There’s a lot more to the Adirondack Park than the High Peaks. The Adirondack Quest encourages ADK members to explore and appreciate the plants, landscape and wildlife diversity and the incomparable natural setting of the Wilderness Areas and Wild Forests Areas of the Adirondack Park.

The Adirondack Quest is sponsored by the Genesee Valley Chapter which provides recognition in the form of the attractive patch shown above and a certificate for individuals who make 50 total day trips to the areas that include at least 15 of the wilderness areas and at least 15 of the major wild forests areas with no more than 2 trips to the same area. There are no criteria on miles hiked, hours that constitute a day, overnight camping, etc. Activities such as hiking, backpacking, canoeing, bird watching, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing all qualify as spending the day in the area. ADK members and non-members are eligible for the patch. Visits made after January 1, 2015 qualify for the patch. 

What is a Wilderness Area?

A wilderness area, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man–where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. A wilderness area is further defined to mean an area of state land or water having a primeval character, without significant improvement or permanent human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve, enhance and restore, where necessary, its natural conditions, and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least ten thousand acres of contiguous land and water or is of sufficient size and character as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological or other features of scientific, educational, scenic or historical value.

Excerpted from the NYS Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan

ADK Quest recognized wilderness area list 

What is a Wild Forest Area?

A wild forest area is an area where the resources permit a somewhat higher degree of human use than in wilderness, primitive or canoe areas, while retaining an essentially wild character. A wild forest area is further defined as an area that frequently lacks the sense of remoteness of wilderness, primitive or canoe areas and that permits a wide variety of outdoor recreation.

Excerpted from the NYS Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan

ADK Quest recognized wild forest area list

Primitive and Canoe Areas

The following Primitive and Canoe Areas can be counted towards your 50 total day trips, as long as 15 different Wilderness and 15 different Wild Forest visits are included, with no more than 2 trips to any one area.

FAQ

How do I get started?
It’s an easy two-step process: 1. Become familiar with the locations of the wilderness, wild forest, and primitive/canoe areas. 2. Just go and explore.

To complete the Quest, you need to visit a combination of wilderness, wild forest, and primitive/canoe areas on 50 separate dates on or after January 1, 2015. These 50 dates must include a minimum of 15 wilderness areas and 15 wild forest areas. Completing the Quest is likely a multiyear endeavor and will likely take you to parts of the Adirondacks you might not otherwise visit.

What areas count toward the Quest challenge?
The currently accepted areas are listed on this website and on the submission form. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) periodically updates the wilderness, wild forest, and privative/canoe areas. Areas are delineated on various maps (National Geographic series, for example), online hiking apps, and guidebooks. That said, there is a lot of information out there that hasn’t been updated and uses names that are no longer in use. If you have a question about a specific area, email the Quest Coordinator (quest@adk-gvc.org).

Where can I get more information on what to do in the wilderness, wild forest, and primitive/canoe areas?
These are some sources of information:

• NYS forest preserve information. Scroll to Adirondack region for maps and other information.
• Guide books
• CNY Hiking: Not regularly updated but contains good information.

What is the cost?
There is no cost for first-time completers. Simply mail your submission form, and then we will confirm the requirements have been met and will mail you a patch and certificate.

If you want an extra patch for yourself or a four-legged hiking buddy, we gladly accept donations.

Can I count a trip to an area if I don’t remember the exact date?
Yes, the trip will count if it was made on or after January 1, 2015. Give your best estimate of the date on the Quest log.

Does each person in a group need to fill out a Quest log if everyone in the group went on all 50 trips together?
If the information in the submission form is the same for both then a single form with multiple names will suffice. However, if it is different, then each person should submit their own log with their comments.

If a hiking trail appears to pass through more than one area, can I to choose the area for which I want to associate the hike?
Yes. Pick either one of the areas but not both. For example, a trail might start in a wild forest but end in a wilderness area. Feel free to associate the trip with either the wild forest or the wilderness area if the hike was done in one day. If the hike was a backpacking trip over multiple days, then both areas can be counted.

When examining a map, a hiking trail appears to run right along the boundary between two areas. Can I choose the area for which I want to associate the hike?
Yes. Pick one of the areas but not both.

If I visit two areas on the same day, do they both count toward the Quest?
No, you should make a total of 50 visits on 50 separate days.

If the DEC establishes a new wild forest or wilderness area, does a trip to that area count?
Yes, trips to newly created areas count toward the Quest as long as they are classified by the DEC as wild forest, wilderness, or primitive/canoe areas. As new areas are created, we will add them to the Quest website.