Update

Fall Road Trip

- Karen B. Moore

Fall is the perfect season for a road trip, and what better destination than the Adirondacks, home to some of ESF’s most iconic northern properties. Starting from the Syracuse campus, we’ve mapped out a relaxed three‑day journey that winds through crisp forests, quiet lakes, and the places where ESF’s legacy runs deep. Along the way, you’ll visit the Ranger School, discover something new at the AIC, hike to the newly renovated Goodnow Mountain fire tower, and capture plenty of leaf‑peeping, photo‑worthy moments.

 

Day 1

SYRACUSE → THE RANGER SCHOOL, WANAKENA
(3 hours)

Start from ESF’s Syracuse campus. Be sure to stop in the ESF College Bookstore for an ESF sweatshirt and hat to stay toasty warm and let people know you bleed green. Everyone knows an ESF-branded shirt is an excellent conversation starter! 

Nestled along the Oswegatchie River, Wanakena is an Adirondack gem perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, which makes it a natural draw for ESF alumni. 

Be sure to hike up to the Cathedral Rock Fire Tower. The Cathedral Rock tower was re-erected by Ranger School students, staff and alumni. The two-mile round trip trail offers great vistas of the Adirondacks and you might catch a glimpse of RS students out in the field. 

This is one of two towers maintained by ESF and part of the ESF Fire Tower Challenge. The second is the Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower, and hikers who summit both in the same year can submit a form to earn an ESF fire tower sticker — the perfect flex for any water bottle.

If you’re a Ranger School alum, you can stay at the alumni campground by contacting the RSSA Office Manager at 315-848-2566 x 2112. For those not fortunate enough to count themselves among Ranger School alumni, Cranberry Lake and other surrounding towns offer accommodations.   

 

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Day 2

THE RANGER SCHOOL, WANAKENA  → NEWCOMB CAMPUS
(1 hour, 25 mins)

Watch the sun come up over the Oswegatchie, then grab a cup of coffee at Otto’s Abode before hitting the road for the Newcomb campus, located about an hour and a half from the Ranger School. You’re going to want to get an early start because there’s a lot to do in Newcomb!

ESF’s Newcomb Campus is nestled in the Huntington Wildlife Forest. In 1932, the 15,000-acre Huntington Wildlife Forest (HWF) was donated by Archer and Anna Huntington and designated specifically for ESF’s use. Located primarily in the Town of Newcomb, the campus sits near the geographic center of the Adirondack Park. 

The Newcomb campus is home to a trio of knowledge hubs including:

Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC)
The AIC offers public programs, events, speaker series, courses and other activities throughout the year, giving individuals and groups opportunities to learn directly from ESF faculty, staff and guest experts. Check out the AIC program schedule and plan your trip accordingly, or simply drop in and check out the exhibits and trails.

The AIC building is the trailhead for the AIC’s 3.6 miles of interpretive trails that run along the shoreline of Rich Lake and the Rich Lake outlet. Drive approximately 1.6 miles west of the AIC to the trailhead of the Goodnow Mountain Fire Tower.   

The 60-foot tower was built in 1922 and sits on land owned and maintained by ESF. The tower underwent a major renovation in 2025. The four-mile round trip trail is open to the public and will complete your ESF Fire Tower Challenge! Don’t forget to fill out the form and claim your stickers. 

The Northern Forest Institute (NFI)
The Northern Forest Institute (NFI) is an outreach program of the Newcomb Campus designed to build knowledge, skills, and leadership for environmental stewardship in the Adirondack and Northern Forest regions. The Institute provides education programs, workshops and trainings, along with public events and exhibits. Be sure to check out their schedule of events before your trip. 

Adirondack Ecological Center (AEC)
AEC researchers from throughout the world study the natural and cultural systems of the Northern Forest.

The AEC, founded by ESF in 1971, is the research hub of the Newcomb campus attracting scientists from around the world and supporting research that helps guide conservation and management of Adirondack Park.

The Center has decades of research experience, including long-term monitoring of environmental conditions and more than 70 active studies on topics like wildlife restoration, forestry, pollution impacts, and biodiversity. the world and supporting research that helps guide conservation and management of Adirondack Park.

The Center has decades of research experience, including long-term monitoring of environmental conditions and more than 70 active studies on topics like wildlife restoration, forestry, pollution impacts, and biodiversity.

 

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Day 3

NEWCOMB → PACK FOREST, WARRENSBURG
(1 hour, 25 mins)

Pack Forest is the perfect spot to end your Adirondack adventure. The 2,500-acre environmental demonstration forest is maintained by ESF and features the self-guided one-mile Grandmother’s Tree Nature Trail, which is wheelchair accessible.

The Forest is home to Grandmother’s Tree, a 300-plus year-old white pine standing over 175 feet tall, placing it on the list of Famous and Historic Trees in New York. Why Grandmother’s Tree? Legend has it that John Woodward wanted to buy his wife Margaret a set of dishes for their anniversary. Short of cash, he planned on cutting down the old white pine and selling the lumber. Margaret said she would rather do without the dishes than allow him to cut the tree. The story became family folklore and the tree was eventually known as Grandmother’s Tree. When it became part of ESF’s Charles Lathrop Pack Demonstration Forest, the College created a 50-acre natural area to protect it.

Along with being home to Grandmother’s Tree, the Forest is used to demonstrate good forestry practices, train students in a hands-on environment, and serve as a research laboratory.

 

PACK FOREST → HOME

Wrap up your trip by taking a deep breath of crisp Adirondack air and soaking in the beauty that makes these ESF properties unique. From fire tower vistas to forest trails, you’ve experienced firsthand the places where learning, research, and adventure come together, and remember that not all classrooms have walls.

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