Snowmobilers traveling between Raquette Lake and Forked Lake in the Sargent Ponds Wild Forest must use a new route instead of the traditional route.
Snowmobiles can no longer travel on the Raquette Lake Canoe Carry Trail between Outlet Bay of Raquette Lake and North Point Road.
Instead snowmobilers must use the designated snowmobile trail between Outlet Bay and the North Point Road which is located 1.2 miles west of the Raquette Lake Canoe Carry and 1.6 miles of North Point Road between the designated snowmobile trail and the Forked Lake Canoe Carry Road.
The Forked Lake Canoe Carry Road between North Point Road and Forked Lake remains open to snowmobiles.
The Raquette Lake Canoe Carry Trail is on a private driveway and a private road for which DEC has a deeded right of way for non-motorized public passage.
The past use of the canoe carry trail by snowmobiles was illegal but not reported as the seasonal homes in the area were not used by their owners in the winter.
One or more of the houses in the immediate area are now occupied year round and the owners found snowmobile use of the canoe carry trail disruptive.
DEC and the Town of Long Lake agreed that the snowmobiles should not be using the canoe carry trail and are now directing snowmobilers to use the designated snowmobile trail and North Point Road as described above.
