Lewis Preserve Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Lewis Preserve Wildlife Management Area is 1,356 acres (DEC) managed by DEC in the town of Altona, Clinton County, in WMU 5C (Northern Zone). DEC lists 2 parking areas with coordinates.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: DEC's page for Lewis Preserve WMA, read 2026-10-18. Boundary: DEC GIS.
DEC landOther state landLewis Preserve WMAWMU lineHighway
| Size | 1,356 acres (DEC) |
|---|---|
| Location (DEC) | Town of Altona, Clinton County |
| WMU | WMU 5C |
| Zone | Northern Zone |
| DEC region | Region 5 |
| Open | Year-round |
| Fee | Free |
| Parking areas (DEC) | 2 |
| Activities DEC lists | Hiking, Hunting, Trapping, Freshwater Fishing and Watchable Wildlife |
| Nearest towns | Altona (4 mi), Dannemora (6 mi) and Cadyville (8 mi) |
Where do you park at Lewis Preserve WMA?
DEC lists 2 parking areas for Lewis Preserve WMA:
| DEC's description | Latitude, longitude |
|---|---|
| Take Alder Bend Road south 2.6 miles to Terrien Road. Turn left onto Terrien Road and take it 0.7 miles to a parking area and yellow gate at its end | 44.83916, -73.71700 |
| Take the Alder Bend Road south 5.4 miles to Jerusalem Road. Turn left onto Jerusalem Road. Three parking areas are located on Jerusalem Road | 44.80830, -73.74067 |
From DEC's page for Lewis Preserve WMA.
What can you hunt on Lewis Preserve WMA, and when?
DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks the area open to hunting. DEC lists these activities for the area: hiking, hunting, trapping, freshwater fishing and watchable wildlife. Hunting on a WMA follows the seasons of the WMU the ground is in. In WMU 5C, the 2026 regular firearms deer season runs October 24 to December 6.
| WMU | WMA acres in it | Deer harvested (whole WMU) | Adult bucks | Bears (whole WMU) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMU 5C | 1,324 | 1,252 (2025) | 1,016 | 46 (2025) |
Harvest: DEC 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; DEC 2025 Bear Harvest Summary. Seasons: DEC, 2026 big game hunting seasons in October.
What DEC says about each activity here
- Hunting. "Grouse, white-tailed deer, and black bear entice hunters to Lewis Preserve."
- Trapping. "beaver, mink, and fisher attract the interest of trappers to Lewis Preserve."
- Freshwater Fishing. "Three major streams flow through the area, providing 2.5 miles of top quality fishing."
- Watchable Wildlife. "Nest boxes for bluebirds have been erected along the edges of open areas."
From DEC's page for Lewis Preserve WMA.
How do you get to Lewis Preserve WMA?
Highways within five miles: NY 190 and NY 374. Nearest towns: Altona (4 miles), Dannemora (6 miles), Cadyville (8 miles) and Lyon Mountain (9 miles). State land nearby, as DEC names it: Chazy Highlands State Forest, Chazy Highlands Wild Forest, Chazy Highlands WMA and Dunkin's Reserve State Forest.
Which other WMAs are near Lewis Preserve?
| WMA | Miles away (straight line) | WMU | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Alice WMA | 12 | 5A | 1,468 |
| Chazy Highlands WMA | 14 | 5C | 1,001 |
| Montys Bay WMA | 15 | 5A | 318 |
| Kings Bay WMA | 20 | 5A | 683 |
| Ausable Marsh WMA | 23 | 5G | 660 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Lewis Preserve WMA?
Yes. DEC's map of hunting on DEC-managed lands marks it open to hunting. Lewis Preserve WMA lies in WMU 5C, and seasons follow the WMU's: in 2026 the regular firearms deer season there runs October 24 to December 6.
Where do you park at Lewis Preserve WMA?
DEC lists 2 parking areas: Take Alder Bend Road south 2.6 miles to Terrien Road. Turn left onto Terrien Road and take it 0.7 miles to a parking area and yellow gate at its end (44.8392, -73.7170) and Take the Alder Bend Road south 5.4 miles to Jerusalem Road. Turn left onto Jerusalem Road. Three parking areas are located on Jerusalem Road (44.8083, -73.7407).
What WMU is Lewis Preserve WMA in?
All of Lewis Preserve WMA is in WMU 5C. DEC estimates 1,252 deer were taken in the whole WMU in 2025.
What is the nearest town to Lewis Preserve WMA?
Altona, about 4 miles away, by the Census map of places. Dannemora is 6 miles away.
How big is Lewis Preserve WMA?
DEC gives 1,356 acres.
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Where these facts come from
- Area facts, habitat, parking and plans: DEC, Lewis Preserve WMA.
- Boundary: DEC Wildlife Management Areas. Public land around it: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
- WMU harvest: DEC 2025 Deer Harvest Summary; DEC 2025 Bear Harvest Summary. Seasons: DEC, 2026-27 early big game hunting seasons in September; DEC, 2026 big game hunting seasons in October.
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