared hikers carry, at a minimum: a first aid kit, waterproof matches or lighter, compass, map, flashlight or headlamp, space blanket, loud whistle and a knife. Being prepared is the most important thing you can do to ensure a safe and enjoyable adventure.
common, especially in late summer. Be cautious of other plant fruits seen that could be inedible or even poisonous. It is wise not to eat anything found in the wild unless you are absolutely sure that it is safe.
A WORD OF CAUTION Although the CL50 is generally a safe, low-risk
adventure, common sense and caution should pre-vail. You will be traversing a wild, remote, rugged landscape that is home to numerous plants and animals. As mentioned, wildlife should be respect-ed and enjoyed from a distance. Never approach or try to feed wildlife, especially those acting odd or abnormal. The latter may be infected with rabies, although that is rare in this area. Be careful to pro-tect your food supplies from black bear and other critters by using a ‘bear-resistant’ canister. Many folks will be relieved to know that poisonous snakes are very rare to non-existent in the area.
To date, the area is not known to support some of the commonly-feared plants, like poison ivy and stinging nettles. Several species of biting insects do, however, call the Cranberry Lake region home, including black flies, deer flies, mosquitoes and biting midges (a.k.a., no-see-ums). Ticks are occasionally found, but the deer tick (a.k.a. black-legged tick) a carrier of Lyme disease, is currently
turkey vultures, loons, turkey, ruffed grouse, red-tailed hawks, barred owls, great-horned owls, ducks, geese, and many others, including a host of migratory and year-round songbird species.
Cranberry Lake itself and the region’s backcoun-try ponds are home to several fish species, most commonly brook trout, largemouth bass, small-mouth bass, northern pike and assorted panfish.
PLANTS ALONG THE CL50The largest, and perhaps most notable, plants
you will see along the trail include the towering eastern white pines and eastern hemlocks, along with the mature, hulking yellow birch, red maple and sugar maple. Those attuned to the smaller, herbaceous plants can observe a variety of wild-flowers, ferns, club mosses, saprophytic and even carnivorous plants (don’t worry, they only “eat” insects and other tiny creatures). Tasty edibles (like raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry) are also
1. The High Rock ‘truck trail’ trailhead on South Shore Road in Wanakena, NY
2. The Dead Creek Flow trailhead on South Shore Road in Wanakena, NY
3. The Peavine Swamp trailhead, located on NYS Route 3 west of Cranberry Lake, NY
4. The DEC boat launch trailhead on Columbi-an Road in Cranberry Lake, NY
5. The Cranberry Lake Community Center in Cranberry Lake, NY (behind center)
6. The Gilbert Tract trailhead, located on NYS Route 3 just east of Cranberry Lake, NY
7. The Burntbridge Pond/Brandy Brook trail-head, located on NYS Route 3 about two miles east of Cranberry Lake, NY
For those with boat access, other options are available. For those with intermediate to advanced biking skills, keep in mind that several miles of the CL50 are open to biking. In fact, the Peavine Swamp Trail, the Gilbert Tract/Brandy Brook Trail and, of course, the sections of the CL50 that coincide with Route 3 and the Ranger School Road are all legally open to biking. No motorized or mechanized transportation is allowed in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, including bikes.
Cranberry Lake 50A 50-MILE LOOP TRAIL
Full Color Trail Map & Background Information
PLANNING YOUR TRIPThe CL50 map may be used for preliminary
planning and as a reference while conducting your hike. It is printed on waterproof, tear resistant paper to be as durable as possible. For more de-tailed information, and to more thoroughly plan and guide your trip, the map should be used in conjunction with other maps and guidebooks. The following resources are highly recommended and widely available in stores and online. The first is a small, lightweight guidebook focused specifically on the CL50. The latter two publications will be especially helpful if you plan to conduct side trips or return to the region for further exploration.
