The South Branch of the Black River cuts through the western Adirondacks below Old Forge, draining the Moose River Plains and a web of smaller tributaries before joining the main stem near Forestport. It's working water — not a paddling destination, not a trout fishery of note, but the kind of cold-flow corridor that defines the hydrology of the western slopes. Access is scattered and informal; most anglers and paddlers use it as a connector or a scouting run rather than a headline trip. If you're tracing the Black River system from its headwaters, this is the artery that ties Old Forge to the flatlands.
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data; surface and capacity from OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.
Every page on this site gets better when readers contribute. Mark a peak you’ve climbed, drop a photo, file a field note, or flag a correction — every addition makes the next visitor’s page better.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
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What to do, where to stay, and what's reopening across the Park as the snow melts and the calendar fills.
A complete planning guide: difficulty by peak, common combo days, seasonal realities, and a sortable, filterable table of every summit.
Overnight, day, and trip camps in the Park — the camp belt, choosing the right fit, costs and financial aid, ACA accreditation, and the questions every parent should ask before they commit.
