(admission fee) There are lookouts with benches and interpretive signs along both routes — the pine bark Rim Promenade and the Inner Sanctum Excursion. Look straight down the 150-foot vertical ridge from the top of the rim. Complete your visit with an easy two-mile “float through nature” on a 12-person river raft, an inner tube or a two-person kayak. 518-834-7454.
B)
Ausable Marsh
(3 miles RT, easy) You can explore this extraordinary marsh habitat by foot or canoe. Its location along the Lake Champlain flyway offers some of the finest bird watching in New York State, including small warblers, hawks, herons and migrating waterfowl. (A handicap accessible viewing platform can be found along the access road to Ausable Point Campgroud. It juts about 50 feet into the marsh and provides an open view to hundreds of acres of unspoiled habitat.)
C)
Clintonville Pine Barrens
(Nature Conservancy preserve) This 900-acre pitch pine-heath barrens is one of the best examples of this natural community in New York. It is home to two rare plants and two rare moths. A short trail traverses the area and a trail guide is available at the trailhead.
D)
Flat Rock Gulf
(5 miles RT, easy) Walk to views of "the gulf" - a spectacular geological formation with a deep, 100-foot vertical drop and a 2.5 acre glacial pond.
E)
Lake Alice
(3 miles RT, easy) View wildlife and waterfowl, such as osprey and herons, as you walk beside the lake and through the woods of this wildlife management area.
F)
Lewis Preserve
(5.6 miles RT, easy) This walk traverses abandoned farm fields and second growth forest. A short side trail leads to a group of civil war-era charcoal kilns. You can still see the foundation of the original homestead and there are numerous old apple trees and some old stone fences among the trees. Bluebird nest boxes have been erected and three major streams flow through the area providing top quality fishing.
G)
Lyon Mountain
(5 miles RT, difficult) The “international” view from the top of this mountain includes the skyline of Montreal, the Adirondack High Peaks, Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains. It is a steep climb to the open summit and its abandoned fire tower.
H)
Plattsburgh
Take a historic walking tour and visit the scenic waterfront area on the Heritage Trail. First settled in 1767, Plattsburgh is the site of several famous battles and home to many historic buildings and sites, and several museums. 518-563-1000.
I)
Point Au Roche State Park
(8 mile trail network, easy) The network of trails begins near the nature center where you'll find a sign with a map of the area. Most of the trails lead to spectacular views of Lake Champlain and, in many cases, the routes parallel the shoreline. Some routes are paved and accessible to people with disabilities. The adjacent day-use area has an entrance fee and includes a picnic area, restrooms, a large beach and a boat launch site. 518-563-6444.
J)
Silver Lake Bog
(2.5 miles RT, easy, Nature Conservancy preserve) A variety of habitats can be observed here — a black spruce-tamarack bog, a northern white cedar swamp, a hemlock-northern hardwood forest and a pine ridge. The half-mile Bog Walk traverses the bog and swamp on a boardwalk; 15 marked stops interpret the ecology and plant life. At the end of the boardwalk, the “Pine Bluff Trail” begins. The route ascends to a ridge 400 feet above Silver Lake and has eight marked stops. The trail guide for both trails is available at the trailhead.
K)
Silver Lake Mountain
(1.8 miles RT, easy) The summit ridge of this mountain is a series of open rock ledges with outstanding views of Silver Lake, Union Falls Pond, Taylor Pond, Catamount and Whiteface Mtn. The trail to the top has several open views and rocky sections along the way.
L)
Valcour Island
(1 mile water crossing from the Peru boat launch, difficult, and 7.5 miles of trails, easy) This historic island, now owned by the state, was the site of a pivotal naval battle during the Revolutionary War. The historic lighthouse, built in 1874, is open to public on Sundays during the summer. There are many beautiful views from the shoreline trail that circles the island, skirting cliffs, a heron rookery, beaches and sheltered bays. This is a very popular camping destination for boaters on Lake Champlain in the summer. The water crossing can become dangerous when windy conditions cause the narrow channel to become very rough. Be sure to check the weather forecast before setting out and choose your day wisely.
M)
Wickham Marsh
(2 miles RT, easy) This wildlife management area is located just south of the Ausable Marsh. It includes essentially the same habitat and viewing opportunities but you can also see a rare cedar plantation and an old homestead site.
