Visitors expecting to find only scenic views of the Adirondacks on the Lakes to Locks Passage may be surprised to find how much company they have -- both in the air and along the footpaths. This All-American Road boasts residents with both feathers and fur. Wildlife viewing draws thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to northeastern New York each year. Take the Lakes to Locks Passage, and you can see what all the fuss is about.
Start your adventures in Granville, New York, just off the byway. Here you can tour the Pember Museum of Natural History, established in 1909. With exhibits full of nests, insects, shells, and mounted birds and animals, you'll have plenty to look at. Once you tire of the indoors, head out to the Pember Nature Preserve where you can ramble over two miles of elevated walkways. Here, you'll find an observation platform where you can view wetland wildlife. Visit the old one-room schoolhouse transformed into a Nature Center for an educationally fulfilling experience.
Bird-watchers will delight while navigating the Lake Champlain Birding Trail. Take advantage of the numerous Wildlife Management Areas, such as Ausable Marsh. Bring your binoculars and practice your birdcalls because osprey. Several different species of ducks nest in this area, including Mallard, Teal and Common Goldeneye, Wood, and Merganser. Although camping is not allowed in the WMA, you can pitch a tent at Ausable Point Campground, just nine miles south of Plattsburgh. While setting up camp, keep your eyes peeled for swallows, warblers, and birds of prey.
Other preserves along the byway, such as the Lewis Preserve, play host to animals such as the whitetail deer, snowshoe hair, and beaver. Discover your connection to nature as you meander down paths and over grasslands along the Lakes to Locks Passage.
