DEC ANNOUNCES SUITE OF ACTIONS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF STATE LANDS

 

'Love Our New York Lands' Campaign Continues Encouraging Responsible and Respectful Recreation in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve and Other High-Use Areas

Efforts Encourage New Yorkers and Visitors to “Get Offline, Get Outside” and Enjoy State Lands 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced new and continued efforts for the 2026 outdoor recreation season to protect public safety and promote sustainable recreation in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve. DEC's actions are designed specifically to improve Adirondack and Catskill visitor safety and build on ongoing wilderness protection support strategies to improve safety, sustainability, and equitable access for those enjoying the outdoors during the upcoming warm weather months.

"Visitors from all across the world are drawn to experience New York State’s great outdoor spaces like the Adirondacks and Catskills," Commissioner Lefton said. "Working with our State and local partners, DEC is encouraging everyone to bring their friends and families on an outdoor adventure, but also to do it respectfully, responsibly, and sustainably to make the outdoors welcoming to all, prevent damage to natural resources, and avoid jeopardizing the safety of our first responders."

Visitation to State Forest Preserve lands is typically highest during the summer months. In partnership with State agencies, local municipalities, and private entities, DEC is working to protect public safety, improve the visitor experience during the busy season, and safeguard sensitive ecosystems. Using recommendations outlined by the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group (HPAG) and Catskills Strategic Planning Advisory Group (CAG), as well as input from local and community partners and outdoors enthusiasts, New York State continues to implement strategies and adaptively manage the ongoing safety and resource needs of both Forest Preserve regions.

Protecting Public Safety

Pedestrian safety continues to be a significant concern, particularly in the Route 73 corridor of the Adirondack High Peaks and on Route 23A in the Catskills. DEC works closely with New York State Police, the State Department of Transportation, and local law enforcement to address pedestrian traffic, illegal parking, and roadside stops.

• Parking Restrictions: There is no parking allowed on the roadside in unsafe sections of Route 73 in the Adirondack High Peaks or on Route 23A in the vicinity of Kaaterskill Falls and several other Catskill destinations.

• Fawn’s Leap Restrictions: DEC continues working with the town of Hunter, community stakeholders, and other local partners to help address increased use in areas such as the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor along Route 23A. DEC is prioritizing strategic investments in health and safety upgrades at locations throughout the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, including increased Forest Ranger patrols and implementing restricted area regulations as appropriate. DEC previously installed and continues to maintain restricted area signage in the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor at a location known as Fawn’s Leap that warns the public against entering within 15 feet of cliff edges. The signage posted at the site indicates the boundary of the limited restricted area.
• Hiring 19 Assistant Forest Rangers: DEC is hiring 19 Assistant Forest Rangers (AFR) to assist Forest Rangers and provide on-the-trail stewardship in areas of high use, including in the Catskills, Adirondacks, Zoar Valley and other high-use DEC areas. DEC continues to its commitment to helping keep Assistant Forest Rangers and others spending time in the backcountry safe. Recent changes include updated communication requirements from the back country to a Forest Ranger on duty, deploying satellite communications devices, requiring AFRs to start and end their shifts at a trailhead, and acquiring a new Computer Aided Dispatch System to assist in tracking Forest Rangers, AFRs, and other DEC staff.
• "Your Speed Is" signs and delineators installed along Route 73: Signs and delineators are in addition to ongoing parking enforcement by DEC, New York State Police, and local law enforcement; and
• Continued closure of the Molly Smith parking area on Route 23A in the town of Hunter to improve visitor safety: DEC recommends visitors access Kaaterskill Falls by parking at the Laurel House Road, Schutt Road, or South Lake parking areas. Visitors are advised that the Laurel House Road and Schutt Road parking areas fill up early during the summer and are encouraged to plan accordingly and follow posted signs in the area denoting parking restrictions. 

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Every year more people discover and rediscover, the beauty of the Adirondacks and the Catskill Mountains, and the State Department of Transportation, working with our state and local partners, works to provide a safe and efficient travel experience to these gems of the Empire State. To optimize travel and enhance safety on the roads and on the trails, we encourage visitors to drive sober and alert, park in designated areas, be courteous to one another, pack out your trash, and be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists. We want everyone to be able to enjoy these treasured natural wonders safely this summer.” 

