County will evaluate ATV trail system in fall

PARISHVILLE — St. Lawrence County officials hope a full season of use on a 22-mile pilot recreation trail will help them determine the trail system's future.

Legislator Alexander A. MacKinnon, R-Fowler, who helped spearhead the trail's development, said the trail recently opened for the summer. It could be expanded if all goes well in its first full season, he said.

"We're developing an evaluation instrument now that will evaluate the trail this fall," he said.

The trail opened in September but was closed when hunting season began, said Dawn C. Howard, Soil and Water Conservation District manager. She said the fall evaluation will include a trail wear-and-tear assessment and a survey of users and neighbors.

All-terrain vehicle riders in 2004 approached the county about opening trails on forest lands. Lawmakers in 2006 approved ATV use along County Route 58 and in some forests. Town officials in June 2008 decided to allow riding along eight other roads.

Although it started with ATV riders, Mrs. Howard said the trail is intended for a variety of uses.

"We have hikers, skiers, dog sledders and horse riders all represented on our trail committee," she said. "We try to get input from as many folks as possible."

There has been so much interest in the pilot trail that 1,500 maps supplied to the county's ATV Association have already been taken, Mr. MacKinnon said. Mrs. Howard said more are being printed.

"I'm excited about it," Mr. MacKinnon said. "I think we've done a good job of carefully plotting things out and designing it."

The trail goes from White Road to Picketville Road, the end of which has neighboring forest areas that permit riding. Picketville Road connects with Perkins Road, which riders will use to travel to Cook Road and a forest area.

Perkins Road continues to Chapel Hill Road, where the trail leads left onto a short section of County Route 58, which becomes Russell-Turnpike Road. A forest along County Route 58 is open for riding.

Russell-Turnpike Road connects to Cobble Road, which dead-ends at a forest where riding is allowed. The trail continues to Benson Road, from which riders can access the westernmost forest area included in the trail.

Trail users may park at the Parishville Fire Department's field near the old town landfill, Rutman Road.