1. Cranberry Lake 50 Pocket Guide, by Jamie Savage & Spencer Morrissey. Available Spring 2017.
2. Western Trails, edited by Norm Landis & Bradly A. Pendergraft. Lake George, NY: Adiron-dack Mountain Club, 2016.
3. Adirondack Park (Old Forge/Oswegatchie) Illustrated Trails Map. National Geographic. Revised regularly.
More information is also available from The Cranberry Lake 50 website cranberrylake50.org. A pdf version of the map can be downloaded from the website for free.
START HERE: WELCOME TO THE CRANBERRY LAKE 50!
Cranberry Lake and the lands that surround it provide some of the best hiking, biking, pad-dling, fishing, skiing and camping experiences available in the northeastern United States. This corner of the Adirondack Park is rich in forests, water, wildlife, peace and natural beauty. The Cranberry Lake 50 (a 50-mile circumnavigation of Cranberry Lake) is the perfect way to experience it all. In Cranberry Lake you will find authentic wilderness and you will connect to nature in way that is increasingly difficult in the northeast, if not the world. The Cranberry Lake 50 will guide you through this wilderness, through old-growth forests, past backcountry ponds, across a fascinat-ingly glaciated landscape, to peaceful campsites, a rejuvenated spirit, a laudable achievement and a memorable adventure.
It’s not all about wilderness. The CL50 will also expose you to a community, a culture and a way of life common throughout the Adirondacks. You will pass through two ‘trail towns’ (historically and presently very small, nature-connected hamlets). Your adventure brings purpose to these towns, as similar outdoor pursuits have for well over 100 years. The CL50 is designed to welcome you to this area and encourage you to return.
Hiring a licensed “Adirondack Guide” may appeal to some hikers. Hiring a guide was very popular in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, and guiding remains an important part of the Adirondack economy today. There are several guides that work in the Cranberry Lake area and know it well. A guide can assist you with any or all aspects of your trip, and/or can be hired for special-ty adventures like fishing, hunting, paddling, rock climbing, birding, etc. Visit the NY State Outdoor Guide’s Association online at nysoga.com to find a licensed guide. For general information about New York’s licensed guide program visitdec.ny.gov
CAMPING OPPORTUNITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
Several first-come, first-serve, primitive camp-sites are located along the CL50, and on the near-by shoreline or islands of Cranberry Lake. They generally provide space for 1-4 small tents, a fire ring, and sometimes a pit privy/outhouse. Several Adirondack lean-tos (a.k.a., “open camps”) also exist along the trail, and each has been repaired or rebuilt in recent years. Please treat lean-tos and campsites with respect, and report any damage to the local forest ranger. If camping at a non-desig-nated campsite, please remember to stay back at least 150 feet from water, roads and trails.
EMERGENCIESIn an emergency, dial 911, or contact the DEC
Emergency Search and Rescue and Fire Hotline at 518-891-0235. Be aware that cell phones may not work in this area, so plan ahead and prepare! Cell service continues to improve, but remains spotty, weak or non-existent through much of the area. The higher in elevation you are, the better your chances for reception. The nearest hospital is in Star Lake, NY, which is located about 15 miles west of Cranberry Lake. A fire house and DEC field office are located in the Hamlet of Cranberry Lake, along the route of the CL50. Sign in and out of all DEC trail registers in case you become missing or lost.
FINISHING AND GETTING A CL50 PATCH
Please visit cranberrylake50.org for information on how to register the completion of your hike
and receive a Cranberry Lake 50 patch. Over 700 people have com-pleted the CL50 to date. A small donation is requested for the patch which, in turn, is used to help support the Five Ponds Partners efforts to
improve the CL50 trail and experience.
LEAVE NO TRACE®Please help us protect the natural beauty and
ecological integrity of this area by practicing the seven principles of Leave No Trace (details at lnt.org):
1. Plan ahead and prepare2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces3. Dispose of waste properly4. Leave what you find5. Minimize campfire impacts6. Respect wildlife7. Be considerate of other visitors
ADVENTURE BEYOND THE CL50We invite you to return to the area following
your CL50 adventure. Pick up a series of free brochures produced by the Towns of Clifton and Fine that highlight their ‘top ten’ hiking, fishing and paddling destinations for ideas.
