The North Country National Scenic Trail in Adirondack Park is still in the planning stages. In June 2014 there was updated information released by the NY DEC on where the trail will go through the park, which is different compared to the original plan announced in 2007.  According to the DEC website, the new plan recommends following nearly 81 miles of current trails and the construction of about 38 miles of new trails within the park. There will be an estimated 39 miles of temporary connections along roads that will be initially utilized to make connections to the off road sections.

The Plan recommends the incorporation of the North Country National Scenic Trail into the State's Adirondack trail system and recommends that this National Scenic Trail be developed and managed in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, policies, and guidelines. The Plan outlines a viable trail route for the North Country National Scenic Trail across the central region of the Park.

Within the Adirondack Park, the North Country National Scenic Trail will be approximately 150 total miles in length when complete. (The proposed route requires less new construction than other alternatives.) The ultimate goal is a North Country National Scenic Trail route that is completely off-road and non-motorized.

The newly adapted route eliminates the North Country Trail traveling through the Hudson River Gorge Primitive Area and the crossing of the Hudson River along an old railroad bridge. See our information about this stretch of proposed trail on our website at Best of the NCT - Hudson River Bridge. The new route has the "trail" crossing the Hudson River on the NY 28A bridge over the Hudson in the small hamlet of North Creek. This new route also has created a gap in the North Creek area.

We did notice that the new route has the trail traveling closer into small hamlets, making resupply a bit easier for thru hikers. The old plan made it nearly impossible for resupply in the Adirondacks.

The Plan proposes a route for the North Country National Scenic Trail that will travel through nine Units of the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve:

• Black River Wild Forest
• West Canada Lake Wilderness
• Moose River Plains Wild Forest
• Little Moose Wilderness
• Jessup River Wild Forest
• Siamese Ponds Wilderness
• Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest
• Hoffman Notch Wilderness
• Hammond Pond Wild Forest

One of our FAQ's we receive is where will the trail go in the park?  Since we have a pretty good idea what existing trails will be used, you could do some sections of the trail that can be hiked now.  As for a continuous path through the park?  Yes, you could bushwhack the "missing links", but Adirondack Park is so remote that such an endeavor could be extremely dangerous. We would not recommend this. Be patient and eventually the trail will be completed.

What will the North Country Trail look like in Adirondack Park?  Take a look of the updated plan at the DEC website.  We have also included links above to what will the future North Country National Scenic Trail look like in the Adirondacks.  This section of the North Country Trail will eventually become one of the most popular sections of the trail.  For your safety, remember that the Adirondacks is much more remote when hiking.

North Country National Scenic Trail at Crown Point State Historic Site & bridge to Vermont