The Jay Mountain Wilderness Area, an
Adirondack Park
The Adirondack Park is a park in northeastern New York (state), New York protecting the Adirondack Mountains. The park was established in 1892 for "the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure", and for watershed protection. At , ...
unit of the
Forest Preserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, funga, or features of geologic ...
, lies within the towns of
Jay
Jays are a paraphyletic grouping of passerine birds within the family Corvidae. Although the term "jay" carries no taxonomic weight, most or all of the birds referred to as jays share a few similarities: they are small to medium-sized, usually ...
and
Lewis
Lewis may refer to:
Names
* Lewis (given name), including a list of people with the given name
* Lewis (surname), including a list of people with the surname
Music
* Lewis (musician), Canadian singer
* " Lewis (Mistreated)", a song by Radiohe ...
in
Essex County,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
. It is bounded by Glen Road on the south and private land boundaries elsewhere, except where the road west of Mt. Fay divides an appendage of state lands.
The wilderness area is named for its second-highest peak,
Jay Mountain.
The highest peak within the area is actually Saddleback Mountain,
not be confused with the mountain of the same name within the
High Peaks Wilderness Area
The High Peaks Wilderness Area is the largest wilderness area of the Forest Preserve in the U.S. state of New York. It is located in three counties and six towns in the Adirondack Park: Harrietstown in Franklin County, North Elba, Keene, ...
of
Adirondack State Park
The Adirondack Park is a park in northeastern New York protecting the Adirondack Mountains. The park was established in 1892 for "the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure", and for watershed protection. At , it is the larges ...
(which is the 17th highest peak of the Adirondack Mountains).
Geography
The high and precipitous mountains in this area are generally similar in character to the
Hurricane Mountain Primitive Area.
Recreation
The area is suitable for backcountry
hiking
A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time.
"Hi ...
and
backpacking
Backpacking may refer to:
* Backpacking (travel), low-cost, independent, international travel
* Backpacking (hiking), trekking and camping overnight in the wilderness
* Ultralight backpacking, a style of wilderness backpacking with an emphasis on ...
. Jay is the only peak within this wilderness with a marked, maintained
trail
A trail, also known as a path or track, is an unpaved lane or a small paved road (though it can also be a route along a navigable waterways) generally not intended for usage by motorized vehicles, usually passing through a natural area. Ho ...
, where as all other hikes within are
bushwhacks.
The vistas from Jay, Saddlebrook and Slip Mountains make the climb to the vantage points well worthwhile.
The AuSable Valley can be seen as well as the
Champlain Valley
The Champlain Valley is a region of the United States around Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York extending north slightly into Quebec, Canada. It is part of the St. Lawrence River drainage basin, drained northward by the Richelieu River into ...
and the
High Peaks.{{citation needed, date=August 2012
See also
*
List of Wilderness Areas in the Adirondack Park
The Adirondack Park is a park in northeastern New York protecting the Adirondack Mountains. The park was established in 1892 for "the free use of all the people for their health and pleasure", and for watershed protection. At , it is the largest ...
References
External links
* Adirondack Park Agency
"Adirondack State Land Master Plan" Updated 2001.
Hiking map
Wilderness areas in Adirondack Park
Protected areas of Essex County, New York