News
January 1, 2020
Nicandri Nature Center
Photo: Mac Shoen
Evening snowshoe at Nicandri Nature Center
Photo courtesy of Nicandri Nature Center
Higley Trails Kiosk
Photo: Rose Rivezzi
Ski Trails: Groomed and Waiting
Judy Fuhr and David Trithart
Features of some cross-country skiing sites make them good choices for beginners. Well-marked trails and equipment available for rent, or even free, are two that recommend the areas described below. They are also great places for experienced skiers.
Trail improvements at Higley
Thanks to Henry Sieg, park superintendent at Higley Flow State Park in S. Colton, for dedicating time and resources to trail improvements this fall. The biggest deterrent to early skiing and grooming on the Warm Brook Trail has been the number of rocks exposed on the trail. Many rocks were removed from the trail this fall by Tim Pearl assisted by Ed Fuhr making it more user friendly in all seasons. There was one sharp turn at the bottom of a steep section which has been modified to make it more skiable. The Raquette Ridge trail, also referred to as the training loop, was rerouted in a couple of spots and sections of the surface leveled where the trail was on a slope. Higley Friends purchased a 30-ton load of wood chips from Curran Logging. These chips were hauled primarily to the Raquette Ridge trail and Warm Brook Trail with lesser amounts to other trails using the Park’s Gators.
This year’s Trail Day in early Nov. saw 54+ volunteers spreading 30 tons of woodchips, picking up blowdown, cutting back encroaching brush and putting out signs among other tasks.
Trails are open until sundown, and until 8pm on days when a “host” is at the Trails Lodge (see below). Ski and snowshoe rentals are $7 for adults and free to children under 12.
Night Skiing at Higley
On Tuesday and Thursday nights, when conditions are suitable, come ski the Higley trails by head lamp. The lodge and trails are open until 8:00 on ski nights. Some come to ski, some to snowshoe, and some just to enjoy the lodge and to socialize.
Let there be light!!
Higley Park has purchased motion lights for the E-Z trail and hopes to install them for this winter’s season. This will give skiers a lighted loop for night skiing and snowshoeing.
Nicandri Nature Center
Located on the St Lawrence River north of Massena, this facility offers a lot to those looking to explore nature. Snowshoeing & cross-country skiing are winter attractions here.
At the Massena Nature Center, you can come out and enjoy a day of fun on the snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails and take in nature in winter. There are also interesting indoor exhibits, comfortable gathering spaces, and nature-related programs.
The Nature Center has snowshoes and cross country skis available for public use. Equipment is free. Trails are mainly flat. Some follow the riverside.
Regular hours are 9 am to 5 pm - Wed. through Sun. Get directions and confirm hours when the Nature Center is open at https://massenanaturecenter.com.
Our New Year Party and Potluck will be held here on Jan. 4 - see “Outings.”
News Archive
Jan 1, 2025: 2024 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Dec 8, 2024: 2024 Chapter Nominations
Apr 1, 2024: Azure Mt Friends Scholarships
Mar 2, 2024: 2024 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 1, 2024: Stone Valley Trailwork
Jan 1, 2024: New Chapter Officers
Jan 1, 2024: 2023 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 8, 2023: 2023 Chapter Elections
Oct 1, 2023: Red Sandstone Trailwork
Oct 1, 2023: Fire Tower Lighting
Jul 1, 2023: Racquette River Advisory Council
Jul 1, 2023: Exploring Whippoorwill
Jul 1, 2023: Cascade Center Mapping
Apr 17, 2023: 2023 Photo Contest Announced
Apr 1, 2023: Spring Road Walks
Apr 1, 2023: Armond Spencer 1933-2023
Jan 21, 2023: Red Sandstone Trailwork
Jan 1, 2023: SUNY Potsdam Students Repair Gulch
Jan 1, 2023: College Students Work on Red Sandstone Trail
Jan 1, 2023: 2022 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 18, 2022: 2022 Chapter Elections
Oct 17, 2022: 2022 Officer Nominations
Jul 24, 2022: Fiftieth Celebration
May 13, 2022: In Memorium Lois Wells
Mar 25, 2022: Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations