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “With summer upon us, we encourage everyone to take advantage of all the natural landscape that the Adirondacks and Catskills have to offer. While doing so, we ask that all enjoy in a safe and considerate manner for themselves others and to preserve the environmental character that makes New York unique. I want to thank the DEC and our State and local partners for providing resources that will help protect citizens and our State lands.” 

Acting New York State Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “As the summer season begins, we join DEC and our outdoor recreation partners in encouraging visitors to enjoy New York’s parks, public lands and open spaces safely and responsibly. By taking simple steps to minimize our impact, we can help protect these special places and ensure future generations can enjoy the same incredible outdoor experiences.” 

Catskill Center Executive Director, Jeff Senterman said, “The Catskill Center is proud to partner with DEC to match record visitation in the Catskills with the stewardship and safety it requires. From Catskills Stewards at Kaaterskill Falls and Peekamoose Blue Hole to our Catskills Visitor Center and fire tower programs, we see every day that smart investment, visitor education, and thoughtful visitor use management make a real difference for public safety, local communities, and the long term health of the Forest Preserve. These new Visitor Use Management reports and the continued ‘Love Our New York Lands’ and ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ efforts show New York State taking the right steps to ensure that record visitation comes with record stewardship, so the Catskills remain forever wild and welcoming for everyone."

Open Space Initiative President and CEO, Erik Kulleseid, said, “New York’s exceptional public forest preserves and parks belong to all of us, and it is imperative that we all do our part to care for these cherished places. OSI’s long partnership with DEC has successfully expanded and enhanced public lands and made the outdoors more welcoming for everyone, and we thank visitors for respecting these guidelines. This Memorial Day weekend and all summer long, we are excited for everyone to put down their phones, step into nature, and safely and responsibly enjoy the forests, mountains, and waterways of the Catskills, Adirondacks, and beyond.” 

Visitor Education

Both the High Peaks and Catskills advisory groups identified increased visitor education as a critical component of sustainable visitor use management. Including those listed above, DEC implemented the following education and awareness efforts in 2025 and will continue efforts in 2026:

• 'Love Our New York Lands' campaign: Launched in 2021 in response to the steady increase in the number of visitors to State lands, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the decade prior, Love Our New York Lands includes helpful educational information for the thousands of New Yorkers and visitors from other states and countries eager to experience the State’s public lands in a safe and responsible way. For details and more information, visit the Love Our New York Lands page on DEC's website and follow DEC’s social media @NYSDEC;
• 'Get Outdoors & Get Together Day': On Saturday, June 13, 2026, events at more than 20 locations across New York State will bring together people of all abilities, ages, identities, and backgrounds for fun, healthy activities. A highlight of the State’s ongoing efforts to broaden the diversity of users and ensure inclusivity of access to State lands, DEC and State Parks, in partnership with the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Veterans' Services, Office of the Chief Disability Officer, Office of Mental Health, and Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs will host free events to connect people to nature and provide increased access to the outdoors;
• High Peaks Hiker Information Station program: This successful DEC initiative is entering its seventh year with five seasonal Environmental Education Assistants, a new record. Visitors to the High Peaks can find educators Thursdays through Mondays from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. at the Cobble Hill trailhead and Mt. Van Hoevenberg trailhead in Lake Placid. Rotating locations include Ampersand Mountain Parking Area, Baker Mountain, and multiple locations along the Adirondack Rail Trail that will be announced on a weekly basis on the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpage. In addition to a full staff of Educators, DEC’s Mobile Education Center will be onsite at Cobble Hill throughout the season. The shuttle bus hosts information and resources for hiker safety and visitor use to further enhance hiker education at various locations during the summer hiking season in High Peaks. In 2026, DEC Environmental Education Assistants will be stationed at key front-country access points and trailheads between Memorial Day weekend and the October 12 holiday weekend; 
• Trail steward programs in the Catskills: To assist in educating the public who visit several of the region's most frequently visited trails, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development will station trailhead stewards at Kaaterskill Falls (Kaaterskill Wild Forest) and Peekamoose Blue Hole (Sundown Wild Forest). Catskill Mountainkeeper will station stewards at the Neversink Fishing Access Site in Claryville, Beaverkill Covered Bridge and Campground, and Big Pond (Delaware Wild Forest). The Catskill 3500 Club will station volunteer stewards at the Slide Mountain trailhead and Woodland Valley Day Use Area. In addition, New York New Jersey Trail Conference stewards will be working in the Catskill High Peaks. There will also be Catskill Center Fire Tower Stewards at Overlook, Hunter, and Balsam Lake Mountain fire towers on weekdays, complemented by volunteers for weekends;
• Continuing trailhead steward program at popular trailheads in the Adirondack High Peaks: In partnership with Adirondack Mountain Club and the Adirondack 46ers, stewards will assist in educating the public at more frequently visited trailheads to further support hiker safety and preparedness along Route 73;
• Fire tower steward programs in the Adirondacks and Catskills: This program supports “friends” groups at fire towers on 10 Forest Preserve summits where stewards answer questions and provide information about the history and purpose of the towers, educate the public on outdoor skills and ethics, rules and regulations, and provide information about local recreational opportunities; and
• Continuing valuable Environmental Education (EE) Center Programming: DEC operates two fully staffed EE Centers and two EE Centers operated by Friends groups with staff offering classes and programs on environmental awareness around New York State. Other year-round educational programming and resources are available to help residents and visitors become better stewards of the environment.

