Boreal Birds of the Adirondacks:  Alder Flycatcher. Photo by Larry Master. www.masterimages.org  Used by permission.

Birding Festivals in the Adirondacks:
2015 Great Adirondack Birding Celebration
Bloomingdale Bog Field Trip


Boreal Birds of the Adirondacks: Gray Jay. Bloomingdale Bog. Photo by Larry Master. www.masterimages.org Boreal Birds: Gray Jay. Bloomingdale Bog. Photo by Larry Master. www.masterimages.org
Boreal Birds of the Adirondacks: Black-Backed Woodpecker. Photo by Larry Master. www.masterimages.org Boreal Birds of the Adirondacks:
Female Black-backed Woodpecker on Blooomingdale Bog.. Photo by Larry Master. www.masterimages.org. Used by permission.

The Bloomingdale Bog Trail follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way once used by the Chateaugay Division of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad that connected Plattsburgh to Saranac Lake. The trail is an elevated sandy, dirt, or gravel walkway with many open views of Bloomingdale Bog, one of the largest bogs in northern New York. The walking is easy along the level trail. The group can walk either northeast toward Bigelow Road or southwest toward Saranac Lake. Those who opt for a shorter walk can leave the group between walk segments.

Bloomingdale Bog, one of the best places in the Adirondacks to observe boreal birds, is an eBird Birding Hotspot. The area encompasses a bog and cedar woods with sedge marsh and coniferous woods. Sightings may include:

Getting There

From the Paul Smith's College VIC parking lot: Turn RIGHT onto Route 30. After 0.8 miles, turn LEFT onto Route 86. Drive though the hamlet of Gabriels. You will see open farmland on both sides of the road after leaving the hamlet of Gabriels. At approximately 0.8 miles, you will see a cemetery on your left. Make a LEFT turn onto County Route 55, just past the cemetery (heading towards Bloomingdale and Plattsburgh). Follow County Route 55 for two miles and watch for a gate on the left. This gate is the start (at one end) of the trail that runs through the Bloomingdale Bog. There will be a blue sign with yellow letters -- GABC (Great Adirondack Birding Celebration) to indicate the meeting point for the Blooomingdale Bog field trip. You can park on either side of the road.

From Saranac Lake: Take Route 3 north to a stop sign in Bloomingdale, then continue straight ahead with Norman's Store on the right. The main road swings left toward Gabriels (County Route 55). Follow this for approximately 2.5 miles and watch for a gate on the RIGHT. There will be a blue sign with yellow letters -- GABC (Great Adirondack Birding Celebration) to indicate the meeting point for the Blooomingdale Bog field trip. You can park on either side of the road.

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Explore the VIC

The Paul Smiths VIC offers a wide variety of programs throughout the year to educate and inform Adirondack Park residents and visitors about the natural wonders of the Adirondack Mountains. You can help support these programs by joining the Friends of the VIC. More information on Friends of the VIC memberships

Explore the Trails

The VIC trails are free and open to the public, from dawn to dusk, spring through fall. In winter, the trails are open to cross-country skiers and snowshoers for a fee. Day or season passes may be purchased.