04/17/2026
Please Read!
Deadline: June 1st 2026.
There is a profound, quiet majesty in the High Peaks—a connection to the land that so many of us rely on for inspiration, adventure, and peace. But our ability to freely experience these mountains is standing at a critical juncture.
The DEC has just released their Visitor Use Management (VUM) report, and the proposed solutions could fundamentally change how we interact with the Adirondack Park. The report recommends implementing strict daily visitor caps at major trailheads (including a 400-person cap for the Adirondak Loj road corridor) and explicitly leaves the door open for a mandatory permit system.
True conservation is a delicate balance, but it shouldn't rely on locking the public out of public lands. Blanket restrictions and permits penalize the responsible hikers, photographers, and local residents who cherish and protect these trails year-round. Rather than defaulting to access limits, we need our state to invest heavily in what actually works: expanding sustainable trail infrastructure, funding maintenance crews, and prioritizing frontcountry education.
We have until June 1st to shape this narrative. If you value open access to the High Peaks, here are three concrete ways to step up right now:
1️⃣ Submit a Public Comment: The DEC is legally required to review public input until June 1, 2026. Email [email protected]. Tell them you oppose daily caps and urge them to focus on capacity building and infrastructure, not access restrictions.
2️⃣ Reach Out Locally: Let our North Country representatives (like Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Matt Simpson) know that limiting access hurts local residents and the communities that steward this region.
3️⃣ Demand Strong Advocacy: If you are an ADK or 46er member, message the leadership. We need our outdoor organizations to take an unyielding, public stance against permits and arbitrary caps.
The Adirondacks belong to all of us. Let’s make sure they stay that way.
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