Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation - Boy Scout High Adventure Camp

- Tupper Lake, NY 12986

Introduction / Overview

For New York residents seeking the ultimate wilderness challenge and a transformative experience in one of the state's most iconic natural landscapes, the Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation—a premier Boy Scout High Adventure Camp—stands out as an unparalleled destination. Located deep within the heart of the Adirondacks, this camp is far more than a traditional summer camp; it is a gateway to the region's vast network of lakes, streams, and High Peaks, offering specialized, multi-day, high-adventure treks that have defined generations of outdoor enthusiasts. While rooted in the values of Scouting, the camp is renowned for providing customizable, challenging, and expertly guided adventures that focus on self-reliance, teamwork, and navigating the breathtaking New York wilderness.

With a legacy spanning over 50 years, Floodwood Mountain is perfectly situated to offer an authentic and rugged challenge that is second to none on the East Coast. The primary focus is on extended wilderness journeys—specifically canoe and backpacking treks—that often cover 50+ miles, a distance that demands preparation, skill, and commitment. Groups are paired with an experienced staff 'Voyager,' a trained wilderness guide who provides local knowledge, safety expertise, and mentorship throughout the journey. As captured in the enthusiasm of past participants, the experience is about "incredible scenery" and a "doable, but worthy challenge," solidifying its reputation as the best kind of demanding and rewarding adventure available in the Empire State.

Location and Accessibility

The Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation is strategically located in the western portion of the Adirondack Park, placing it in a prime position for launching extensive wilderness excursions. The camp's official address is Tupper Lake, NY 12986, USA. Its base is situated near Rollins Pond, providing immediate access to the start of the famous canoe routes that weave through the St. Regis Canoe Area and the Saranac Lake Wild Forest.

While the setting is rugged and remote—adjacent to the 9,000 square mile Adirondack Park—it remains a manageable drive for many New York State families and organizations. The camp is located near Saranac Lake, NY, approximately an hour west of Lake Placid, connecting it to the broader tourist infrastructure of the High Peaks region. For local New Yorkers, the drive offers a relatively efficient way to access a truly remote and untamed environment, avoiding the much longer travel required for comparable national high adventure bases. It serves as a vital in-region hub for true backcountry exploration, requiring a final stretch of travel along the Floodwood Road to reach the base camp and its high-adventure headquarters on Rollins Pond.

Services Offered

The services at Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation are distinctly focused on facilitating multi-day, guided wilderness experiences, providing all the necessary logistical and expert support for a successful and safe high-adventure trek:

• Guided Wilderness Treks: The core offering is the fully supported, customizable High Adventure Trek. Options include extensive canoe treks that utilize the park's network of waterways and backpacking treks into the High Peaks Wilderness.
• Experienced Staff Voyagers: Each participating unit or group is accompanied by a dedicated, trained wilderness guide, known as a Voyager, who leads the trek, teaches advanced outdoor skills, ensures safety, and shares local knowledge.
• Base Camp Facilities: The reservation provides essential base camp infrastructure, including an Office/Range area, a Health Lodge, a Trading Post (for basic supplies and souvenirs), and designated Campsites for the first and last nights of the trek.
• Provisional Camping Option: For individual Scouts unable to attend with their full Troop, the camp offers a Provisional Camping program, allowing them to join a full week of adventures with adult supervision and leadership provided by the camp staff.
• Equipment and Logistical Support: Treks include the necessary equipment for the chosen itinerary, such as canoes and backpacking gear. Logistical support covers food provisioning and detailed route planning for the challenging journeys.

Features / Highlights

What makes Floodwood Mountain truly stand out is its commitment to providing a rigorous and diverse outdoor challenge, utilizing its unique Adirondack setting:

• Customizable High Adventure Treks: The main highlight is the flexibility of the trips. Treks are 100% customizable to match the skill level and interests of the group, allowing units to focus on canoeing miles, hiking, fishing, or a combination of various outdoor disciplines.
• Specialized Outdoor Instruction: Beyond the core treks, the camp offers specialized activities at the base camp, including first-class waterskiing and tubing experiences on the lake, rock climbing and rappelling on a natural 50-foot rock face with multiple routes, and archery programs.
• Adirondack Environment: The reservation’s position on Rollins Pond provides a magnificent starting point for paddling into the vast St. Regis Canoe Area, offering access to nearly 200 ponds and an unparalleled environment for extended canoe travel and portaging.
• Closing Program: The end of the week culminates with the last night spent in base camp, featuring a chance for groups to share their memories in a slideshow presentation and a final closing campfire, cementing the 'Up North' experience.
• Focus on Character Development: The entire high adventure model is designed to foster leadership, teamwork, and resilience in a real-world wilderness setting, creating memories and skills that are highly valued long after leaving the camp.

Contact Information

For organizations and individuals interested in the high-adventure programs at Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation, please use the following contact details:

• Address: Tupper Lake, NY 12986, USA
• Phone: (518) 359-3300
• Mobile Phone: +1 518-359-3300

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation is an exceptional fit for New York State locals, particularly families, schools, and youth organizations seeking a genuine, intensive wilderness experience without having to travel across the country to national bases. For New Yorkers, the Adirondacks are a treasure, and this camp offers one of the most immersive ways to explore it. It represents a significant regional advantage: the opportunity for a world-class high adventure challenge that is geographically accessible, reducing travel time and cost compared to comparable programs in the Western United States or Canada.

This camp offers the deepest level of engagement with New York’s natural environment, allowing participants to truly unplug and develop critical outdoor skills guided by highly trained experts—the Voyagers. It’s an invaluable local resource that transforms the act of camping into a profound educational and physical achievement. For local groups aiming to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and outdoor leaders, Floodwood Mountain provides a demanding, memorable, and safe proving ground, fostering the pride and connection that comes with mastering the majestic wilderness right here in the Empire State.

Floodwood Mountain Scout Reservation - Boy Scout High Adventure Camp

Tupper Lake, NY 12986, USA