ADK, The Nature Conservancy Improve Access at Silver Lake Bog Preserve

July 25, 2022 — Black Brook, NY — The Nature Conservancy’s Silver Lake Bog Preserve’s nature trail is now more safe, sustainable, and accessible after a month of work by ADK’s professional trail crew. Part of a multi-year effort to make the Silver Lake Bog Preserve more accessible to all, The Nature Conservancy in the Adirondacks contracted with ADK to rebuild a bridge, reroute unsustainable trail sections, and establish a formal trail to the bluff viewpoint, which includes wooden ladders to increase safety and protect the Preserve.

The Silver Lake Bog Preserve is a publicly accessible 98-acre property that features a boardwalk that winds through an ancient peatland bog, the unsung hero of carbon capture, hardwood forests, and spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The improved trail travels 1.5 miles through the Preserve and features a 200-foot bluff overlooking Silver Lake and Whiteface Mountain.

“This is the first step in a multi-year plan to improve accessibility to Silver Lake Bog Preserve and we’re grateful for the impeccable work of the ADK trail crew to create a safer and more sustainable trail,” said Peg Olsen, Adirondack Director of The Nature Conservancy. “We are now planning for a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk as part of our work to further expand access to populations that have historically been excluded from nature.”

“Well-built trails protect ecosystems by keeping hikers on a safe, navigable path and away from surrounding vegetation. By investing into projects like this one, we ensure that people can explore the outdoors in a way that is sustainable,” said Charlotte Staats, ADK Trails Manager. “With these improvements to the Silver Lake Bog trail in place, ADK hopes that more people will be able to enjoy the fantastic benefits that come with getting outdoors.”