16 sites, primitive, free, open spring to fall. Aldrich Pond Wild Forest contains 26,702 acres. The main route involves turning west off Route 3, in Lower Oswegatchie, onto the Oswegatchie-Newton Falls Road, then south onto Oswegatchie Trail Road, then roughly southwest onto Coffin Mills Road, through Coffin Mills, to Aldrich. Look for more trail signs indicating Aldrich Pond Wilderness Trail. Another trailhead (to Aldrich Pond and farther to Streeter Lake) is found off Youngs Road, off Route 3 due south of Benson Mines and Star Lake.

3.4 miles RT, difficult, entrance fee to state campground; This is a steep trail with vistas along the way and views from the top overlooking Cranberry Lake.

5.7 miles, easy; This trail system, used primarily for cross-country skiing, is intersected by numerous back roads that provide many different options for walks of various durations. There is a swimming area and a canoe access site at the sand beach on the Raquette River.

13.2 miles round trip, easy;This historic route follows a former spur line of the Grasse River Railroad for over half its distance as it transverses a hardwood forest to a lean-to on the shore of this beautiful pond.

12 sites, open May19 to September 10; Cedar Point State Park, one of the oldest state parks in New York, is a popular spot, offering excellent camping, fishing, boating and swimming. The beach is sheltered and sandy, and there are docks for boats, a fishing pier and picnic grounds. From the overlook area, visitors can watch ocean-going freighters pass by. Park visitors enjoy boating, camping, fishing, hunting, and picnicking. The park offers a beach, boat rentals, and dockage, campsites, dumping stations, a marina with a pump-out station, picnic tables and pavilions, a playground, playing fields, and showers.

6.6 miles round trip, easy; The route from Clear Pond to Lilypad Pond traverses an extensive beech forest and passes several picturesque glacial ponds. Long Pond, lined with hemlocks and white pine, is a nice destination and a shorter 5.2 mile round trip hike.

235 sites, open May-October; Coles Creek State Park has wooded and open campsites near a swimming beach on Lake St. Lawrence. The lake is ideal for boating and fishing, and a marina on the mouth of Coles Creek lies just north of the park entrance. The park also has a playground, playing fields, and a large pavilion. Activities include boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, and camping. Park facilities include a beach, a marina, boat launch sites, boat rentals, dockage, campsites, dumping stations, showers, picnic tables, pavilions, food concessions, and a playground.

173 sites, open May 11-Sept. 9; The Cranberry Lake area is one of the largest remote areas remaining in the state. There has been only a minimum of civilized encroachment on the lake itself, and just to the south lie thousands of acres of unbroken forest. Originally, the lake was about half its present size, but in 1867, a log crib dam was completed at Cranberry Lake Village to control the flow of the river and improve navigation. The present concrete dam was built in 1916. The park is adjacent to 150,000 acres of forest preserve. There are many miles of marked trails and ponds.

41 sites, primitive; The Cranberry Lake region is one of the largest remote areas remaining in the state. There has been only minimal encroachment of civilization on the lake itself. Just to the south of the lake lie thousands of acres of rolling hills, numerous lakes, ponds, and unbroken forest lands that show little or no marks of civilization.

19.9 mile loop + side trips, moderate to difficult; Two-day backpacking trip that passes vistas overlooking the Brandy Brook Flow on Cranberry Lake, several remote glacial ponds, a waterfall and historic natural rock shelter. The side trip to Dog Pond and the waterfall on its inlet is .5 mile RT and an unmarked .6 mile RT trail access views from the top of Dog Mountain.

35 sites, open May-September; Eel Weir State Park is located on the Oswegatchie River two miles from Black Lake. Both waterways are known for excellent bass fishing and are ideal for canoes or rowboats. As it is small and secluded, the park is a perfect place to get away from it all. Thirty-eight campsites are available, as are a picnic area and pavilion.

1.8 mile loop, easy; A beautiful stream and cascades are located beside the picnic area where a short nature trail begins. The loop trail has signposts highlighting points of interest and a short .50 mile RT trail leads to an observation platform overlooking the adjacent wetland. Several miles of spur trails on old roadbeds wind trough the state forest. Some blow-down can be observed.

2 miles RT, easy; Walk the short access trail amid a forest of hemlocks to the foot of this 60-foot waterfall which drops in two narrow cascades.

