Summer and fall
Paddle
About 5 miles round trip through First, Second and Third Ponds, with island time in Second Pond.
Paddling details →Explore / Boreas Ponds
Boreas Ponds
Three linked ponds at the southern edge of the High Peaks, with a view of Marcy and Gothics you can only get from the water.
Plan your trip- 320acres of ponds, in three linked waters
- 6.8miles from the trailhead to the dam
- 2016the year New York State bought the tract
DEC parking update
On Gulf Brook Road, park only in designated spots. Parking on the roadway is prohibited. If the Four Corners Parking Area is full, drive back to the next open parking area.
Why go
A High Peaks view from the water
The Boreas Ponds Tract covers more than 20,000 acres: logged forest growing back wild, wetland flats and a 320-acre pond complex. You can paddle all three ponds with Gothics and Marcy above you, ski the forest road in January, or walk in with a fishing rod for the afternoon. The view keeps opening up as you head north through the ponds, toward peaks you can't see this way from anywhere else.
Winter
Ski
The road goes unplowed, so the dam is 6.8 miles from the trailhead. It's a long day, but not a technical one.
Winter details →Overnight
Camp
One lean-to, open backcountry camping and two DEC campgrounds a short drive away.
Camping details →Part of the High Peaks Wilderness. The APA classified the tract as a mix of Wilderness and Wild Forest. The Wild Forest corridor lets you drive Gulf Brook Road to a short distance from the ponds. The Wilderness land joined the High Peaks Wilderness, which now covers about 275,460 acres. That makes it the largest wilderness area in New York State and the second largest east of the Mississippi. The former Dix Mountain Wilderness is now part of its Outer Zone.
On the water
A day on Boreas Ponds
At a glance
Boreas Ponds by the numbers
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Pond area | 320 acres across three linked ponds: First, Second and Third |
| Access road | Gulf Brook Road, about 6 miles to Four Corners. Open to vehicles seasonally. |
| Trailhead to dam | 6.8 miles one way on foot or skis |
| Winter round trip | 14–15 miles on skis or snowshoes, with Gulf Brook Road unplowed |
| Paddling | About 5 miles round trip on the ponds, after a 0.75-mile carry from Four Corners |
| Fee and season | Free and open year-round |
On the water
Paddling Boreas Ponds
A day on the ponds, from one of our favorite creator videos about this place.
Getting there
Gulf Brook Road to Four Corners
You get in from Blue Ridge Road in North Hudson. Gulf Brook Road runs about 6 miles to Four Corners, the hub of the tract. Several designated parking areas line the way, and the Four Corners Parking Area is the busiest. At Four Corners, turn left onto Boreas Road, which is open to vehicles. Going right is on foot toward the last parking area, which only vehicles with a handicapped permit can drive to.
Gulf Brook Road is open to vehicles only in season. In winter the gates close and the road isn't plowed, which adds 12–14 miles round trip depending on where you start. Check the DEC Boreas Ponds page for road status before you go.
What to do
Four seasons, six ways in
Paddling
The ponds connect at a dam on the south end. The view grows as you go north. From Second Pond you'll see Allen, Boreas Mountain, Skylight, Marcy, Haystack and Gothics. Most people carry 0.75 miles from the Four Corners Parking Area. You can also put in at LaBier Flow, 500 ft from Four Corners, then paddle a short way to a 0.5-mile carry. No motors on any water in the tract, electric included.
Fishing
All water in the tract is open to fishing, for brook trout, brown bullhead and sunfish. Most of the ponds are shallow, but First Pond reaches 40 feet. In warm weather, fish that deeper, colder water for brook trout. LaBier Flow holds brook trout too. Baitfish are prohibited everywhere in the tract.
Biking
Ride the full 6.7 miles from Blue Ridge Road to the parking area near the dam, or start from any parking area on Gulf Brook Road. No bikes past the gate at the Boreas Ponds Parking Area, about 500 ft before the dam. No e-bikes of any class where public motor access is prohibited. The road is part of the Handlebarley gravel ride.
Horseback riding
About 17 miles of road are open to horses and horse-drawn wagons, on Gulf Brook Road, Boreas Road toward White Lily Pond and past the dam. Get the DEC horse trail map. Carry proof of a current negative Coggins test, plus a 30-day health certificate for out-of-state horses. Frontier Town Equestrian Campground makes a good base.