Mar 15, 2022: 2022 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 24, 2022: Trailhead Stewardship Program
Jan 1, 2022: Mystery on the Red Sandstone Trail
Jan 1, 2022: Fiftieth Anniversary
Nov 28, 2021: 2021 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 18, 2021: 2021 Chapter Elections
Oct 1, 2021: Trail Registers for the 21st Century
Oct 1, 2021: Laurentian Chapter to Celebrate 50 Years
Sep 9, 2021: 2021 Photo Contest Announced
Dec 10, 2020: 2020 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 26, 2020: Members Choice - 2020 Photo Contest
Oct 15, 2020: 2020 Chapter Elections
Jul 3, 2020: Laurentians Receive Award
Apr 1, 2020: Third Annual Cycle Outing
Apr 1, 2020: Mud Season Hiking
Apr 1, 2020: 2020 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 1, 2020: Ski Trails Groomed and Waiting
Jan 1, 2020: Red Sandstone Trail Maintenance
Nov 16, 2019: 2019 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2019: Electronic Distribution of the North Wind
Jul 1, 2019: National Trails Day 2019
Apr 1, 2019: Red Sandstone Trail Volunteers Needed
Apr 1, 2019: Recreation Management Plans
Apr 1, 2019: Chapter Member Writes Trails Book
Apr 1, 2019: 2019 Photo Contest Announced
Jan 3, 2019: Invasive Forest Pest Meeting
Jan 1, 2019: Second ADK Cycle Outing
Jan 1, 2019: Outside The High Peaks Region
Dec 6, 2018: Fran Yardley To Speak
Nov 12, 2018: 2018 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 6, 2018: Trail Maintenance Weekend 2018
Oct 1, 2018: First ADK Cycle Outing
Jul 1, 2018: SUNY Potsdam Educational Affiliate Program
Jun 22, 2018: 2018 Photo Contest Announced
Jun 18, 2018: September Acadia Outing
Apr 5, 2018: Military Exercises In Northern Adirondacks
Apr 1, 2018: Who Are Our Members
Apr 1, 2018: Happy Birthday Azure Mountain Fire Tower
Apr 1, 2018: Chapter Representation on Advisory Committees
Jan 5, 2018: E-Letter Editor Wanted
Jan 1, 2018: Paul Jamieson and the Jamieson Fund
Nov 19, 2017: 2017 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 1, 2017: 2017 Trail Maintenance Weekend
Jul 1, 2017: North Country Cycling Guide
May 31, 2017: Marie Fernandez de Alaiza Completes 46
Apr 1, 2017: Great Lakes Water Levels
Mar 15, 2017: Extended New Brunswick Outing Proposed
Jan 1, 2017: 2017 Photo Contest Announced
Dec 2, 2016: Camp Colby Scholarships Available
Nov 29, 2016: Winter 2017 Outdoors-Indoors Schedule Announced
Nov 21, 2016: Wilderness Thru-hiking to Wilderness Advocacy
Nov 16, 2016: 2016 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2016: Membership Survey Preliminary Results
Oct 1, 2016: John Omohundro Passes The Torch
Sep 8, 2016: 2017 Extended Outings Proposed
Mar 29, 2016: 2016 Photo Contest Announced
Mar 17, 2016: Teen Trail Project Scholarships Available
Jan 6, 2016: Perry Yaw Commemorative Quilt
Dec 2, 2015: Trail Work Day Attracts Huge Turnout
Dec 2, 2015: Outdoors-Indoors Schedule Announced
Dec 1, 2015: 2015 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Sep 17, 2015: Oswegatchie Blueway Open Houses Scheduled
Jul 1, 2015: Ididaride Annual Biking Event
May 5, 2015: SUNY Potsdam Wilderness Education Mountain-A-Thon Training Exercise
Apr 1, 2015: Educational Affiliate Program Expands
Jan 1, 2015: Call for Distinguished Volunteer Nominations
Jan 1, 2015: 2015 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 27, 2014: 2014 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 27, 2014: 2014 Photo Contest Winners Announced - Copy
Nov 17, 2014: St Lawrence Flatlands UMP Hearing
Oct 1, 2014: Chapter Offers Outing Leadership Training Course
Jul 1, 2014: Jean Hardy, 1926-2014
Apr 14, 2014: 2014 Member Nature Poetry
Apr 4, 2014: Stone Valley Management Plan Finalized
Apr 1, 2014: Educational Affiliate Program Gathers Momentum
Mar 24, 2014: North Country National Scenic Trail
Dec 30, 2013: Stone Valley Management Plan Review
Dec 6, 2013: 2014 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 12, 2013: 2013 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Oct 1, 2013: Spring Outing Retrospective
Sep 6, 2013: Finch Pruyn-Essex Chain Action Alert
Aug 22, 2013: Ragnar Relay Race
Jul 1, 2013: New Trails for Stone Valley
Jun 27, 2013: North Country Trails Membership
Jun 19, 2013: Spring Outing A Great Success
Apr 2, 2013: Laurentian Loon Shirts
Apr 1, 2013: Brian Baston, 46r
