Adirondack Directory of Wilderness Regions

The Black River Wild Forest is rest in Herkimer County (Webb, Ohio, Nicholas, and Russia); Lewis County (Lyonsdale), Hamilton County (Morehouse) and lastly in Oneida County (Forestport and Remsen) for a total Wild Forest region of 121,506 acres.

Herkimer County - A total of 11,963 acres: John Brown's Tract (Webb) 5,855; Moose River Tract (Webb) 15,405; Gore between Moose River Tract and Nobleboro Patent (Ohio) 937; Adgate's Eastern Tract; Devereux Tract (Webb) 3,992+; Blake Lot (Webb) 13,986.00; Cramer Tract (Webb and Ohio) 6,530+; Miller (J. A.) Tract (Ohio) 1,712+; Minuse (J. H.) Tract (Ohio) 2,520; Gouverneur (Nicholas) or N. Gouverneur (Webb) 1,766.00; Kirkland (Ohio) 1,626; Hamilton (Ohio) 825; Jewett (Ohio) 773; Nobleboro Patent (Old Survey) (Ohio) 12,843;Nobleboro Patent (New Survey) (Ohio) 19,461; Remsenburgh Patent Ohio and Russia) 21,127;Matchin's Patent - Marvin Tract (Russia) 100 acres.

Lewis County - a total of 321 acres: John Brown's Tract (Lyonsdale) 88; Brantingham Tract, Lot 311 (Lyonsdale) 50; Brantingham Tract, Lot 314 (Lyonsdale) 183.
Hamilton County - a total of 473 acres: Arthurboro Patent (Morehouse) 473
Oneida County - a total of 6,749 acres: Adgate's Eastern Tract which consist of: Piquet Tract (Forestport) 2,313+; Devereux Tract (Forestport) 984*+; N. Gouverneur (Forestport) 600; Miller and Swanton (Forestport) 2,009+; Remsenburgh Patent (Forestport and Remsen) 342; Woodhull Tract (Forestport) 500

The Black River, for which the wild forest is named, is the longest river flowing in the New York State. It drains 80 square miles in the Adirondack Park and drops 518' in 14.4 miles flowing south. The Black River Forest contains 36 lakes & ponds, and 41 streams with a total of 129 miles. Prior to the 19th Century, this region was consider as 'waste land' full of marshes and beavers. After the 19th Century, Writer Alfred L. Donaldson, wrote "the march of the lumbermen was like an invading army" and they cut "carelessly, with no concern for the future." It was felt that the supply was endless. The 'City' (named back then) was the site of large dam on the West Canada Creek where volumes of logs were drove down to Nobleboro for shipment. McKeever was 'booming' with a veneer mill, and large sawmill. An article in the "Lumber Camp News" 9/49 cited one of the largest logs squared thirty inches on carriage (or 42+ inch diameter tree) as one of the giants. The mill produced veneer until 1961. The Moose River-Minnehaha Railroad (The Peg Leg) brought passengers to the Minnnehaha.

In 1825, Governor De Witt Clinton suggested supplementing the water of Black River to the Eric Canal. The planned reservoirs would supply Black River and the canal system with water throughout the year. The Black River Regulator District was formed in 1920; however because the flow was sometimes too much and sometimes too little, the Stillwater Reservoir was enlarged. Proposal for new dams were defeated by the public.

Notes for the Railroad Buffs: A wealth business man, William Seward Webb, financed a railroad into the Adirondack Wilderness. He envisioned the value of a rail ("iron horse") running through the Adirondacks from Herkimer, kind of "Golden Chariot Route'. Construction began, and when he was refused a right-of-way by the state, he purchased land himself for the route. Service began in 1892 and finally in 1965 passenger service was terminated. Around the turn of the century, stations were located at Woodgate, White Lake, Otter Lake, McKeever, Nelson Lake, Minnehaha, Onekio and Thendara.

In 1968, the rail merged with Penn Central and continued to '72. In '74, the Dept of Transportation acquired the Remsen-Lake Placid Rail for service, including the 1980 Winter Olympic. Operations began in '79 but financial difficulties and safely lead to the cancellation. In '92, the Utica & Mohawk Valley Chapter of National Railway Historical Society obtained a permit for a four-mile tourist excursion on a volunteer basis. Ridership is now over 53K. On November 5, 1993, the "NY Central RR Adirondack Division Historic District, Remsen vicinity to Lake Placid" was listed on the State Register of Historic Places by the Commissioner of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. To explore our Adirondack Railways (click here).

Titbits: November 25, 1950, was the day of the biggest 'wind' to hit the Adirondacks. Black River suffered approximately 1,74M cords. In August 27, 1997, another 'big win' caused damage to the Woodgate Region. Another tornado-lake windstorm hit on July 11, 1984 the Towns of Forestport and Ohio. To clean up debris and preserve the forest from the hazards of forest fires, the C.C.C. built 'truck trails'. These trails are now part of the trail system of Black River today that are explored here (see below).

Tibits: Our own Adirondack Blogger, Dave Waite re-writes from our Forgotten Authors. To explore past writings of trips along the Black River, visit our "Forgotten Voices" (click here).