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Horseback Riding in Camp Santanoni:

Newcomb Lake Road Trail is a 5-mile gravel former carriage road that extends from the trailhead at the Gate Lodge to Newcomb Lake. The trail ascends 350 feet in 3.0 miles and then descends 250 feet to the Main Complex on Newcomb Lake. The trail passes through the Farm Complex 0.7 mile from the trailhead.

This trail also provides access to the Moose Pond Horse Trail in the adjacent High Peaks Wilderness.

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Horseback Riding in Essex Chain Lakes 

General information on horseback riding includes safety tips and rules and regulations. Proof of current negative Coggins certificate is required for all horses and out-of-state horse owners are required to produce a 30-day health certificate.

Nearly 22 miles of administrative roads in the Complex are open for horseback riding. The roads open for horseback riding are in the Horse Routes Map (PDF) and in the following list:

  • 8.5 miles of the Chain Lakes Road North from the Goodnow Flow Road to the Cedar River;

  • 1.5 miles of the Drake's Mill Road from Chain Lakes Road North to the Hudson River Access Site at the Polaris (Iron) Bridge;

  • 2.8 miles of the road from the Chain Lakes Road North to the road connecting with the Deer Pond Loop located north of Fifth and Sixth Lakes;

  • 1.8 miles of road from the Chain Lakes Road North to the Deer Pond Loop;

  • 2.5 miles of road looping around Deer Pond;

  • 0.3 mile road from Chain Lakes North to Jackson Pond;

  • 0.3 mile road from Chain Lakes North to Eighth Lake; and

  • 3.0 miles of the Chain Lakes Road South from the Outer Gooley Parking Area to the Cedar River;

  • 1.0 mile from the Chain Lakes Road South to Pine Lake.

More than thirteen miles of administrative roads are also open to use by horse drawn wagons. The roads open for use by horse drawn wagons are:

  • 8.5 miles of the Chain Lakes Road North from the Goodnow Flow Road to the Cedar River;

  • 1.5 miles of the Drake's Mill Road from Chain Lakes Road North to the Hudson River Access Site at the Polaris (Iron) Bridge;

  • 0.6 mile of the road from the Chain Lakes Road North to the campsite at Fifth Lake ; and

  • 3.0 miles of the Chain Lakes Road South from the Outer Gooley Parking Area to the Cedar River.

The Essex Chain Lakes Road South can be accessed from the nearby community of Indian Lake and the Essex Chain Lakes North and the Deer Pond Parking Area can be accessed from the nearby community of Newcomb.

Horses and horses with wagons are prohibited beyond the Polaris (Iron) Bridge into the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest.

Horses and horses with wagons should not travel on the Goodnow Flow Road beyond the intersection with the Chain Lakes Road North. The Goodnow Flow Road becomes a private road shortly after the DEC sign for "Essex Chain Lakes and Hudson River Access" sign at the intersection with the Chain Lakes Road North. Turn left at the sign on to the Chain Lakes Road North.

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