Wolf Lake Road Questions

MattC · 08-31-2005, 06:26 PM

On the maps I see a Wolf Lake Road that leads past Catlin Lake into Shattuck Clearing on the Cold River. Is this a public road? Is it in decent shape? Is there trailhead parking at/near Shattuck Clearing, or is it just a boat launch? The road begins on 28N, west of Newcomb.

I'm thinking about this area as an access point for a backpack into the Ouluska Leanto/Emmons Slide area. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

AntlerPerak · 08-31-2005, 09:10 PM

This question came up on another board just a few days ago. This road is private and is posted. It is owned by either Syracuse Univ or the ( suny ) Forestry School in Syracuse. Not sure which. I was part of a trail work group ( 46R ) and we got permission through a local ranger to drive into shattuck. The posted property extends from rte 28 to less than a mile of Shattuck. They own that lake Catlin and also the summit area of Gooseberry Mt. There are even posted signs on the summit of Gooseberry along with plenty of slash. But that is another story.

The closest road approach to Shattuck is likely the N-P trailhead in Long Lake, appx 12 miles.

Going across via the Santanoni Preserve is likely longer but you can do it via trail.

A third approach is from Coreys via Calkins Creek Trail to Shattuck. It is likely an easier approach than the other two but it is still 12 miles.

An interesting way is to boat up Long Lake into the mouth of the Cold River. There is an outstanding trail from a point where you can no longer navigate the Cold River to Shattuck. We did that once, an excellent way in.

But absolutely no parking, no road access to Shattuck

Hope this helps.

MattC · 08-31-2005, 09:30 PM

Thanks for the info AP. I also got some good replies over at VFTT. Some time (not likely any time real soon) I think I'd like to do a backpack into there and climb the Emmons slide. Maybe start at Corey's and do Seymour and then Emmons en route to a car spot at Tahawus, w/ a night at Duck Hole thrown in for good measure. Maybe a four day trip. Who knows if it'll ever happen.

Matt

AntlerPerak · 09-01-2005, 12:01 AM

If you are going to do Seymour, why not camp at Ward Brook on Day one? It would be an excellent base for Seymour. Then hike the N-P around to the Ouluska Pass lean-to. It is an excellent shelter and more than handy for a base camp to do Emmons. To get to the Emmons slide you will need to get into Ouluska Pass and that spot would be perfect. Lots of possibilities in there. Have fun, good luck.

Rick · 09-01-2005, 12:24 PM

Matt,
When I used to go into that area when cleaning my L/T's, I always found the single most fastest way into Cold River Area was via Coreys Road (Unless heading towards Duck Hole, then take teh Ward Brook Truck Trail). Park at the gate and you can make good time cruising the road to Cold River, turn Left on the NLP and you will be there shortly. I think it is around 14 miles one way, but the old road makes for faster walking.
Good Luck
Rick

Glen L · 09-01-2005, 08:32 PM

Shortest approach to Cold R is via boat. Either from Long lake & Plumleys or by paddling up Cold R from it's mouth @ Raquette R to Pine Point. By land shortest access is from Uper Works & Duck Hole
I think Rick may have meant Calkins Creek Rd/trail (although the approach is from Coreys Rd) When you reach Shattuck Clearing you'd go left (NNE) as he stated on NPT to Ouluska pass. However, if you use this approach why not instead climb Sewards via Caulkins Creek & rte up ridge to Donaldson & descend the Emmons slide ? Climbing the Emmons slide is, IMO, much more difficult (although not as tech) than any of the other popular Adk slides. I found the approach from OP brook to be very long, full of blowdown & the slide itself a bit of an anticlimax after the effort of getting to it's base. Approaching Ouluska Pass via Ward Brook trail (w/o turning S on Caulkins Creek trail) requires you to go to Mountain Pond (or farther yet to Duck Hole)then kinda backtrack few m to the Oulkuska leanto.
It's all beautiful country in there & am sure you'l enjoy yourself regardless of rte

Rick · 09-03-2005, 04:27 PM

Yes Glen, Thanks for catching that - I meant The Calkins Creek Truck Trail.
I don't have the mileage in front of me, but I thought both Upperworks and Coreys Trailhead were about the same distance apart. However, one can make much better time on the Truck Road.
I agree either way you get out there is enjoyable.

