Corey's

(Numbers in parentheses such as (ADK #123, McM #456) on these and all other pages of Adirondack Journey, refer to trail numbers assigned by the McMartin and ADK guidebooks.)

Driving Directions
The main trailhead for the Seward Range is Corey's Road. From the village of Tupper Lake head east on NY Routes 30 & 3. At about five and a half miles from downtown Tupper Lake the two highways split. Bear right, staying on Rte 3. Follow Rte 3 for 2.6 miles to Corey's Road. A brown and yellow DEC sign on the right side of Rte 3 identifies Corey's as the western approach to the High Peaks.

Follow Corey's Road south. Along Corey's you will encounter a number of access points for horse trails, canoe routes, and hiking trails. Continue on past these often heavily used junctions. Mileage along Corey's Road to the trailhead from Rte 3:

The Trailhead
The trailhead for the Seward Range is a large parking lot able to comfortably hold 20 cars. At its entrance is a large sign (see photo) that clearly indicates that you've arrived. It is nearly impossible to miss the trailhead if you keep track of your mileage from Route 3 or if you simply look for the large sign. If, in spite of this you do miss it, you'll not travel far before you encounter a closed gate that prohibits you from going further on Corey's Road.

Maps, Brooks, Lean-to's, and Cairns along the Blueberry Foot Trail and Ward Brook Truck Trail
Maps are confusing regarding the landmarks along these trails. Reading these next few paragraphs will tell you what is where and how to get a lean-to and which lean-to's are closer to which peaks.

The ADK map is the only map we are familiar with that actually shows the 4 lean-to's in their approximate locations relative to Seward and Seymour Mtns. Yes, there are 4 that are well situated for those wanting to do the Seward Range via the Blueberry Foot Trail (BFT). The McMartin map incorrectly shows only one lean-to drawn in in red, but if you look close, you will see tiny black dots correctly marking the locations of all 4 lean-to's.

Best Tips for camping in the Seward Range
1. If you want a lean-to, assess your odds of getting one in advance simply by counting the cars at the trailhead. Twelve or more cars will definitely mean that the "Blueberry" and "Ward Brook" lean-tos (the shortest hikes from the trailhead) will be taken and there will be numerous tents pitched near the lean-tos.
2. If you continue on to the third camp site, named "Camp Four", you are very apt to discover one or both of the lean-tos there to be empty. Also, the likelihood of tents nearby is small. Again, this is based on 12 cars at the trailhead.

Other
3. Get to the trailhead before 9 AM on weekends and plan to keep walking until you find an empty lean-to, if you prefer a lean-to.
4. Starting early, but stopping at either the first or second lean-to will probably mean that by mid-afternoon the immediate area will be full of tents.

Regarding Brooks
The ADK map and all non-metric USGS maps do not show either of the brooks that the trails to the summits of Seward and Seymour religiously follow, nor do they it show the trails to the summits since that is ADK policy with regard to so-called untrailed peaks. You can't miss the two brooks, however, as you hike in on the Blueberry Foot Trail since the trail passes over each.

Regarding Cairns
The trails to both Seward and Seymour are each marked by a cairn located at the trail's beginning where it intersects the Ward Brook Truck Trail. Since each trail follows its own respective brook, you will cross a good plank bridge (of which there are more than a few) on the Blueberry Foot Trail and immediately see the cairn on your right marking (if you are walking east on the BFT a very clear trail.

Lean-to STRATEGY...!
If a lean-to is your preference, be aware that you can increase your odds of getting one significantly by using your noggin.

There are three lean-to sites scattered along the Blueberry Foot Trail, each well separated from the other two.

1		Turn off Rte 3 onto Corey's Road. Drive 5.8 miles to this sign on your right. You can't miss it. If you do miss it, you won't go far before you encounter a locked gate blocking the road to further passage.
2		Same sign as above. This is how you would see it from your car. The driveway entering the parking lot at right.
3		At the sign, you turn right and enter the parking lot. Quite a bit of room for cars even on a busy weekend.
4		At the further end of the parking area is the trailhead and sign-in. The trail beyond is wide because at this point it is both a foot trail (the Blueberry Foot Trail) and a horse trail.
5		6 7 8 The Blueberry Foot Trail, shown in photos 5-8, at left, is the principal trail served by the Corey's trailhead. It is a well-maintained, mostly level foot path that leads to the herd paths ascending Seymour and Seward Mtns. It would be a worthwhile hike out to its terminus if only for the exercise and woodland views. Another option is a detour off of Blueberry onto the Calkins Brook Horse Trail which crosses Calkins Brook. At the crossing you can follow Calkins Brook to the ridgeline on the slope from Donaldson toward the Donaldson-Seward col. We have not climbed it ourselves, but have heard a number of times from others that the route is clear and easy to follow. If that is the case, it would greatly simplify the ascents of Seward, Donaldson, and Emmons. The Blueberry Foot Trail is also well covered on the Seward Page here at Adirondack Journey.