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2 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
ATV Trail System
The Lewis County ATV trail system is an everexpanding system with hundreds of miles of trails.
Although Lewis County contains a high
percentage of state public land (about
175,000 acres), ATV’s are not allowed
access on any of the Department of
Environmental Conservation state
land. This hurdle has not stopped Lewis
County and its residents from putting
together spectacular ATV riding areas
and an extensive countywide ATV trail
system.
As you can imagine, private landowners
have played an instrumental role in the
development of the trail system. In fact,
the system is 90% PRIVATE land. The
only public lands in the ATV trail system
are the Lewis County reforestation
lands. As ATV enthusiasts, it is very
important that we respect the lands,
laws, wildlife and nature as we enjoy
the trails and scenery.
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 3
ATV Trails in the System
can be categorized into
three types.
Town & County Roads
There are many miles of seasonal dirt
roads which connect ATV areas and off
road trails in our system.
Off-Road Trails
County reforestation trails and private
landowner trails make up this portion
of the trail system.
Play Areas
A mud ATV play area has been set-aside
for those with a real quest for mud ATVing. This 144-acre play area features
tight, twisty, through the woods, through
the mud and water holes riding. If fun in
the mud is your game, this is the stadium
for you. More ATV play areas are being
planned as we expand the system.
Trail System Expansion
Trails are added to the system as private
land and/or county land becomes
available and deemed viable and safe for
ATV trail riding. Work is underway to
connect the Lewis County trail system
with trails in Jefferson, northern Oneida,
Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties.
4 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
Trail Maintenance
Trails are maintained and upgraded by
several local ATV/Snowmobile clubs.
Trail care is very important and is an
ongoing task. Maintenance of the ATV
trails is often a group effort in the
form of trail work parties. Removing
downed trees, cutting over-hanging
branches, culvert drainage work, grass
cutting, chain saw work and repairing
road surfaces are just a few of the tasks.
Attention to trail care is very important
in order to avoid extensive trail and
environmental damage. A lack of
maintenance could result in extensive
erosion and widening of the trails. This
preventive / early intervention care is
essential to any trail system. ATV
trail care is supported by ATV riders,
club memberships, map sales, benefit
rides, land owners, and numerous area
businesses which go to great lengths to
help the cause.
Maps
Trail maps are updated periodically to
account for changes in the system. In
addition, trail markers are routinely
added to further assist riders. It is very
important that all ATV riders adhere to
the designated ATV trails. Please help
us maintain the trail system by staying
on the designated trails.
Care of Our
Environment
Lewis County and the State of New York
look at and evaluate the environmental
impact of ATV trail riding. These
impact studies look at the potential
effects on specific species of plants,
trees, and wildlife in the various areas
of the trail system. Erosion and noise
are additional aspects of concern for
both wildlife and humans. It is very
important that we all are exceptional
stewards of our environment and
surroundings. Please be considerate
and help in any way you can. The
success and availability of our
Environment depends on all of us.
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 5
Canoeing & Kayaking
The Black River
The Black River flows northeasterly and
covers parts of five counties before it drains
into Lake Ontario at Dexter. The Black
River has a watershed of approximately
1,916 square miles. The river is an
important economic factor for both
agricultural and recreational purposes; it
was one of the main contributors to the
economic growth of Lewis County in its
early years.
6 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
Today the Black River still serves an
important role in the economy of Lewis
County as a recreational resource for
residents, as well as for tourists visiting
the area. While canoeing or kayaking
down the Black River nature will surround
you. Wildlife is abundant in and around,
including fish, amphibians, birds, and
shoreline trees.
During the summer and fall months the
Black River is full of canoes and kayaks.
RiverFest is an annual event, designed as
a comfortable paddle, and is held on the
Black River the first Saturday in August.
The Beaver River
The Beaver River, once used to float logs
downstream to lumberyards, is now
home to many types of wildlife and to a
very scenic atmosphere, including the
Beaver River Canoe Route. Hundreds of
canoeists travel each year to the Beaver
River to follow this 12-mile canoe route.
Beaver River begins at Beaver Lake, which
is filled from the Moshier Reservoir, and
filled by the Stillwater Reservoir – where
water from several western Adirondack
streams converge.
Canoeing is also very popular along
Orion’s Power Beaver River Canoe
Route. This offers a 14-mile venture from
Moshier Impoundment put-in to High
Falls Impoundment take-out. Camping
opportunities also exist enroute, and the
trip includes six portages totaling just
over two miles. Hand launches are also
located on most of the impoundments, for
shorter canoe trips.
Beaver Creek Lodge
Between Barnes Corners
& Copenhagen, NY
A year-round 7 bedroom
vacation rental
4-Wheelers &
Snowmobilers
Ride from our door, we’re
right on the trail network
Info & Reservations:
732-367-2169
www.beavercreekny.com
[email protected]
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 7
Hunting & Fishing
Lewis County boasts hundreds of miles of streams in state forests, forest preserves, and
wildlife management areas open to the public. The lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams in
the region provide some of the best fishing opportunities in the North Country for trout,
bass, pike, perch, bullhead, and many other varieties. From the novice to expert, young
to old, there is something for everyone searching for the perfect spot to cast their line.