CREDITSThe Five Ponds Partners wishes to thank the fol-
lowing people and/or businesses for their role in the creation of this map:Map: Samantha Oliveras, Nate Morey & Jamie Savage, in consultation with Shawn Cleveland, SUNY-ESF Ranger SchoolText: Jamie Savage, Rick Kovacs, Sherman CraigGraphic Design/Layout: Vanessa VaverchakHigh Falls photo: Spencer MorrisseyBob Marshall Photo: Courtesy of the Adirondack MuseumProduction, editing, and other photos: Jamie SavagePrinting: Sherwin Dodge Printers, Inc.DISCLAIMER - Partners in this brochure, including but not limited to the Five Ponds Partners and its individual members, assume no responsibility for inaccuracies in this map, changes in trail conditions, or for injuries, damages or death resulting from the use of this map, the trails or the recreational facilities there-on. Hike at your own risk and only after you have adequately planned and prepared for your trip.
The DEC Cranberry Lake Campground on the northeast shore of the lake offers campsites, potable water, hot showers, and bathrooms. They charge about $20 per day for a campsite.
GROUP SIZEWhen camping overnight, be aware of group-
size restrictions. Much of the CL50 traverses the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, where group size is limited to 9 (no exceptions!). In the Cranberry Lake Wild Forest, the maximum recommended group size is 12. Even so, remember that groups of 10 or more, or groups camping in the same spot for more than 3 days, require a permit from the local forest ranger. The permits are free.
For more information about DEC regulations pertaining to camping, visit dec.ny.gov
FOOD, LODGING, AND SUPPLIESWe hope that you will support the ‘trail town’
businesses located along the CL50. They welcome you and appreciate your business! More informa-tion on the businesses in Wanakena and Cranber-ry Lake can be found in the Cranberry Lake 50 Pocket Guide. For a complete and up-to-date list of businesses in the Towns of Clifton and Fine, visit cranberrylake50.org
WILDLIFE ALONG THE CL50The forests, meadows and wetlands you will be
traveling through harbor healthy populations of charismatic wildlife generally rare or absent else-where. In general, the animals are not to be feared, but respected and enjoyed from a distance. As wildlife is a State-controlled resource, regulations and information pertaining to hunting and fishing can be found at the NYS-DEC website, dec.ny.gov
If you are quiet and observant, you may see, hear or discover signs of coyote, fox, black bear, bobcat, otter, fisher, marten, deer, moose, beaver, mink, chipmunks, red squirrels, northern flying squirrels,
snowshoe hare, porcupine, mice, voles, short-tailed shrews, green frogs, bull frogs, wood frogs, tree frogs, spring peepers, American toads, red-backed salamanders, spotted newts, yellow-spot-ted salamanders, garter snakes, ring-necked snakes, bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, kingfishers,
Most visitors complete the CL50 on foot during the warmer months of the year, but opportunities exist to bike parts of the loop, or even ski or snow-shoe the loop when snow conditions allow (see special precautions listed below regarding winter travel). Some go it alone, others in small groups, perhaps with a canine companion or two. All seem to agree in the end that it was well worth it and are proud of their accomplishment.
Realizing that the CL50 passes through small communities and adjacent to private property, please respect these communities, their property, and the people therein. Many of these folks helped make the CL50 a reality and/or have supported it in some way.
TRAILHEAD OPTIONSThere is no official loop direction, but the
majority of people hike clockwise around the lake. The elevation gain is, obviously, the same either way, but ascents tend to be more gradual when hiking in the clockwise direction. There are actu-ally several places one could start/end the CL50, and parking is available at each. Importantly, there is also a register at or near each of these trailheads and all hikers should sign in for their safety.
