AMR Requiring Parking Reservations in Keene Valley

[Cork]

Want to hike some of the most popular Adirondack trails this summer? You'll need a reservation

One of the most popular trailheads in the Adirondacks will require a reservation ahead of time to park and hike the surrounding peaks.

www.northcountrypublicradio.org

It was bound to happen sooner or later... Adirondack Mountain Reserve parking reservations. Let's see if this works, and if so, then let's have more parking by reservation only, or a permit system. IMO it's not equitable that hikers use the trails for free while sportsmen and women, as well as anyone owning a snowmobile off road motorcycle or atv must pay a fee.

 

[DMC_Hunter]

I would totally pay for a permit in the Catskills and the ADKs....
Something needs to be done - glad they're doing it.

 

[Ripitz]

We used the Rooster Comb parking area to do the Great Range Traverse on the Summer Solstice. We got a parking spot because we got there at 4:30 in the morning. When we got to Gothics we met a woman who had come in from AMR. She explained that she knew there would be no parking so she found a spot to park a few miles down the road and biked to the trailhead.

 

[Campgottagopee]

Want to hike some of the most popular Adirondack trails this summer? You'll need a reservation

One of the most popular trailheads in the Adirondacks will require a reservation ahead of time to park and hike the surrounding peaks.

www.northcountrypublicradio.org

It was bound to happen sooner or later...Let's see if this works, and if so, then let's have more parking by reservation only, or a permit system. IMO it's not equitable that hikers use the trails for free while sportsmen and women, as well as anyone owning a snowmobile off road motorcycle or atv must pay a fee.

Snowmobilers have been paying to park for years and years. It's about time the rest catch up.
It's nevered bothered me to do so either. It makes total sense.

 

[Ripitz]

I would pay for sure. Those trails need serious help

 

[Benny Profane]

Is this a thing that sees much more demand on weekends, especially Saturday, than midweek, like skiing? So, maybe midweek will be no whoop?

 

[Low Angle Life]

The system seems to work well enough at Sams Point and Minnewaska. Imagine if Cold Spring were to figure out a fee for parking near Breakneck . Things across the Hudson Valley have gotten so out of hand and I've lost so much hope in the states ability to manage people high traffic underdeveloped locations.

 

[Cork]

Is this a thing that sees much more demand on weekends, especially Saturday, than midweek, like skiing? So, maybe midweek will be no whoop?

I believe this is a seasonal thing that will apply daily. Last few years the major Keene Valley trailheads have been busy everyday. The AMR is private and their 70 car lot is gated, so it will be easier for this system to work, theoretically of course.

 

[Ripitz]

For many years now we’ve gotten a Ski3, Mohonk Preserve, Empire and National Parks pass. Every year we just renew. I don’t care about how many times I go, even if it’s once. I enjoy those places and want to help support them. I would gladly add an ADK pass to our list.

 

[MC2]

. IMO it's not equitable that hikers use the trails for free while sportsmen and women, as well as anyone owning a snowmobile off road motorcycle or atv must pay a fee.

In general, I don’t think anyone should have to pay fees to use public land. When there is “stuff” on that land (state-run golf courses, ski areas, beach facilities, national park infrastructure, etc.) then I think they should charge enough money to cover their cost of operations (or less than cost, because I like the idea that the government just subsidizes fun stuff for its citizenry. This is my “Parks should be free, we pay taxes” argument).

I guess hiking trails that require maintenance can be considered “stuff”, so I suppose they could have a “hiking license” that covers the cost of forest rangers, rescues, etc. I’d imagine the cost would be similar to hunting or fishing licenses.

I think the goal of people who care about lands should encourage more people to get outdoors, not less. I do think that if we start attaching fees (license fees, parking fees, etc.) & barriers to entry, we will get less people using the lands, which isn’t good, IMO. I do think that’s the goal of a lot of the people here (to get less people to use certain trails), and for areas along Route 73, I definitely understand that sentiment.

The solution for me is that I just use trails at different times than the masses (evenings, weekdays) and go to slightly out-of-the-way places that the masses don’t go (west of Saranac Lake was fine last year)