Adirondacks still wintery

The New York DEC closed seasonal access roads and mud gates in Regions 5 and 6 effective March 20, 2026, citing spring thaw and muddy conditions; the closures cover Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. (dec.ny.gov) DEC issued a Recreational Use Advisory on March 12, 2026, reporting washed-out bridges, thawed water crossings, instances of up to two feet of standing water on frozen lake surfaces, and a washed-out high-water bridge on the Calamity Brook Trail 1.8 miles from the Flowed Lands. (dec.ny.gov) The Adirondack Mountain Club’s High Peaks Conditions Report (updated March 24, 2026) notes key winter routes are impassable due to washed-out bridges and flooding, with sustained summit winds up to 27 mph and gusts to 34 mph, ambient summit temps of 12–23°F and wind chills down to about −9°F. (adk.org) ADK reported roughly 8 inches of snow at the Van Hoevenberg trailhead and 27 inches at the Lake Colden Interior Outpost (measurement dated March 8), and reminds visitors that trails with more than 8 inches of snow require snowshoes or skis. (adk.org) The National Weather Service mountain forecast for Mount Marcy (5,344 ft) predicted west winds increasing to 40–55 mph with gusts to 55 mph, snow accumulations of 4–6 inches (about 7 inches total possible) and overnight lows around 19°F on the forecast cycle issued March 20, 2026. (weather.gov) State guidance urges avoiding high-elevation trails above 2,500 feet during spring thaw to prevent trail damage and unsafe crossings, and DEC bulletin updates and ADK’s High Peaks Information Center remain the listed contacts for current conditions (ADK HPIC: 518-523-3441 ext. 121). (dec.ny.gov)