The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is holding a public meeting this week to collect feedback on visitor management in the Adirondack Park. According to the DEC, visitation to public lands across New York’s forest preserve has been on an upward trend over the last decade, with the Adirondacks being one of the most highly visited regions in the state. In 2020, many locations reported a record-setting year for tourism. The state commissioned a report from the planning firm DJ&A, which was completed in February of 2025, regarding visitor use management for the Adirondacks. It covers traffic and parking congestion, crowding, visitor safety and impacts to natural resources across the park. The report also includes recommendations to address some of these challenges, specifically in the High Peaks region. Limited ParkingThe report highlights key gateways to the High Peaks where there has been limited parking and concerns for pedestrian safety. This includes the area between the Garden Trailhead on Route 73 and the Adirondack Loj Road, which is a major access point to many of the state’s 46 peaks above 4,000 feet. Parking at the Adirondack Loj, which is privately owned and operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club, will often fill to capacity very early in the morning on weekends and holidays during the peak summer season. “When the parking area at the Adirondack Loj fills, overflow parking occurs on the roadsides of Meadows Lane and Adirondack Loj Road, and in the small lots along Meadows Lane,” the report stated. Another “point of concern” identified in the report is the Cascade Mountain parking area and trailhead on Route 73. The Cascade trail is one of the shorter routes to the summit of one of the 46 high peaks, making it one of the most popular for visitors. Designated parking at the trailhead on Route 73 is limited. When spaces are full, the DEC said people park on the side of the road and walk along the high-speed, high-traffic highway to reach the trailhead. Overcrowding on Trails, SummitsWhile increased visitation is beneficial for the local economy, the DEC also asked the planning firm to look for ways to address issues such as off-trail trampling of vegetation and the formation of unmarked “social trails” as a result of “crowding-avoidance” behavior. The report includes a survey of visitors at the Adirondack Loj and Cascade Mountain Trailheads. The majority said they do not mind seeing other people while hiking, but that they enjoyed hikes less when they have to pass or be passed by others on the trail.Researchers also measured “people per viewscape” (PPV) on some of the most popular summits, including Cascade and Mount Marcy. Data shows that during the study, there were more than 10 people per viewscape on Mount Marcy nearly half of the time on weekend days, but could be as high as 32 people per viewscape. RecommendationsThe report recommends a phased approach to manage visitor use. The recommendations include improved signage and education about less crowded destinations, consistent monitoring of conditions and visitor use, parking management and a potential hiking permit system. In 2021, the DEC launched a parking reservation system in partnership with the Adirondack Mountain Reserve to promote safe access to trails along the busy Route 73 corridor. The program has been used consistently every year from May through October. The recommendations from DJ&A take it a step further, suggesting a limit of 400 visitors per day in the Adirondack Loj region and a maximum of 240 visitors per day in the Cascade region. If the DEC implements a hiking permit reservation system, researchers recommend on-the-ground check-in stations at the trailheads, which would require additional staffing. Next StepsThe DEC has not made any decisions yet on whether to implement the recommendations for the report. The state is soliciting public comment via email until June 1. There is also a virtual meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m.
RAY BROOK, N.Y. —
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is holding a public meeting this week to collect feedback on visitor management in the Adirondack Park.
According to the DEC, visitation to public lands across New York’s forest preserve has been on an upward trend over the last decade, with the Adirondacks being one of the most highly visited regions in the state. In 2020, many locations reported a record-setting year for tourism.
The state commissioned a report from the planning firm DJ&A, which was completed in February of 2025, regarding visitor use management for the Adirondacks. It covers traffic and parking congestion, crowding, visitor safety and impacts to natural resources across the park. The report also includes recommendations to address some of these challenges, specifically in the High Peaks region.
Limited Parking
The report highlights key gateways to the High Peaks where there has been limited parking and concerns for pedestrian safety.
This includes the area between the Garden Trailhead on Route 73 and the Adirondack Loj Road, which is a major access point to many of the state’s 46 peaks above 4,000 feet. Parking at the Adirondack Loj, which is privately owned and operated by the Adirondack Mountain Club, will often fill to capacity very early in the morning on weekends and holidays during the peak summer season.
“When the parking area at the Adirondack Loj fills, overflow parking occurs on the roadsides of Meadows Lane and Adirondack Loj Road, and in the small lots along Meadows Lane,” the report stated.
Another “point of concern” identified in the report is the Cascade Mountain parking area and trailhead on Route 73. The Cascade trail is one of the shorter routes to the summit of one of the 46 high peaks, making it one of the most popular for visitors.
Designated parking at the trailhead on Route 73 is limited. When spaces are full, the DEC said people park on the side of the road and walk along the high-speed, high-traffic highway to reach the trailhead.
Overcrowding on Trails, Summits
While increased visitation is beneficial for the local economy, the DEC also asked the planning firm to look for ways to address issues such as off-trail trampling of vegetation and the formation of unmarked “social trails” as a result of “crowding-avoidance” behavior.
The report includes a survey of visitors at the Adirondack Loj and Cascade Mountain Trailheads. The majority said they do not mind seeing other people while hiking, but that they enjoyed hikes less when they have to pass or be passed by others on the trail.
New York State DEC
Mount Marcy summit
New York State DEC
Cascade Mountain summit
Researchers also measured “people per viewscape” (PPV) on some of the most popular summits, including Cascade and Mount Marcy. Data shows that during the study, there were more than 10 people per viewscape on Mount Marcy nearly half of the time on weekend days, but could be as high as 32 people per viewscape.
Recommendations
The report recommends a phased approach to manage visitor use. The recommendations include improved signage and education about less crowded destinations, consistent monitoring of conditions and visitor use, parking management and a potential hiking permit system.
In 2021, the DEC launched a parking reservation system in partnership with the Adirondack Mountain Reserve to promote safe access to trails along the busy Route 73 corridor. The program has been used consistently every year from May through October.
The recommendations from DJ&A take it a step further, suggesting a limit of 400 visitors per day in the Adirondack Loj region and a maximum of 240 visitors per day in the Cascade region.
If the DEC implements a hiking permit reservation system, researchers recommend on-the-ground check-in stations at the trailheads, which would require additional staffing.
Next Steps
The DEC has not made any decisions yet on whether to implement the recommendations for the report. The state is soliciting public comment via email until June 1. There is also a virtual meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m.