Adirondack Park Number Six Road

Number Six Road cuts deep into the Adirondack wilderness, following old logging and mining routes to the ghost town of Tahawus and the abandoned National Lead Company mines. The 15-mile track starts as maintained gravel but degrades to rutted two-track as you climb toward Henderson Lake, passing the ruins of blast furnaces that once fed the Civil War iron industry. Scattered mine tailings and rusted machinery tell the story of titanium extraction that continued into the 1980s.

This is moderate terrain requiring high-clearance 4WD for the final miles, especially during spring mud season when deep ruts and washouts challenge even lifted rigs. Winter access is snowmobile-only, while summer brings black flies that’ll test your patience. No permits needed, but fuel up in Newcomb—it’s a long way to nowhere out here. What you get is solitude, swimming holes that haven’t seen crowds, and some of the darkest night skies in the Northeast.