The Big Woods Trail in Willsboro has two trailheads, one behind the old school and the other at the Willsboro boat launch at the Boquet River. Big Woods is owned and managed by the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. The trails are not marked well and the river trail becomes overgrown in summer with stinging nettles and tall ferns. Nevertheless, hiking here can be very rewarding with a wonderful walk through the unusual floodplain forest along the Boquet River and through the biologically diverse upland woodlands. ATV’s trespass on the site, running along the old upland access lanes and tearing apart a little sandy area on a bluff above the river. TNC has put up barriers to stop them but the barriers are consistently torn down. You probably won’t encounter any ATV’s unless you are there on the weekends and even then, you likely won’t be disturbed by any marauding motorists.
The Library Road Trailhead is behind the old Willsboro School where Library Road makes a sharp left turn to access the field of satellite dishes owned by the local cable company. Park at the paved lot by the abandoned basketball court and walk east down the dirt road that continues straight from Library Road. Continue straight through an ATV gate, which has probably been pushed aside or destroyed in some way. Follow the road along the flat upland passing through a mixed forest of hardwoods and pines. It eventually leads to an old log landing where a trail can be taken down toward the river. Shortly before the log landing, the trail will turn right and make a loop back to the beginning. You can either follow the obvious dirt trail which hooks up with a snowmobile/ATV trail or take a hike through the woods. This woods path has been marked in the past so pay attention for some markers to try and find it.
The Boat Launch Trailhead starts at the Willsboro Boat Launch. The trail is fairly well-marked and follows an old logging road before turning off on a trail that leads to the top of a small cliff above the Boquet River. It descends and then goes through a fabulous floodplain forest featuring sycamore trees, large cottonwoods, and silver maples growing amongst a sea of tall ferns. Watch out for the stinging nettles, which if not cut, will be almost chest high and pose a barrier to passage. The trail passes along the Boquet River and is really enjoyable with beautiful views of the river. You can continue straight, bear to the right, and climb an old access road to the log landing mentioned in the Library Road Trailhead description or make some hard right turns, go upstream closer to the edge of the floodplain and come back along an old logging road that ties into the upland access road a little east of the gate destroyed by the ATV riders.
Location of Trailheads:
Library Road Trailhead: From Route 22 in Willsboro just east of the bridge over the Boquet River and immediately south of the Paine Library, turn east onto Library Road. Follow this behind the old school, don’t turn into the school parking lot but continue to where it takes a 90 degree left turn. Park here or in the paved lot by the abandoned basketball court. The trail is a continuation of Library Road.
Willsboro Boat Launch Trailhead: From the intersection of Route 22 and School Street in Willsboro, just east of the bridge over the Boquet River, go north on School Street past the old school and follow this road until it ends. It will seem like you are going where you shouldn’t go as the road narrows and becomes quite rough. But it eventually ends in a parking area at the Willsboro Boat Launch onto the Boquet River. The trailhead is on the east side of the parking area.
- Best Feature of Trail: The floodplain forest is spectacular with large trees, an amazing understory of ferns, and sycamore trees, a species that is common south of here but is near the northern part of its range.
- Sights and Natural Features: There is a scenic rock bluff above the river where the trail is a narrow pass above the river. The upland area is recovering from a timber cut but is biologically diverse because of the variety of soils—sandy, rocky, and loamy with occasional rock outcrops. The access road leading from the floodplain to the old log landing is hundreds of years old having previously served as the route to carry cargo unloaded from lake boats that moored at a rocky area along the river.
- Trail Length: The upland trail is about a mile; the floodplain trail which ties into the upland trail is about 2 miles.
- Trail Type: There are a variety of loop trails
- Trail Difficulty: Mild, easy hikes
- Trail Condition: Mostly solid footing but in summer, if the stinging nettles are not cleared, the river trail is practically impassable
- Parking: For the Library Road Trailhead, park in the old basketball court parking lot. For the boat launch trailhead, park at the boat launch parking lot
- Animal Signs: There are a variety of animal tracks visible in winter. There is a large wetland in the floodplain with associated animal species. Great blue herons and kingfishers fly up and down the river..
- Location: Willsboro, NY 12936
- Last Updated: September 8, 2011
