Discover High Flats State Forest Mountain Bike Network

Trail Overview

With a range of trails and features, High Flats State Forest offers mountain bikers of any experience level a place to practice and acquire skills.
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TRAIL ACTIVITY
LENGTH
11.80 miles, Network
DIFFICULTY
Easy, Moderate, Difficult
TOWNS
Colton, Parishville
SURFACE
Dirt/Forest Floor, Rocks/Ledge, Boardwalk/Bog Bridging
PETS
Permitted
FEES
No
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Description

Single-track trails from the Donovan Road entrance:
 
  • Charlie’s Run (1 mile, intermediate) -- Charlie's Run has a nice flow to it in both directions. There are a numbers of features that make it quite fun to ride. Technical features: berm, bridge, ladder bridge, rock face, roller coaster, wallride.
  • Kenny’s Climb Axe (1 mile, very difficult) -- One of the older trails in this system. The "skinnies" were added in 2014 to deal with chronic wet areas. Technical features: bridge, drop, ladder bridge, roller Coaster, skinny.
  • Donovan Road Trail Access (0.9 miles, easy) -- Biking down the road will bring you to the easier Upper Logging Road/Snake Trail(0.3 miles, +48 ft, -64 ft) that accesses the upper trails in the system.
  • KC Connector (0.25 miles, intermediate) -- This trail connects Kenny’s and Charlie’s trails, using short sections of the Upper Logging Road. Technical features: drop, jump, rock face.
  • The Grinder (0.25 miles, intermediate) -- This trail departs KC Connector and connects to Mini Down and Climber Trail. Technical feature: rock face.
  • Mini Down (0.2 miles, very difficult) -- Designed as a downhill thrill, connecting The Grinder to Climber Trail. Technical features: drop, jump, rock face.
  • Seven Springs Trail (0.6 miles, intermediate) -- Trail not maintained by SLMBA. Out and back trail. Be aware that this trail intersects the hiking-only NIMO access trail.
Trails from the Crowley Road entrance:
 
  • Climber Trail (1 mile, easy) -- This old logging road is a doubletrack connecter from the Crowley Road parking area to the trails near Donovan Road. It has no technical features.
  • Beaver Bridge (2 miles, intermediate) -- Loop trail for those looking for some climbing but fewer technical features.
The trails at the Crowley Road entrance that are located in the Seven Springs Mountain area are for Clarkson University Students and faculty only. These trails are Flying Lotus, DH Race Trail, Clarkson Flow Trail, Unleaded, and Upper Clarkson Trail Connector. Please respect this closure. These trails are on private property north of and adjacent to the state forest.

Other Information

High Flats State Forest covers 2018 acres. The topography is variable with upland areas supporting a mixture of northern hardwood, hemlock, and white pine forests. Pine and spruce plantations were established on what were formerly farm fields and pastures. Flatter ground supports open wetlands and shrub swamps, which gradually transition to spruce-balsam fir and swamp hardwoods stands in poorly-drained areas.

Trail Manager

The single-track trails in High Flats State Forest are maintained by the St. Lawrence County Mountain Bike Association. The multiuse trails, and the state forest itself, are owned and maintained by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation. For more information, please contact:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Potsdam Sub-Office

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Potsdam Sub-Office
190 Outer Main Street - Suite 103
Potsdam, NY 13676
Phone: 315-265-3090
information.r6@dec.ny.gov
View website

St. Lawrence County Mountain Bike Association

St. Lawrence County Mountain Bike Association
View website

Nearby Businesses

Trail Tips

Look, Don’t Touch
Respect natural resources, cultural and historic items, and wildlife by looking rather than touching.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

Off NY-56, take CR 58 from Colton toward Parishville. At the 0.5 mile mark turn right onto Wildwood Drive and travel 2.6 miles. Turn left onto the dirt French Hill Road. To get to the Donovan Road entrance: after 0.1 miles, turn right onto Donovan Road and park at the DEC yellow gate. To get to the Crowley Road entrance: Continue down French Hill Road another 1.5 miles and turn right onto Crowley Road, park at the end.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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