The Black River
Lake Bonaparte
The Black River, a north-flow river, offers
73 fishable miles of flow across Lewis
County, and is one of the premiere flyfishing areas in northern New York.
Lake Bonaparte, located just outside
the town of Harrisville, is another
very popular fishing destination. The
lake is running with smallmouth bass,
largemouth bass, northern pike, brown
trout, and lake trout.
8 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
Oswegatchie River
The West Branch of the Oswegatchie
River, located in the town of Croghan,
offers great brook trout opportunities.
Long Pond
Long Pond is previously stocked with
splake and red salmon, and presently
receives stockings of brook trout.
Hunting
Lewis County offers some of the finest
hunting in New York state. Lewis
County hunting terrain varies from the
Adirondack Forest Preserve to the Black
River Valley to the Tug Hill Plateau. The
Adirondack foothills, located in the
eastern section of the country, represent a
descent from the mountain country of the
central area of the Adirondacks. These
elevations vary from 3,000 to 400 feet.
Hunting season in Lewis County is
long, stretching from mid-September to
early December. Hunters enjoy the full
spectrum of outdoor enjoyment, from
warm, bug-free days and cool nights right
to tracking snow – in the North Country,
the snows come as early as October.
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 9
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have to buy a
permit and pay to ride
my ATV?
The implementation of the permit system
is to pay for the entire ATV system which
includes County reforestation lands,
private landowner trails, an ATV play area
(with more to come), and maintenance on
the roads which connect these trails and
areas. All of the other ATV systems on
the East coast are funded by their States.
NYS does not fund any ATV activities.
There is no trail fund from your ATV
registration. NYS does not recognize
ATVing as a recreational activity, and
therefore has closed virtually all State
land and DEC Truck Trails to ATVs.
NYS will not even increase the weight
of an ATV to get increased registration
revenues, and you cannot register most
side-by-side utility vehicles in NYS.
When do the 2009
permits go on sale?
Where can I buy one?
Permits can be purchased online at
lewiscountychamber.org, or in person at
the Lewis County Chamber office (7559
South State Street, Lowville, NY 13367)
beginning Monday.
How much does a
permit cost?
Permits cost $40 per machine for
members of a club belonging to the Tug
Hill Adirondack ATV Association, $80
for non-members. Family and weekend
rates are not yet available, but may be in
the future.
Will there be a trail map?
There will be a new map of all of the ATV
riding available in the region available
in April. Remember, this system is ever
changing and expanding. Be sure to
follow the signs on the trail system, and
stay on designated trails.
I don’t belong to a
club, but I want to
take advantage of the
discount offered to
members. How do I join?
You will be able to join a club on the
permit application, both online and
through the chamber
Am I buying a permit for
myself or for my ATV?
Permits for the new trail system will be
issued per machine, not per person.
10 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
Where does my permit
application money go?
What’s the speed limit
on the ATV trail system?
Permit fees will be placed in a recreational
trails fund for the establishment,
maintenance, operation, enforcement
and education of the trail system. This
money will not go into the general fund,
and will only be spent on recreational
trails in the County.
The speed limit will be set at 25mph,
unless otherwise posted.
When does the ATV
system open?
The permit requirement will be enforced
only on county and private land, but ATV
patrols will ride through the entire system
to enforce all rules and regulations.
The trail system is scheduled to open May
1 and close the second Friday in October,
the start of rifle season. You do not need
at permit for the SNIRT run in April this
year, or any of the Tug Hill ADK ATV
Association Benefit Rides in 2009.
How old do I have to be
to operate an ATV on
the trails?
Ages 10-17 must be accompanied by
an adult 18 or older and must have
successfully completed an ATV safety
course. Riders 18 and up can ride without
supervision.
Where will the permit
requirement be
enforced?
What are the fines for
violating rules and
regulations of the trail
system?
For riding without a permit, fines are
$100 for the first offense and $200 and a
one-year permit revocation for the second
offense. Other fines are for riding on
land outside trails ($250 for first offense,
machine impounded thereafter), altering
trails to create hazards ($250 for first
offense, $500 thereafter), and violating
traffic rules ($100 for first offense, $200
thereafter).
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 11
What about the
Counties surrounding
Lewis County?
All of the surrounding counties are
working toward the same goal as Lewis
County. Oneida, Oswego, Jefferson and St.
Lawrence are all in the process of creating
an interconnected, Regional ATV trail
system that will have connecting ATV
trails from the Montezuma swamp in
Wayne County, through Oswego County,
to Brewerton, through the Winnona
Forest into South Jefferson County, into
Barnes Corners across Tug Hill, though
Lewis County, to Highmarket, south to
Boonville and Forestport, north through
the Black River Valley, into Jefferson
County and Carthage, back into Lewis
County into Harrisville, to St. Lawrence
County and all the way to their pilot ATV
trail system. As these counties rise to the
level of Lewis County, (which they are
all working towards), they will join the
permit system which will let riders ride
from Brewerton to Vermont, spanning 7
or 8 counties, and possibly into Canada.