The following seven trailheads can be found on the map:
TRAIL CONDITIONS AND TIME REQUIREMENTS
How long does it take to hike 50 miles? A 3-day, 2-night option is popular for the average hiker. Even if carrying a heavy pack, the well-marked, well-maintained, gently rolling trails facilitate steady progress. However, as you will see on the map, there are several possibilities for dividing the route into reasonable distances based on time available, interest, ability, season and preferred
mode of travel (e.g, hike, bike, ski). Some people spread the adventure over several years, doing only one or two small sections a year. Some have completed the loop in less than 24 hours! However, no official
speed records are maintained or celebrated; the primary purpose of trail is to provide a relaxing opportunity to reconnect with nature, friends, and one’s own physical and spiritual health. Your CL50 experience can be customized and enhanced by including one or more side trips (refer to CL50 Pocket Guide). These will surely require additional time beyond the typical 3-day trip, so be sure to plan accordingly.
The Origin of theCranberry Lake 50
The New York State Department of Environmental Con-servation’s (DEC) Five Ponds Wilderness Unit Management Plan adopted in 19 94 proposed improving the area with
additional trails to provide a way to hike a 50-mile loop around Cranberry Lake. In
the wake of a large-scale wind storm in 19 95, a group of volunteers came together to
promote the re-opening and im-provement of the region’s trails
and campsites and simultaneously began to spearhead an effort to establish the 50-mile loop trail. Known as the Five Ponds Partners, the group worked cooperatively with the NYS-DEC, the Adirondack Park Agency, the Adirondack Mountain Club, the SUNY-ESF Ranger School, and other volunteers to make the CL50 a
reality. In June of 2009, after years of meetings, mapping, regulatory approvals, and trail work, the CL50 was
officially opened during a National Trails Day celebration in Wanakena, NY. The model partnership that grew from the efforts to establish the CL50 continues today for the benefit
of all visitors to the Cranberry Lake area.
CL50 Finisher #1 - Bob Marshall
In the 1920s, as a student at the SUNY-ESF Biological Station on the southeast shores of Cranberry Lake, Bob
Marshall (1901-1939) conducted forays into all parts of the then-unknown surrounding forest. Hiking as much as
40 miles a day, Bob likely hiked around Cranberry Lake at least once. He documented his trips to the area’s backcoun-try ponds and peaks in his 1923 publication, Weekend Trips in the Cranberry Lake Region. Bob was a definer and defender of wilderness, here in New York State
and across North America. In recognition of his extensive explorations and wilderness advocacy efforts, Bob Marshall is
respectfully appointed as the first finisher of the CL50.
“…wilderness furnishes perhaps the best opportunity for pure aesthetic enjoyment.”
Old Growth Forests
Trodding the trails of the CL50 today, you may well be walking on the bed of old logging railroads. But the relative-ly late settlement of the Cranberry Lake region accounts for the largest area of old-growth forest left standing east of
the Mississippi River. The CL50 passes through late-suc-cessional forests and remnants of old growth in several
places. Relatively easy side trips from the CL50—to the Big Pine in Wanakena, or the Five Ponds south of High Falls, for example—can bring you into commune with trees in excess of 300 years old! Though definitions of ‘old growth’ vary, most agree that forest supporting trees this old are worthy
of the distinction.
This map and brochure was designed, produced and funded by the Five Ponds Partners (FPP). The Five Ponds Partners are an all-volunteer sub-com-mittee of the Clifton-Fine Economic Develop-ment Corporation. Members of the FPP work to ensure that forest recreation resources existing now and in the future on State-owned lands and easements in the Clifton-Fine area are maintained and promoted. For more information, or to join the FPP, visit cranberrylake50.org
©2017 Five Ponds Partners
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Contour Interval = 50 ft (15.2 m)Map Scale = Approx. 1:50,000
©2017 Five Ponds Partners. All rights reserved. Copies for personal use only.
Cranberry Lake 50Other TrailsStreamsNYS Route 3Other RoadsWaterWildernessOther Public LandPrivate LandSide Trails (See Pocket Guide)
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