08-31-2005, 06:26 PM	#1
MattC Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 131	Wolf Lake Road Questions On the maps I see a Wolf Lake Road that leads past Catlin Lake into Shattuck Clearing on the Cold River. Is this a public road? Is it in decent shape? Is there trailhead parking at/near Shattuck Clearing, or is it just a boat launch? The road begins on 28N, west of Newcomb. I'm thinking about this area as an access point for a backpack into the Ouluska Leanto/Emmons Slide area. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Matt

09-01-2005, 12:24 PM	#5
Rick Bad Seed Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Glacial Erratic along Finger Lakes Trail 2005 Posts: 349	Matt, When I used to go into that area when cleaning my L/T's, I always found the single most fastest way into Cold River Area was via Coreys Road (Unless heading towards Duck Hole, then take teh Ward Brook Truck Trail). Park at the gate and you can make good time cruising the road to Cold River, turn Left on the NLP and you will be there shortly. I think it is around 14 miles one way, but the old road makes for faster walking. Good Luck Rick __________________ Rick The measure of your ignorance is your belief in tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the universe, the master calls the butterfly... ...unknown...

09-01-2005, 08:32 PM	#6
Glen L Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canton, NY Posts: 169	Cold R area Shortest approach to Cold R is via boat. Either from Long lake & Plumleys or by paddling up Cold R from it's mouth @ Raquette R to Pine Point. By land shortest access is from Uper Works & Duck Hole I think Rick may have meant Calkins Creek Rd/trail (although the approach is from Coreys Rd) When you reach Shattuck Clearing you'd go left (NNE) as he stated on NPT to Ouluska pass. However, if you use this approach why not instead climb Sewards via Caulkins Creek & rte up ridge to Donaldson & descend the Emmons slide ? Climbing the Emmons slide is, IMO, much more difficult (although not as tech) than any of the other popular Adk slides. I found the approach from OP brook to be very long, full of blowdown & the slide itself a bit of an anticlimax after the effort of getting to it's base. Approaching Ouluska Pass via Ward Brook trail (w/o turning S on Caulkins Creek trail) requires you to go to Mountain Pond (or farther yet to Duck Hole)then kinda backtrack few m to the Oulkuska leanto. It's all beautiful country in there & am sure you'l enjoy yourself regardless of rte

09-03-2005, 04:27 PM	#7
Rick Bad Seed Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Glacial Erratic along Finger Lakes Trail 2005 Posts: 349	Yes Glen, Thanks for catching that - I meant The Calkins Creek Truck Trail. I don't have the mileage in front of me, but I thought both Upperworks and Coreys Trailhead were about the same distance apart. However, one can make much better time on the Truck Road. I agree either way you get out there is enjoyable. __________________ Rick The measure of your ignorance is your belief in tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the universe, the master calls the butterfly... ...unknown...

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08-31-2005, 09:10 PM	#2
AntlerPerak Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 316	This question came up on another board just a few days ago. This road is private and is posted. It is owned by either Syracuse Univ or the ( suny ) Forestry School in Syracuse. Not sure which. I was part of a trail work group ( 46R ) and we got permission through a local ranger to drive into shattuck. The posted property extends from rte 28 to less than a mile of Shattuck. They own that lake Catlin and also the summit area of Gooseberry Mt. There are even posted signs on the summit of Gooseberry along with plenty of slash. But that is another story. The closest road approach to Shattuck is likely the N-P trailhead in Long Lake, appx 12 miles. Going across via the Santanoni Preserve is likely longer but you can do it via trail. A third approach is from Coreys via Calkins Creek Trail to Shattuck. It is likely an easier approach than the other two but it is still 12 miles. An interesting way is to boat up Long Lake into the mouth of the Cold River. There is an outstanding trail from a point where you can no longer navigate the Cold River to Shattuck. We did that once, an excellent way in. But absolutely no parking, no road access to Shattuck Hope this helps.

08-31-2005, 09:30 PM	#3
MattC Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 131	Thanks for the info AP. I also got some good replies over at VFTT. Some time (not likely any time real soon) I think I'd like to do a backpack into there and climb the Emmons slide. Maybe start at Corey's and do Seymour and then Emmons en route to a car spot at Tahawus, w/ a night at Duck Hole thrown in for good measure. Maybe a four day trip. Who knows if it'll ever happen. Matt

09-01-2005, 12:01 AM	#4
AntlerPerak Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 316	If you are going to do Seymour, why not camp at Ward Brook on Day one? It would be an excellent base for Seymour. Then hike the N-P around to the Ouluska Pass lean-to. It is an excellent shelter and more than handy for a base camp to do Emmons. To get to the Emmons slide you will need to get into Ouluska Pass and that spot would be perfect. Lots of possibilities in there. Have fun, good luck.

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