Franklin County, NY, is proposing a 500-mile multi-use trail network for off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, bicycles, cross-county skiing, hiking, dog sleds, horseback riding and more. The network would connect to multi-use trail networks in St. Lawrence and Clinton Counties, creating a large regional trail network for ATV and UTV owners.
The trail system would be administered by Franklin County in cooperation with local towns and villages and located on various county-owned lands, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) owned lands, and privately owned parcels.
Portions of the trail network will utilize existing County, Town, Village, and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) owned roadways within Franklin County, and a small segment in St. Lawrence County.
Phil Hans, director of the county’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism, said the project is “the most significant outdoor recreation project the county has undertaken.”
The trail network would include the adoption of a Trail Master Plan, organizers say. Franklin County is expected to secure easements for trail use on lands they do not own. Local laws are expected to allow for off-road-vehicle use within local rights-of-way, as needed.
The Franklin County Legislature , as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Multi-Use Recreational Trail System may have a significant adverse impact on the environment and a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) must be prepared.
The DEIS Scoping Documents were quietly released on May 2nd, surprising some local leaders. Comments are due by 1 pm on Friday, June 13, 2024.
Comments should be sent to the Franklin County Office of Economic Development & Tourism, 355 West Main Street, Suite 428, Malone, NY 12953, Attention: Bobbie Keenan.
Comments can also be emailed to Exploreadirondackfrontier@franklincountyny.gov with the subject title “Proposed Multi-Use Recreational Trail System.”
Illustration: Map of the proposed Franklin County Multi-Use Trail Network from the Draft Scoping Document.