Primitive, summer only, free, 46 sites; 15.1 miles, moderate to difficult; High Falls is the most remote of the waterfalls in St. Lawrence County and is located in the southern most portion of the County. While the hike into the falls is well worth it, do not be surprised when you see one of the smallest falls of the county. While High Falls is only 15 feet high, its name is derived from the fact that it is the largest drop on that branch of the Oswegatchie River, a calm, slow-moving river

135 sites, open May 19 - September 4; Higley Flow State Park is nestled among the Adirondack foothills on the picturesque Raquette River. Spacious campsites, separated from neighbors by pine trees, abound in the park. The terrain is hilly and heavily-wooded and there is a sandy beach on the reservoir of the Raquette River. The scenic river is ideal for canoeing and fishing. The Beaver Pond Nature Trail has interpretive signs that describe the six distinct habitats through which the trail passes. Hiking trails double as cross-country ski trails in winter, when snowmobiling, snowshoeing and ice fishing are also allowed.

free; Horseshoe Lake features an accessible fishing pier and 2 accessible campsites. One site has an accessible surface, picnic table, tent pad, privy and fire ring. The other site is designed for a self contained unit and has no privy associated with it. It has an accessible surface, picnic table, tent pad and fire ring.

4.5 mile trail network; This is an excellent bird watching site located in the Upper and Lower Lakes State Wildlife Management Area. The nature trail system includes an observation tower and a bird-blind overlooking the refuge, as well as a boardwalk trail that is accessible to people with disabilities. There is a picnic pavilion, learning center and restroom facilities.

3 miles off Route 12, open May-October, 98 sites; Jacques Cartier State Park is well known for its sheltered bay, beautiful grounds and clean facilities. Day use and overnight facilities attract fishermen, campers, picnickers, hunters and winter sports enthusiasts. Regular summer hours run from Memorial Weekend through Columbus Day.

Short, unmarked routes lead to views of these exciting falls on the Raquette River. About 1.5 miles north of the intersection of Route 3 and 56, an unmarked trail leads to the base of Moody Falls where the river twists through a chasm and drops 22 feet. Another mile up the road, a .3 mile woods road leads to views of Jamestown Falls, a long cascading waterfall. Private property is adjacent to both areas; please stay within the boundaries of state land.

.8 mile RT to falls, easy; 4.5 miles RT along the river, easy to moderate; The Grass River is known for its waterfalls; this imposing 60-foot waterfall is one of the largest and most accessible. The riverside trail leads you downstream to a bridge crossing. Across the bridge, trails lead both up and down the river to more views of scenic cascades, the most spectacular of which are located downstream.

spring and fall only, 16 sites

4.6 miles RT, easy to moderate, water access only; This is a remote route that passes three wilderness ponds and a waterfall. One of the ponds has a unique greenish-blue coloring due to minerals in the water and there is an overlook above Spectacle Pond.

1.8 miles RT, easy; A bridge at the southern end of this route provides access to the far shores and the trail that leads to fishing hot spots along this popular stream.

168 sites, open May 18-October 8; Robert Moses State Park is located partly on the mainland and partly on Barnhart Island. Visitors reach the park through a tunnel under the Eisenhower Lock. The park is spacious, home to a large variety of flora and fauna and offers a multitude of recreational opportunities, including wooded campsites and cabins, a marina and boat launch, some of the best fishing in the Northeast, picnic areas, a swimming beach, tennis courts and a year round nature center. The nature center also offers holiday, special events and school outreach programs. The park's nature, hiking and cross-country skiing trails wind through fields, forests and wetlands, with overlooks showcasing spectacular views. In winter, the park also welcomes snowmobilers.

7.5 mile loop or 3.2 miles one-way, easy to moderate; The turbulent Raquette River provides the back drop for this walk which has several steep sections and leads along both sides of the river. You’ll enjoy viewing the dramatic rapids, waterfalls, gorges, rock outcroppings and a section referred to as “The Tubs.” The first mile below the Colton dam is especially exciting. Informational plaques are located along the trail and there are some tannery ruins on the west side.

8 miles round trip, moderate or 1 mile RT easy;Two trailheads provide access to this lake and its lean-to. Either way you approach the lake, you will be surprised by its park-like quality due primarily to its previous owners who still maintain a family burial plot. The Schuler family, whose fortune was made in potato chips, grew experimental potatoes in the area now referred to as the “potato patch”.  Nearby is beautiful Crystal Lake with its clear water and imported sand beach.

5 mile loop, easy; This interesting trail winds around a rock outcrops and leads to a series of picturesque rock-encircling lakes, each with its own lean-to, and to a 40-foot bluff overlooking Huckleberry Lake.