Silver Lake Wilderness Area
Encyclopedia
The Silver Lake Wilderness Area, an Adirondack Park unit of the Forest Preserve
, is located in the towns of Lake Pleasant
, Benson
, Wells
and Arietta
in Hamilton County
and is roughly bounded on the north by NY 8
and private lands near Piseco Lake, Oxbow Lake, Hamilton Lake, Sand Lake and Lake Pleasant; on the east by NY 30
; on the south generally by the Hamilton County
line; and on the west by NY 10
, the West Branch of the Sacandaga River
and the Piseco Outlet.
The area contains 48 bodies of water covering 569 acres (2.3 km2), 26.5 miles (42.6 km) of foot trails
, and 2 lean-to
s.
and backpacking
. The Northville-Placid Trail
has its southern terminus in Benson
at the southern edge of the area and runs through the center in a northerly direction, crossing the northern boundary near Piseco Lake. Although this trail has some use by hikers, the foot trail from the vicinity of Hamilton Lake to the top of Hamilton Mountain is a more popular trail.
Forest Preserve (New York)
New York's Forest Preserve is all the land owned by the state within the Adirondack and Catskill parks, managed by its Department of Environmental Conservation. These properties are required to be kept "forever wild" by Article 14 of the state constitution, and thus enjoy the highest degree of...
, is located in the towns of Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant, New York
Lake Pleasant is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 876 at the 2000 census. It contains the county seat of Hamilton County, which is also called Lake Pleasant....
, Benson
Benson, New York
Benson is a town in Hamilton County, New York, USA. The population was 201 at the 2000 census.The Town of Benson is on the south border of Hamilton County and is northwest of Schenectady.The current Town Supervisor is Ermina Pincombe.- History :...
, Wells
Wells, New York
Wells is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 737 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Joshua Wells, a land agent, who built the first mills in the area....
and Arietta
Arietta, New York
Arietta is a town in Hamilton County, New York, United States. The population was 293 at the 2000 census. The town was named after the mother of one of the first settlers, Rensselaer Van Rennslaer...
in Hamilton County
Hamilton County, New York
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is named after Alexander Hamilton, the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant...
and is roughly bounded on the north by NY 8
New York State Route 8
New York State Route 8 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It runs in a southwest-to-northeast direction from the Southern Tier to the northern part of Lake George. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of...
and private lands near Piseco Lake, Oxbow Lake, Hamilton Lake, Sand Lake and Lake Pleasant; on the east by NY 30
New York State Route 30
New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier to the Canadian border in the state's North Country, where it continues into Quebec as Route 138. On a regional level,...
; on the south generally by the Hamilton County
Hamilton County, New York
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is named after Alexander Hamilton, the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant...
line; and on the west by NY 10
New York State Route 10
New York State Route 10 is a north–south state highway in the Central New York and North Country regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from the Quickway in Deposit, Delaware County to NY 8 at Higgins Bay, a hamlet in the Hamilton County town of Arietta...
, the West Branch of the Sacandaga River
Sacandaga River
The Sacandaga River is a river in the northern part of New York in the United States. Its name comes from the Native American Sa-chen-da'-ga, meaning "overflowed lands"....
and the Piseco Outlet.
The area contains 48 bodies of water covering 569 acres (2.3 km2), 26.5 miles (42.6 km) of foot trails
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
, and 2 lean-to
Lean-to
A lean-to is a term used to describe a roof with a single slope. The term also applies to a variety of structures that are built using a lean-to roof....
s.
Geography
The terrain is relatively low with rolling hills and only four mountain tops that exceed 3000 feet (914.4 m) elevation. There is a considerable area of conifer swamp as well as some beaver meadows along the streams.Forest
The forest cover is chiefly mixed hardwoods and softwoods with some stands of nearly pure hemlock in large diameter size. In the swamp area along streams and at the higher elevations around the mountain tops, the forest cover runs predominantly to spruce and balsam.Water
Silver Lake is the principal attraction near the center of this area, chiefly for brook trout fishermen. Mud lake, Rock Lake and Loomis Pond are also popular trout fishing spots. Big Eddy on the West Branch of the Sacandaga River and Cathead Mountain also attract visitors to the area.Recreation
The area is suitable for hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
and backpacking
Backpacking (wilderness)
Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...
. The Northville-Placid Trail
Northville-Placid Trail
The Northville-Lake Placid Trail, also known as the NPT, is a lightly travelled foot trail that runs 133 mi through the Adirondack Park in northern New York State. It was laid out by the Adirondack Mountain Club in 1922 and 1923, and is now maintained by the New York State Department of...
has its southern terminus in Benson
Benson, New York
Benson is a town in Hamilton County, New York, USA. The population was 201 at the 2000 census.The Town of Benson is on the south border of Hamilton County and is northwest of Schenectady.The current Town Supervisor is Ermina Pincombe.- History :...
at the southern edge of the area and runs through the center in a northerly direction, crossing the northern boundary near Piseco Lake. Although this trail has some use by hikers, the foot trail from the vicinity of Hamilton Lake to the top of Hamilton Mountain is a more popular trail.