Visitor Use Management

New York State continues to implement HPAG and CAG recommendations to encourage sustainable use in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. In addition, DEC is enhancing its actions to improve the user experience and prevent trash and other human impacts on State lands, including:

• Visitor Use Management (VUM) Reports: Two reports prepared by planning firms DJ&A and Otak for the central Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness (Essex County) and Kaaterskill Clove region of the Catskill Park (Greene County) were recently released for public comment through June 1, 2026. The public feedback process will inform next steps DEC may take to further enhance the visitor experience and protect the incredible natural resources in both the High Peaks Wilderness and Kaaterskill Wild Forest.  
• Draft Visitor Use Management Plan for the formerly trail-less Catskill High Peaks: Last year, DEC released the draft Visitor Use Management Plan to protect unique habitats and sensitive species that are being impacted by informal, user created trails. DEC is currently reviewing public comments and developing a final VUM Plan;
• Permit required for visitors to the Peekamoose Blue Hole and Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor: DEC requires use permits for the Blue Hole and Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor along Rondout Creek in the Catskills from May 15 to September 15 each year. DEC will also have stewards at these locations to support enhanced public education efforts. Major upgrades to the Blue Hole parking and access, which will improve the visitor experience and safety, are nearing completion; and 
• Portable toilets in high-use areas: DEC funds portable toilets at popular Adirondack and Catskill locations to help reduce waste in the environment. In areas where portable toilets are not available, visitors are encouraged to learn more about how to dispose of human waste outdoors to prevent negative impacts on the environment and public health.

DEC encourages all visitors to be prepared and Hike Smart by staying on designated trails and wearing proper gear and attire, including footwear appropriate for trail conditions.

Sustainable Trail Development

To ensure New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy the beauty of the State's Forest Preserve for generations to come, DEC is once again increasing the size of the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF)-funded primitive trail maintenance and development contract for the Adirondacks and Catskills. The State's ongoing trail building efforts will protect public lands through trail maintenance and similar stewardship activities that encourage responsible use of the State's lands and waters.

Historic State Investments  

Many of these projects and other initiatives to bolster sustainable use are funded through the record $425 million for the EPF, a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. To learn more about the many EPF supported recreational opportunities DEC offers to people of all ages and abilities, including information about camping, hunting, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking and nature viewing, visit DEC’s Accessible Recreation webpage.  

Governor Hochul also recently announced the “These Lands Are For Everyone” accessibility and inclusivity initiative in the 2026 State of the State and launched the “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative in 2024 to promote physical and mental health by helping New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, and enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings. To ensure New York’s open spaces are accessible and inclusive, “These Lands Are For Everyone” is investing in inclusive, sensory friendly and accessible experiences, including tactile exhibits, sensory trails and inclusive nature centers, ensuring all children and adults can enjoy New York’s natural treasures.