Dec 21, 2012: New Chapter Officers Elected
Dec 6, 2012: 2013 Photo Contest Opens
Nov 27, 2012: 2012 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Jul 17, 2012: Raquette River Documentary
Apr 1, 2012: Acadia Trip Sept 2012
Jan 21, 2012: Stone Valley Trail Maintenance A Mammoth Undertaking
Jan 1, 2012: 2012 Photo Contest Announced
Nov 19, 2011: Peter Blood and Toni Towle Finish the 46
Nov 19, 2011: Moose Talk At Fall Potluck (1)
Nov 16, 2011: 2011 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 9, 2011: Sherman Craig Nominated To APA
Oct 16, 2011: Mt Arab Vandalised
Oct 1, 2011: GPS Group Forming
Jul 23, 2011: Allegany State Park Action Alert
Jul 2, 2011: Stone Valley Trail Report
Jul 2, 2011: Red Sandstone Trail Report
Jul 2, 2011: Friends of Higley Flow Capital Campaign
Jul 1, 2011: JBL Seeks All-Season Hosts
Apr 29, 2011: JBL Seeks Volunteer Hosts
Apr 1, 2011: Outings Announced
Feb 25, 2011: 2011 Fall Outing
Feb 4, 2011: Tug Hill Winter Outing
Dec 9, 2010: 2010 Photo Contest Winners Announced
Nov 21, 2010: Omohundro Whalen Distinguished Volunteers
Sep 22, 2010: Nominees Announced
Sep 22, 2010: Fall Potluck to Feature Permaculture Talk
Sep 22, 2010: Bylaw Changes Proposed
Sep 15, 2010: Dogs on Chapter Trips
Aug 16, 2010: Raquette River Information Center Opens
Jul 27, 2010: Raquette River Information Center To Open
Jun 2, 2010: Sacred Tools Exhibit
May 26, 2010: Plants of St Lawrence County
Apr 13, 2010: Chapter Basket Donations Needed
Mar 23, 2010: Second Annual Photo Contest Announced
Mar 22, 2010: Laurentians Invited To Colorado
Mar 21, 2010: Spring Potluck To Feature Northern Canoe Route
Jan 1, 2010: Calling Kids For Camp Colby
Nov 8, 2009: 2009 Photo Contest Results
Oct 1, 2009: Brian Mann To Address Annual Meeting
Jul 1, 2009: Raquette River Awareness Week
May 23, 2009: Tom Wheeler Elected 46ers President
Apr 30, 2009: Cutters Receive Award
Mar 29, 2009: Hospitality Coordinator Needed
Mar 21, 2009: Gloria Daly Completes Winter 46
Mar 16, 2009: Lyle Montgomery Completes Winter 46
Dec 23, 2008: Chapter to Sponsor Campers at Camp Colby
Nov 2, 2008: Anna Gerhard-Arnold Recognized
Oct 1, 2008: Roy Horst to Speak at Fall Potluck
Sep 13, 2008: Tom Wheeler Receives Award
Aug 3, 2008: SLC EMC hosts NYS Conference on Environment
Jun 10, 2008: Lows Lake Floatplanes Action Alert
Mar 22, 2008: Winter On The Red Sandstone Trail
Mar 15, 2008: Nancy LaBaff Completes Winter 46
Mar 1, 2008: Environmental Protection Fund Being Raided
Feb 15, 2008: Red Sandstone Trailworker Tshirt
Nov 28, 2007: Hearings on National Scenic Trail
Nov 26, 2007: Laurentian Chapter To Sponsor Campers
Nov 11, 2007: Annual Meeting Highlights
Sep 27, 2007: Clarence and Paul
Sep 26, 2007: Neil Woodworth To Visit
Sep 25, 2007: Red Sandstone Trail Report
Jul 1, 2007: Legislature Passes EPF Enhancement Act
Mar 22, 2007: Call for Adirondack Stories
Mar 17, 2007: Mud Season Potluck Features Stuart Mesinger
Jan 25, 2007: Chapter Endorses Grace Peak Proposal
Jan 15, 2007: Public Comment Requested
Jan 1, 2007: Paddle The Rideau
Jan 1, 2007: Calling Kids For Camp Colby
Nov 28, 2006: Dick Mooers Named Distinguished Volunteer
Oct 2, 2006: Laurentian Chapter Hosts 2006 Fall Outing
Sep 1, 2006: Update on SLC ATV Trail Plan
Aug 30, 2006: Teens Complete Stone Valley Trail Work
Aug 28, 2006: Stone Valley - A Community Resource
Aug 28, 2006: Keeping Stone Valley Trails Open
Aug 25, 2006: White Hill Draft UMP Released
Aug 25, 2006: ATV Plan Comment Period
Jul 1, 2006: Raquette Boreal Forest Plan Moves Forward
Jun 6, 2006: Piercefield Dam Whitewater Release
Apr 21, 2006: Natural History Museum Seeks Volunteers
Apr 2, 2006: Peter OShea Addresses ADK
Mar 29, 2006: Laurentian Chapter To Host Fall Outing
Feb 28, 2006: High School Trails Program Seeks Participants
Jan 4, 2006: Chapter at Remington Gala
Dec 16, 2005: Camp Colby Youth Summer Camp
Nov 12, 2005: Higley Flow Leanto Dedicated
Nov 6, 2005: Sandy Hildreth and Eileen Wheeler Honored
Oct 16, 2005: Stone Valley Trail Maintenance
Oct 4, 2005: Laurentian Chapter Hosts 2006 Fall Outing
Oct 3, 2005: Annual Meeting November 6
Oct 2, 2005: Friends of Mt Arab Seeks Volunteers
Aug 25, 2005: Musings On The Word Laurentian
Aug 25, 2005: Higley Flow Leanto
Aug 25, 2005: An Adirondack Diet
Aug 10, 2005: Executive Director Visits