All on your ATV. Imagine it. We are
building it. This will be the largest ATV
system in the northeast, traveling from
community to community on trails and
roads. This is why your support is needed,
and a trail permit is needed to fund this
regional system. Help us expand this
system. Help us build and create off road
trails. Help us give you a great place to
ride with varied terrain, easy to technical
trails, a play area to get muddy, and a
managed, maintained, safe and patrolled
ATV trail system. This is why you need
a permit.
12 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
NYS Vehicle and
Traffic Laws
S 2409. ATV safety course and safety
certificate.
1. Safety course or courses. The
commissioner
shall
establish
a
curriculum or curricula for an ATV
safety training course or courses. Any
such curriculum may include, but not be
limited to, on-vehicle training and safe
riding practices. The commissioner may
establish different courses and curricula
for different types of all terrain vehicles.
The commissioner may permit any such
safety training course to be given by
any private person, club, association or
municipality which meets standards
established by the commissioner.
The commissioner may establish a
reasonable fee which any such person
or entity may charge for such course or
courses.
2. Safety certificate. Upon successful
completion of a safety course given in
conformity with subdivision one of this
section by a person ten years of age or
over, the person or entity which gave the
course shall notify the commissioner of
such completion in a manner prescribed
by the commissioner, The commissioner
shall, upon receipt of such information,
issue an ATV safety certificate to the
person who has successfully completed
the course. Such certificate may be
limited to the type of vehicle for which
the course was given.
S 2410. Operation by minors.
1. Except as provided by subdivision two
of this section, no person under the age of
sixteen years shall operate an ATV except
upon lands owned or leased by his parent
or guardian, unless he is under general
supervision of a person eighteen years
of age or over or a person sixteen years
of age or over who holds an ATV safety
certificate. “Leased lands” as herein
used shall not include lands leased by an
organization of which said operator or
his parent or guardian is a member.
2. A person ten years of age but less than
sixteen years of age who has received
safety training as prescribed by the
commissioner and has received the
appropriate ATV safety certificate issued
by the commissioner may operate an
ATV in the same manner as a person
who is sixteen years of age or older.
3. The failure of a person to exhibit an
ATV safety certificate upon demand to
any magistrate or any other officer having
authority to enforce the provisions of this
article shall not be an offense, but shall be
presumptive evidence that such person is
not the holder
4. No parent or guardian shall authorize
or knowingly permit his child or ward,
if under sixteen years of age, to operate
an ATV in violation of any provision
of this article, any rules or regulations
promulgated
thereunder,
or
the
provisions of any local law or ordinance.
5. No owner or other person in possession
of any ATV shall authorize or knowingly
permit any person under sixteen years of
age to operate such an ATV in violation
of any provision of this article, any rules
or regulations promulgated thereunder,
or the provisions of any local law or
ordinance.
Trail
Permits
Purchase
and download
online...
visit https://permits.lewiscountynytrails.org/
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 13
14 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 15
HONDA
ATVS - MOTORCYCLES
GENERATORS
PUMPS
SNOWBLOWERS
16 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 17
18 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 19
8
20 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
Little Known Facts of Lewis County
8 The Black River flows 42 miles through Lewis County
and only drops 6 inches in elevation over these 42 miles
8 Largest wind farm east of the Mississippi,
generating 410 megawatts of power per year
(enough to power 130,000 homes -- Lewis County has about 16,000 homes)
Get your picture taken with Lady Luwinda Milksalot,
the largest cow in NY State.
8 Taste the largest cheesecake at the Cream Cheese Festival in September.
8 Lewis County holds water releases for 5 weekends
allowing stage 5 white water kayaking.
8 We offer free rustic camping at Stillwater Reservoir, canoeing into your sites.
8 Otter Creek has 65 miles of horse trails, 75 stalls and free camping
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 21
ATV Clubs
Adirondack ATV Riders ~ Harrisville, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.adirondackatv.org
All County ATV Club ~ Montezuma, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.allcountyatv.net
Black River Valley 4 - Wheeler Club, Inc ~ Brantingham, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.blackrivervalleyfourwheelerclub.org
Black River Valley Riders ~ Carthage, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.blackrivervalleyriders.com
Highmarket Wheelers ATV Club ~ Constableville, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.highmarketsports.com
Northern Oneida County ATV Club ~ Boonville, NY
NYTRO of Northern NY ~ Lorraine, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.nytronny.com
Oswego Valley ATV Club ~ Hannibal, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.oswegovalleyatvclub.com
Tug Hill Wheelers ~ Copenhagen, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.tughillwheelers.com
Tughill Adirondack ATV Association ~ Constableville, NY
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.tughilladirondacksatv.com
West Leyden ATV Club ~ Turin, NY
22 | ATV GUIDE LEWIS COUNTY
LEWIS COUNTY ATV GUIDE | 23