Last year was the first for the parking reservation system at the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR). The DEC and AMR say they’re pleased with how the system went, and it will resume for this hiking season on May 1.
2021 AMR Parking Reservation System Was a Rousing Success
The pilot reservation system launched in 2021 with the intention of curbing traffic/parking problems, and to help reduce over-hiking on popular trails. More than 21,000 users registered at the AMR website to make reservations, and the DEC and AMR accepted feedback and implemented changes throughout the season, such as the installation of an automatic one-way gate to allow for late departures from the parking lot.
The system accepted registrants from 14,200 New Yorkers, 6,600 out-of-staters, and 138 people from other countries; 113 Canadian users registered, which is believed to be lower than it normally would be, due to the border crossing restrictions in place during the pandemic.
John Schuler, General Manager of the AMR, said in a statement that the system was able to “meet and exceed the three primary goals of the pilot: 1) to improve the safety for all those who travel the Route 73 corridor, 2) to provide fair and equitable access to parking for all levels of the hiking community, and 3) to preserve and protect both public and private lands for future generations.”
2022 Details & How the Parking Reservation System Works
Once again, hikers looking to access the AMR property and its trails, including Noonmark and Round Mountain trailheads, will need to reserve a parking spot ahead of time. Reservations can be made at no cost as far as two weeks in advance, so bookings for May 1 will open on April 17. Reservations will be required and the system in place from May 1 to October 31, 2022.
Parking reservations must be obtained for single-day or overnight use, getting dropped off or picked up in the AMR lot by a vehicle, or arriving via bicycle. There is once exception to the no walk-ins, which is users who can provide a Greyhound or Trailway bus ticket from within the past 24 hours.
There will be 70 reservations available each day. These parking reservation requirements do not apply to other areas of the Adirondack Park. You can find out more and make reservations starting April 17 at hikeamr.org.
