Pine Creek Road

Pine Creek Road cuts through some of the most remote wilderness in the Adirondacks, following an old logging route that once hauled timber out of the high country around Tupper Lake. The 18-mile route connects Pine Creek with the shores of Raquette Pond, threading between granite outcrops and beaver ponds through country that hasn’t changed much since the 1800s. The middle section gets technical around Mile 8, where you’ll navigate a rocky creek crossing that claims oil pans if you’re not careful with your line choice.

This is moderate difficulty terrain requiring high-clearance 4WD and good ground clearance for the rock gardens. Best tackled May through October when the creek crossings aren’t running too high. No permits needed, but fuel up in Tupper Lake—there’s nothing out here for 50 miles. The payoff is pristine backcountry camping along Raquette Pond and some of the quietest country left in New York. Expect to see more moose than people.