Officials have begun requiring parking reservations at Adirondack Mountain Reserve trailheads, instituting the requirment nearly two weeks earlier than last year.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) yesterday announced the start of the parking reservation system for the privately-owned Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) for the 2026 season.
Officials say the no-cost parking reservation requirement is needed to mitigate risk to pedestrians and motorists along the busy stretch of Route 73 in Keene, New York. Prior to the reservation system’s creation in 2021, pedestrian traffic, illegal parking, and roadside stopping along Route 73 created a dangerous environment for both hikers and motorists.
This year’s start of the parking reservation system on April 17 comes nearly two weeks earlier than previous years, when the requirement wasn’t in place until May 1.
The Adirondack Mountain Reserve is a privately owned 7,000-acre land parcel located in Keene Valley that allows for limited public access through a conservation easement agreement with DEC. The reservation system does not apply to other areas in the Adirondack Park.
The AMR-specific parking reservation program requires visitors to make a no-cost parking reservation in advance of their visit to access trails and trailheads on AMR lands. Reservations can be made as late as 4 a.m. for same-day spots, allowing last-minute cancellations to open spots for other parties.
Reservations can be made by visiting AMR’s website. To avoid road congestion from unmanaged drop-offs, walk-in users without a reservation are not permitted.
The AMR parking lot is accessible for entry between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily. An automatic one-way gate allows late-night hikers to depart from the lot after the attendant has left the premises.
