Adirondacks: Gadway Sandstone Pavement Barrens

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Why You Should Visit
Gadway Sandstone Pavement Barrens Preserve is by far the Adirondack Nature Conservancy's most unique preserve.

This area was formed when glacial till was scoured off the flatrock some 12,000 years ago by a catastrophic flooding event from two nearby glacial lakes, which resulted in the exposure of an expansive rippled "beach" of Potsdam sandstone.

Location
located near the Canadian border town of Mooers

Size: 520 acres

What to Expect
The trail begins at the register located at the edge of the parking area and is approximately ½ mile long. It is a relatively flat, loop trail that gives visitors a sense of how changes in elevation and soil depth effect species composition of the preserve. The exposed sandstone can heat up to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in July and August. A preserve guide is available from the Adirondack Nature Conservancy & Adirondack Land Trust office and at the trail register.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Please see Preserve Visitation Guidelines

Directions

From Plattsburgh, NY, take Route 22 north into the village of Mooers.
Follow Route 11 west to the intersection with Cannon Corners Road.
Head north on Cannon Corners Road for 2.5 miles to Gadway Road, on the left.
Gadway Road is not marked, however there is a preserve sign at the intersection.
Turn left and follow this unmaintained road 0.5 miles to the designated parking area on the left.

What to See: Plants
Jack pine, a fire-dependent species, is the only tree species that can survive in these extreme conditions of poor, thin soil and minimal nutrients. The understory is composed primarily of heath shrubs, such as blueberry and huckleberry, which can withstand flooding as well as drought. You can also find a wide diversity of lichens and mosses.

What to See: Animals
You may hear songbirds at the preserve, but thin soils prevent most animals from establishing homes here.

Why the Conservancy Selected this Site
Gadway Barrens represents an outstanding example of a sandstone pavement barren, a globally rare naturally community known from fewer than 20 sites around the world.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Nature Conservancy and the Adirondack Land Trust have worked cooperatively with the Miner Institute and the State University of New York at Plattsburgh to conduct scientific research at this unique site.