On June 19, a canoe overturned in Wyoming County, resulting in one fatality. A 46-year-old drowning victim with limited swimming skills was recovered by dive teams on June 20.

ADK High Peaks Conditions Report for June 26 weekend forecasting variable conditions with showers and thunderstorms likely Friday, clearing Saturday-Sunday, summits around 55°F with winds to 25 mph. Multiple closures reported including Avalanche Pass Trail, various road and facility maintenance notices.

A 24-year-old hiker on Big Slide Mountain in Johns Brook Valley became overdue and was located by Forest Rangers after being reported missing at 9:50 p.m. on June 21. The hiker lacked adequate light and proper layers but was found safe at the Hopkins Trail junction and assisted back to the trailhead.

Two children (ages 9 and 11) were separated from their hiking group on the Marcy Dam Truck Trail in Town of North Elba on June 21. Forest Rangers located them within 40 minutes and reunited them with their family at the trailhead.

Canyon Bridge on the Armstrong-Gothics-Wright trail approach is open with minor ongoing repairs. Some steps remain to be replaced on the western side but the bridge is passable.

A first-person account of climbing two trailless peaks (Big Haystack and Little Haystack) in the Debar Mountain Wild Forest north of Saranac Lake. Big Haystack involved bushwhacking through steep terrain with rocky outcroppings at the summit, but poor visibility from cloud cover obscured views. Little Haystack featured a well-defined herd path from Buck Pond Campground with a steep climb to a viewpoint overlooking Lake Kushaqua.

Forest Rangers responded to a 100-foot-by-100-foot fire of heavy logging slash on private land in the Village of Dresden on June 13. Rangers coordinated with local fire departments to bring the fire under control by the following afternoon.

A 32-year-old kayaker became lost on Long Lake (Town of Long Lake, Hamilton County) and was overdue by one hour; Forest Ranger Nahor located and assisted the disoriented individual back to Journey's Edge Lodge on June 11.

DEC press release summarizing 2025 Forest Ranger activities including 362 search and rescue missions, 202 wildfires, and prescribed burns, with a specific incident report of a 0.5-acre wildland fire in Dutchess County controlled on June 5.

The authors hiked Giant Mountain via the Ridge Trail on Route 73 during a surprise spring snowstorm, encountering steep rocky terrain, exposed ridge walking, and challenging winter conditions that made the normally difficult High Peaks climb significantly more serious.

A temporary detour is in effect on the Appalachian Trail and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail at Harriman State Park to cross the Palisades Interstate Parkway via the Anthony Wayne Overpass, with directions provided for accessing the West Mountain Shelter.

A solo hike to Square Falls in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area on an easy, well-marked path featuring river gorge views and a remote designated campsite about a mile from the trailhead on Route 8.

Hiker traversed the Upper Tongue Range area past Five Mile Mountain with dry trail conditions and minimal bugs. Two timber rattlesnakes were encountered, one on-trail and one already moved by other hikers.

Solo hike of Rusk, Hunter, and West Kill (SW Hunter) on a beautiful June morning. Conditions were excellent with smooth trails, good weather, and plentiful water; the hiker earned their seventh Catskill 3500 peak despite minor blister issues.

DEC and Trout Unlimited announced a multi-phase culvert replacement project in the Moose River Plains Complex (Herkimer and Hamilton counties) beginning June 15, 2026. The project will replace over 50 culverts to reconnect 43 miles of brook trout habitat; initial phase focuses on Limekiln Lake–Cedar River Road with closures of Cedar River Flow Headquarters to Campsite 20 through July 3.

A 49-year-old hiker sustained an ankle injury approximately one mile from the summit of Buck Mountain on June 6. Forest rangers, EMS, and fire department personnel responded and transported the hiker via wheeled litter to the trailhead for hospital care.

DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions in 2025 and participated in prescribed fire operations including controlled burns at Albany Pine Bush (29 acres) and Moreau Lake State Park (44 acres) in early June 2026. The post highlights ranger activities including wildfire suppression and law enforcement operations across New York State.

The Blackhead Range Horseshoe is a long and popular Catskill route featuring Class 3 rock scrambling, particularly on the north slope of Blackhead, with scenic views and technical terrain requiring strong fitness and route-finding skills.

Dover Stone Church has been closed to public access via the previously-allowed private driveway following a court decision. An alternate route via a trail behind the fire department is available.

A solo hiking adventure exploring Ragged Mountain and its satellites in the Boreas Ponds Tract, involving scrambling, bushwhacking, and route-finding among several unnamed peaks with views of high peaks like Gothics, Basin, and Haystack. The day featured good trail maintenance to the base cliffs, then off-trail exploration with steep terrain, exposed ledges, and beetle-infested conditions.

DEC announces temporary closure of Butterfield Lake Boat Launch in Jefferson County from June 8 through early fall for site improvements, parking enhancements, and boat ramp replacement.

A forum user inquires about the status of a bridge on the Calamity Brook Trail that was previously damaged, possibly by high water or flooding.

A June hike to Marshall via closed Cold Brook Pass trail and herd paths from Lake Colden, encountering wet overgrown trail conditions, a recent landslide near Avalanche Pass, and variable weather from rain to sun. Notable dry conditions on descent and cold water at a pool near Indian Pass.

DEC announces New York's 13th annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (June 8–14, 2026) with free public events, webinars, workshops, and guided hikes to educate about invasive species threats and management.

Route guide for a moderate 7-mile loop hike to Slide Mountain via Phoenicia East Branch, Curtis-Ormsbee, and Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide trails. The route describes trail junction locations, elevation gain of approximately 1800 feet, and highlights the summit views and surrounding wilderness area.