Hunting and trapping
The whole tract is open to hunting and trapping. Big game is white-tailed deer and black bear. Small game is snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and woodcock. Old deer camps worked the land around Moose Mountain and Casey Brook, and both are still worth scouting. Follow DEC seasons and regulations.
Wildlife watching
The low, wet ground around the ponds is good habitat, and moose have been photographed here. Watch for common loons, bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons and great horned owls. Take your time scanning the boreal edge around Third Pond, between the North River Mountains to the west and Boreas Mountain to the east.
Camping
Bring everything, leave nothing
This is real backcountry, with no hookups, no amenities and only a few designated sites so far. DEC is still finishing the tract's Unit Management Plan, so expect changes.
The one structure
Boreas Ponds Lean-to
One of the nicer new lean-tos in the park. It sits in a clearing with a view, on the site of the old lodge, about 2 miles from the Four Corners Parking Area. There's no formal trail yet, so follow the old roadbed. Arrive early if you want it.
Anywhere in the tract
Backcountry camping
Camp anywhere at least 150 ft from water, roads and trails. Roadside sites along Gulf Brook Road have been planned, but we haven't seen them confirmed, and paddle-in sites are reportedly in the works. Check the DEC page for the latest.
With amenities
Nearby campgrounds
For a comfortable base, DEC points visitors to Lake Harris Campground in Newcomb and Sharp Bridge Campground in North Hudson. Both work well for day trips into the tract.
Camping rules. Camp at least 150 ft from any water, trail or road. Overnight groups of 8 or more need a DEC permit. Pack out everything you bring in.
Winter
Skiing to the ponds
With the gate closed and the road unplowed, Boreas becomes one of the most remote-feeling trips in the High Peaks region, even on a dirt road. It's 6.8 miles from the trailhead to the dam. The first 2 miles climb about 600 feet, then the road levels out through hardwoods and into conifers near the ponds. With time on the ice, plan on 14–15 miles round trip.
None of it is technical. A cross-country skier with the legs for the distance can do it, and signs mark the main junction near LaBier Flow. Unlike Avalanche Pass or Lake Colden, you'll have company only rarely. On a March weekday, the register might show one or two other parties. We skied in with friends and it was worth every mile.
See the poster from this trip →
Winter planning
Gulf Brook Road isn't plowed, so count the full road distance in your plan. Ice on the ponds varies, so use caution and good judgment before you step out. High Peaks rules apply: wear skis or snowshoes when there are 8 inches or more of snow. Check DEC's backcountry information page for current conditions.
Before you go
Plan on getting yourself out
Weather turns fast out here, cell service is unreliable and help can be hours away.
Layers
Bring layers and rain gear, even in summer. Skip cotton.
Light and navigation
Carry a headlamp and a map and compass, or offline navigation you know how to use.
Food, water, first aid
Pack more food and water than you think you need, plus a first aid kit.
Snow and ice
Carry traction in the cold months. Wear skis or snowshoes in the High Peaks when snow is 8 inches or deeper.
Bears
Bear canisters are required for overnight trips in the Eastern High Peaks from April 1 to November 30. Store food carefully everywhere else too.
Tell someone
Leave your route and return time with someone. Check the forecast and sunset. Turn back if the weather turns, someone is worn out or dark is coming.
In an emergency, call 911 or DEC Forest Ranger Dispatch at 833-NYS-RANGERS (833-697-7264). Read Hike Smart NY before you go.
From the shop
Bring Boreas home
Original Pure ADK designs inspired by the ponds.
Poster
Adirondack Loon
A close-up of the loon, on the kind of water you'll paddle at Boreas.
Shop the poster →
Poster
Ski Touring in the ADK
Skiers out at Boreas Ponds in winter, drawn from our own trip in.
Shop the poster →
Hoodie
Boreas Hoodie
Quiet morning water, pine-lined shores and an Adirondack sunset.
Shop the hoodie →
Sticker
Boreas Ponds
A 3 x 3 inch weatherproof vinyl sticker, designed by John Coleman.
Shop the sticker →Keep exploring. Headed to the High Peaks? Try Vanderwhacker Mountain nearby, or browse our hiking guides. Our Paddling guide covers more ponds worth the carry, and the Recreation Hub has everything else.
