reprinted
from literature provided by
Brookfield Renewable Power
Co.
The
Stone
Valley Cooperative
Recreation Area:
We
who enter the Stone Valley
Cooperative Recreation Area
owe the pleasure to Lewis
"Lew" Weeks (1920-1999) whose
Power and vision brought many
of us together to build and
maintain trails in this
special place for the benefit
of all. Knowing Lew, we
dedicate this to you, the
visitor. Marvel and take
care.
- The Stone Valley
Cooperative Recreation Area,
located in the towns of
Colton and Parishville,
offers an unusual
opportunity for hiking,
cross-country skiing, nature
study, and historical
exploration. There are
several private land parcels
in the Eastern section of
the area, so please respect
the property of others.
- The most specatcular
stretch of Stone
Valley is the mile
between the hamlet of Colton
and the Tub. Dramatic
rapids in this section of
the river flow over
waterfalls creating gorges,
rock islands, overhanging
cliffs and facinating
potholes.
- When the water is high it
thunders through this
section with awesome power,
and is dangerously
fast*. During times of
low water, the exposed river
channel presents a
completely different aspect
of the river environment.
Beware,
even
during
low-water
periods.
Sudden, unexpected releases
from the dam can cause rapidly
rising water, creating
dangerous situations.
Stay on the trail.
The
Stone
Valley
trail
system
also offers a unique variety
of topography, woodlands, and
tree plantations. Many
different types of birds,
plants and wildlife can be
viewed along this diverse
trail system, which is over 12
miles long.
Informational
plaques are locted at various
points on the trails.
Riverside trails are indicated
by blue tree markers, access
trails by dark red, and county
trails by yellow markers.
There
are sections where caution
should be exercised and others
where trails are quite
steep. For those who
prefer a less rigorous hike, a
fairly gentle incline will
take one from the Northeast
Trail Head to Cathedral
Grove,
a distance of one mile.
O'Malley Brook flows through
the Grove and tumbles down a
rocky falls into the Raquette
River beneath giant pine
trees.
The
distance between trailheads on
either side of the river is
exactly 3.2 miles. To
start at any trailhead and
make a complete loop, down one
side of the river and back to
the trailhead of origin is a
distance of 7.5 miles.
The
trails lie on lands owned by
Brookfield Renewable Power,
St. Lawrence County, and the
Town of Colton.
Brookfield Renewable Power,
the Laurentian Chapter of the
Adirondack Mountain Club and
the St. Lawrence County Youth
Conservation Corps maintain
trails. If you have
suggestions, or would like to
participate in the stewardship
of this area, contact Mark
Simon at (315) 262-2571 or
simonm@potsdam.edu.
For
your safety, please sign
the trail registers at
the beginning and end of
your trip.
*Note: for a look
at the full force of the
river during water
releases, check out the
Canoe&Kayak Stone
Valley Kayaking page,
reprinted here.
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