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General Information

The West Canada Preserve property is located in one of the most remote and beautiful areas of the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. It is comprised of over 1600 acres of forest land and has approximately 1 ½ miles of frontage on the famous West Canada Creek. The tract, located in the Town of Morehouse, Hamilton County, consists of 10 separate 160 acre parcels which stretch about 5 miles west to east along the upper headwaters of the West Canada. The land is bordered by the prestigious Adirondack League Club, the Forest Preserve of the State of New York and several smaller private in-holdings. The Adirondack Park itself is a patchwork of nearly 6 million acres of public and private land.

There are 2 main camps on the preserve…the lower camp, known locally as "The Rutherford Camp", is a large two story frame building which has room for 8-10 people. This camp sits directly on the river and offers dramatic views of the West Canada Creek. There is an enclosed porch which serves as a utility room for tool and supplies, a sturdy woodshed and a privy. The camp is accessed via the Haskell Road off NYS Rt.8 in Nobleboro, NY…the camp is located about 11.5 miles in from the highway. The last 2 ½ miles of the road are via a gated access...only landowners/guests are allowed past this point. The road has some rough spots and a good truck or SUV are recommended for travel…many camp owners in the area use ATV’s or similar vehicles for greater convenience.

The upper camp, known as "Camp 10", was actually a lumber camp back in the old days…it dates from the 1920’s. Camp 10 is of typical Adirondack spruce log construction with a modern addition on the back. The new part of the camp can accommodate 6-8 people…the older section does need some work, but could easily be renovated to expand the setting. There are several out buildings including a wood shed and privy. A short trail from the front door of the camp takes you to the Mitchell Stillwater on the West Canada. The Stillwater is actually a lake formed by a slow moving section of the river…the scenery in this area is incredible. The Stillwater is large enough to facilitate float plane access, thus making the trip a short 20 minute flight from Inlet, NY. Camp 10 is situated about 16 miles from a hard paved road, which makes it one of the most geographically remote locations in New York State. There is a smaller camp located on the north side of the West Canada which stands on the site of a former lumber camp and also a nearby lean-to...these can only be accessed by water.

Many varieties of wildlife are found here including: deer, bear, moose, otter, beaver, coyote and even the occasional bald eagle. The population of native brook trout is very healthy and could possibly be a heritage strain considering no stocking has ever occurred. The preserve has a professional scientific forestry management plan in place. There is good stocking of both hardwood and softwood saw timber, plus a strong fiber and pulp component, thus providing excellent income potential in the years ahead. There is a good network of "woods roads" on the property which are suitable for landowner recreation/access, forestry work and transport of logs to market. A complete copy of the forest management plan, with timber inventory and values, are available by special arrangement. Future owners may want to consider forestry tax programs that can offer long term financial benefits. Opportunities also are in place for recreational leasing by some of the people who have been going there for years...this component can help with taxes and expenses, and offers "onsite" stewardship by people who care deeply for the land.