by Lynette Alice

Created on: August 15, 2008   Last Updated: February 17, 2009

The Otter Creek Horse Trails in New York's Adirondack State Park offers a series of interlocking trails which total about eighty five miles. The Otter Creek Trail system is about forty eight miles north of Utica N.Y. and about seven miles east of Route 12, and easy to find on any major map or map search engine. These trails can be accessed from multiple points, most commonly the Otter Creek State Forest, on the Independence River. For some visitors the River Wild Unit of the Adirondack Forest Preserve is an easier option, you will be able to determine which is best for you based on your needs and starting point before leaving for the park. There is an assembly area at the Adirindack Park which offers one hundred covered tie-off stalls, two stud stalls, water, public bathrooms and three mounting platforms for persons with disabilities.

For the most part you will encounter woods trails and sandy roads which present no out of the ordinary challenges for riders of the most basic skill level. There are water crossings however they can be avoided if you choose or limited to very gentle creek crossings. None are un-navigable under normal conditions, but as we all know nature has a mind of it's own every now and then. If there are ever any problem areas on the trail this information is genrally posted at the assembly area so be sure to check there or ask a Ranger if one is present before you start your ride. While riding these trails you will see incomporable, actually incredible scenery which is well worth stopping to photograph.

These trails are on a forest preserve so you are going to encounter wildlife with a fair amount of regularity. You will usually see grouse, snowshoe hares, plenty of varieties of birds, foxes, wild turkey, deer, and occasionally coyote and even bears. Please always remember not to interact with the wildlife, that includes trying to feed them. This is for your saftey as well as the animals health as they may not be suited to food you leave which may result in making them sick. Stop by Pitcher Pond and Catspaw Lake which are noted for migratory birds that spend part of their year here. This is a destination you will want to be on the lookout for. In the water, Otter, Little Otter, Beaver Meadow and Crooked Creeks are the home to brook trout. Catspaw and Upper Chases Lake offer more diversity with pumpkinseeds, pickerel, and brown bullheads in their waters. If you plan to do a little fishing these are great spots with Catspaw being slightly

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>