A hiker became exhausted on the Nicks Lake loop trail in the Black River Wild Forest and required rescue assistance. Forest Rangers and first responders transported the 52-year-old to an ambulance at the trailhead.

A canoer's canoe sank on Thirteenth Lake in Warren County on May 28; Forest Ranger Savarie assisted in patching the canoe and helping the stranded paddler back to their vehicle.

An 88-year-old hiker went missing on May 27 at Moreau Lake State Park after departing the Western Ridge trailhead in the morning; Forest Rangers located them in good condition near the East Ridge trail at 12:15 a.m. on May 28.

DEC Forest Rangers conducted a 23-acre prescribed fire at Brookhaven National Laboratory on May 29 as part of a coordinated habitat improvement and fuel reduction effort. The controlled burn is a regulated land management practice designed to prevent invasive species and reduce wildfire risk.

Diamond Notch Falls is an easy to moderate family-friendly hike in the Catskills starting from Spruceton Road, featuring creekside walking and a scenic waterfall, with optional extension to Diamond Notch Lean-to. Trail conditions include some steep and rocky sections along with typical muddy areas, requiring standard footwear precautions.

Forest Rangers responded to a report of an overdue hiker in Balsam Lake Wild Forest on May 30; the hiker had separated from their partner and mistakenly climbed Balsam Lake Mountain, but was located safe at Alder Lake lean-to.

A 41-year-old hiker from Brooklyn dislocated their knee after slipping in mud on Table Top Mountain on May 30. Ten Forest Rangers responded and conducted a 2.5-mile litter carry to Marcy Dam Outpost before transporting the victim via UTV to Adirondak Loj.

DEC advisory reminding the public not to interact with young wildlife (fawns, nestlings, fledglings) as their parents are typically nearby and human interference can harm both animals and people. The advisory covers wildlife care best practices and reminds the public to contact licensed wildlife rehabilitators for injured or orphaned animals.

A 74-year-old from Lowville was found deceased off Adsit Road in the Croghan Tract Conservation Easement on May 29. Rangers responded and coordinated with local emergency services to recover the subject.

A wildland fire covering more than 66 acres in Franklin County was contained on May 22 after spreading from burning debris piles on County Route 2. Fire crews from multiple departments, DEC Rangers, and equipment operators extinguished the fire by evening.

DEC is expanding the main parking lot at Tinker Falls in Labrador Hollow Unique Area from 20 to 45 spaces. Work is underway and expected to last three weeks; visitors can use auxiliary lots during closure.

DEC and the New York Attorney General awarded $1.34 million in agricultural innovation grants to 25 farms in Delaware and Sullivan Counties using settlement funds from a Friesland manufacturing facility pollution case. The funding supports projects in precision agriculture technology, soil health management, and agricultural drones to improve sustainability and environmental protection in the Catskills region.

DEC Forest Rangers conducted prescribed burns on May 18 and May 21 across three state forest and preserve areas in New York to manage habitat, reduce invasive species, and mitigate wildfire fuel loads.

Two young hikers became lost on Giant Mountain in the evening with inadequate supplies (no food, water, warm layers, or headlamps). Forest Rangers located them at a lean-to and provided assistance, escorting them safely back to their vehicle by 3 a.m.

A challenging slide route from Elk Pass involving significant bushwhacking through blowdown and difficult creek navigation, followed by a steep and wet ascent of Blake Slide with overgrown central section, culminating in ascending Blake and Colvin mountains via a remote ridge route. The hike covered 16 miles with 4,500 feet of elevation gain over 13 hours total.

Three Forest Rangers responded on May 24 to rescue a hiker experiencing muscle cramps and exhaustion on the Beckhorn trail in the Dix Mountain range; the group had been sheltering in place with emergency blankets and some became hypothermic before being assisted to the Elk Lake trailhead.

Two hikers on Dix Mountain became overdue on the evening of May 23; one had an injured ankle. Forest Rangers located both hikers and guided them safely off the mountain, with the injured hiker arriving at the trailhead at 4:45 a.m.

A 2-acre brush fire damaged a structure near Lincoln Pond in Warren County on May 12; forest rangers and multiple fire departments contained the fire by 8:35 p.m.

A 21-year-old kayaker went missing in the Schroon River near Warrensburg on the evening of May 10. After an overnight search, the kayak was found but the subject was not located until the following day, when recovery teams found the body deceased.

Forest rangers responded to a 0.25-acre brush fire on May 4 caused by improperly discarded stove ashes on private property in Corinth; fire was quickly contained by fire crews.

DEC reopened the Stanley J. Hamlin Marsh Wildlife Management Area trail in Onondaga County after temporary closure for fire cleanup and boardwalk replacement. A boardwalk and viewing blind were destroyed by fire on May 13, 2026.

A 28-year-old hiker suffered a lower leg injury at the Kane Mountain fire tower and was rescued by Forest Rangers with emergency responders using a wheeled litter to transport them to the trailhead on May 22.

A wildland fire caused by burning debris piles on County Route 2 in Bombay, Franklin County burned approximately 66 acres before being contained by forest rangers and local fire departments.

DEC announces 2026 visitor safety and sustainable use initiatives for Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve, including parking restrictions on Route 73, hiring of Assistant Forest Rangers, trailhead steward programs, and visitor use management plans to address overcrowding and resource protection.

DEC press release reminding water recreationists to clean, drain, and dry watercraft and equipment to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The announcement describes the Watercraft Inspection Steward Program expansion across New York State, including new operations at Oneida Lake.