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A palm warbler at Spring Pond Bog Preserve in New York's Adirondack State Park. © Larry Masters

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Plants and Animals View All

Plan Your Visit

Location View All

Get Directions

The second largest open expanse of peatland in New York, Spring Pond Bog Preserve provides a unique habitat for plants and animals found nowhere else in the state.  It contains a patterned peatland with ridges (strings) and wet depressions (flarks).

Why We Work Here

Spring Pond Bog is a peatland composed both of bogs and fens. Bogs rely on water from the atmosphere and are thus poor in nutrients and have low species diversity. Fens, in contrast, receive both surface and groundwater, and tend to be more diverse than bogs. It is vital that we protect areas like Spring Pond Bog because they are essential to the biodiversity of the Adirondacks.

The half-mile trail leads through a hardwood forest, along an esker with views of the spruce swamp, to a point with magnificent views of Spring Pond Bog.  There is also a boardwalk trail through a smaller "teaching bog" off the main trail. Built by volunteers during the summer of 1998, it allows visitors to take an up close look at the bog without disturbing the plants. Note: Because it is located beyond a private gate, access to Spring Pond Bog requires written permission. Contact the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy or the Adirondack Land Trust for a gate pass.

Things To Do

The wetlands and surrounding forest are habitat for more than 130 species of birds, including boreal species like spruce grouse, black-backed woodpecker, gray jay, and short-eared owl.

The bog contains a variety of typical northern bog plant species such as pitcher plant, leather leaf, bog laurel and Labrador tea, as well as several rare species. Plants must adapt to this nutrient poor environment. The pitcher plant actually traps and "eats" insects. The leaves of the pitcher plant form a vase that holds water. Insects that venture in are trapped by downward pointing hairs, fall into the water, and are digested by the plant.

Plan Your Visit

This preserve is located in the Town of Altamont, near Lake Clear, beyond the St. Regis Canoe Area.

Directions

From the center of Tupper Lake Village, travel west on State Route 3 (heading toward Cranberry Lake).

• Turn right onto 9th Street and left onto Kildare Road at the intersection.
• Travel approximately 5 miles to the Kildate gate. Wait for the caretaker to open the gate and be prepared to present your access form.
• At 1.3 miles past the gate, take the right leg of the "Y" intersection.
• At 4.3 miles past the "Y", take a left turn.
• The Spring Pond Bog trailhead is on the left at 1.6 miles from the turn.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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