From Montreal. Take Northway I-87 South past Plattsburgh to exit for AuSable Forks. See Essex County Highway Map. Take Route 9N South following the AuSable River through AuSable Forks to the Village of Jay. In Jay continue on Route 9N (about 2 miles) and find Stonehouse Road on your right between two old Stone Houses. [Goto What to do when you get here..]
George says:
Welcome!
(Here's what to do when you get here.)
(1) Stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, about a half-mile up Stonehouse Road, and phone us (518-524-6726, phone on desk inside) or call from your cell phone. That's the way we'll know you've arrived.
(2) Except for guests at Wolf's Nest and Ridge Camp, go directly to your rental.
(CLICK on camp link or SCROLL DOWN for how to get there.)
If you're a guest at Thoreau House, Gypsy Camp, Sugar Camp, New Camp or The Cabin. just drive up directly to your accommodation.
If you're a guest at Wolf's Nest or Ridge Camp please go to Camp Barn and meet us at "The Office."
THOREAU HOUSE. Find Stonehouse Road and Route 9N midway between the hamlets of Jay and Upper Jay in Essex County, NY. Turn in to Stonehouse Road between two old Stone Houses. At about 1/2 mile, stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, and phone us (phone on desk inside or use your cell phone) to let us know you've arrived. Continue up Stonehouse Road for just 200 feet. Thoreau House is the 3rd driveway on your left after the Stone House: 1)Red House, 2)Scotty Trailer, 3)Thoreau House. Turn into the driveway. Park near the Woodshed in back. (CLICK HERE for "What to do next."
GYPSY CAMP. Find Stonehouse Road and Route 9N midway between the hamlets of Jay and Upper Jay in Essex County, NY. Turn in to Stonehouse Road between two old Stone Houses. At about 1/2 mile, stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, and phone us (phone on desk inside or use your cell phone) to let us know you've arrived. Continue up Stonehouse Road about 1/4 mile. Gypsy Camp is the 4rd driveway on your left after the Stone House: 1)Red House, 2)Scotty Trailer, 3)Thoreau House, 4)Gypsy Camp. Turn into open gate. Park near cedar tree and hammock. (CLICK HERE for "What to do next."
SUGAR CAMP. Find Stonehouse Road and Route 9N midway between the hamlets of Jay and Upper Jay in Essex County, NY. Turn in to Stonehouse Road between two old Stone Houses. At about 1/2 mile, stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, and phone us (phone on desk inside or use your cell phone) to let us know you've arrived. Continue up Stonehouse Road about another 1/2 mile. Sugar Camp is the 5th driveway on your left after the Stone House: 1)Red House, 2)Scotty Trailer, 3)Thoreau House, 4)Gypsy Camp, 5)Sugar Camp. Turn into open gate
. Park near old cellar. (If you miss Sugar Camp you'll find a rail fence at the end of Stonehouse Road. Go back one driveway.) (CLICK HERE for "What to do next."
NEW CAMP. Find Stonehouse Road and Route 9N midway between the hamlets of Jay and Upper Jay in Essex County, NY. Turn in to Stonehouse Road between two old Stone Houses. At about 1/2 mile, stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, and phone us (phone on desk inside or use your cell phone) to let us know you've arrived. Continue up Stonehouse Road about another 1/2 mile to the end at a rail fence and turn in to gate on your right. Follow about 400 feet to New Camp on your right. Park in field on your left near privy (outhouse) in the woods. (CLICK HERE for "What to do next."
THE CABIN. Find Stonehouse Road and Route 9N midway between the hamlets of Jay and Upper Jay in Essex County, NY. Turn in to Stonehouse Road between two old Stone Houses. At about 1/2 mile, stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, and phone us (phone on desk inside or use your cell phone) to let us know you've arrived. Continue up Stonehouse Road about another 1/2 mile to the end at a rail fence and turn in to gate on your right. Follow about 300 feet (past New Camp) to edge of field. STOP. DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY VERY SLOWLY, following the road down to the brook (about 150 feet). Just past the Well House, take the right at the fork in the road right up to The Cabin--three buildings--The Shed, The Cabin (itself) and the Screen House. Park by rail fence. (CLICK HERE for "What to do next."
What to do next. Move in your things and make yourself at home. Look at the greeting letter and packet on the table. Don't drink the water. And please don't use the gas lights or cooking range or make a wood fire unless you feel confident and remember all the Safety First! information. Not sure? Come and get help soon as you can--at the Camp Barn Office.
If you're a guest at Wolf's Nest or Ridge Camp please check in at CAMP BARN (THE OFFICE).Find Stonehouse Road and Route 9N midway between the hamlets of Jay and Upper Jay in Essex County, NY. Turn in to Stonehouse Road between two old Stone Houses. At about 1/2 mile, stop at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, and phone us (phone on desk inside or use your cell phone) to let us know you've arrived. Continue up Stonehouse Road about another 1/2 mile to the end at a rail fence and turn in to gate on your right. Follow about 300 feet (past New Camp) to edge of field.
STOP. DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY VERY SLOWLY, following the road down to the brook (about 150 feet). Just past the Well House, take the left at the fork in the road up to Camp Barn (150 feet), a large barn structure with equipment and sheds. Meet me at The Office. Thanks.
WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT TIME TO EXPECT YOU.
Just like you, we're not home every day all day. We need to know about what time you expect to arrive, so we'll be available to greet you in a timely way.
Let us know when making your reservation. Not sure? Make an estimate. The exact time is not important. But whether it's early afternoon or late, or some other time that we arrange with you, we need to know when to be around.
Arrivals are OK any time after 1PM until an hour before sunset.
After 1PM. We'll agree to an earlier arrival time, if at all possible.
An hour before sunset.
Except for returning guests, late arrivals are a problem. Arriving after dark at an unfamiliar off-the-road camp--without electric lighting or central heat--can be unpleasant and is certainly unsafe. Guests arriving after dark for any reason should contact us by phone, and go to the Camp Barn Office on arrival. While we will do our very best to accommodate them, guests staying at Ridge or Wolf should be prepared to take alternate housing arrangements for the first night of their stay.
[CLICK HERE for complete local sun and moon information, including time for sunset.]
Phone us when you arrive. Use phone at Scotty, our phone-booth-in-a-trailer, or your cell phone. Thanks. (CLICK HERE for more about what to do when you arrive.)
Fourpeaks Maps: HIGHWAYS, ROADS & TRAILS
1. Where in the world is Fourpeaks?. (In the upper right hand corner of the USA.)
2. Essex County Highway Map Shows all the roads you'll need to get to Fourpeaks. [CLICK HERE for important Driving Directions.]
3. Fourpeaks Trail Map. Hiking/walking trails and beauty spots on 700 acres. Location map for backcountry camps. [CLICK HERE for complete Trail Notes to accompany map.]
4. Fourpeaks Tree Map. Trail Map with Locator Symbols for our Sugar Maples, Popple (Quaking Aspen), Eastern Pine, White Cedar, Black Spruce, Beech and Hemlock. [CLICK HERE for the complete Guide Visit Our Trees! to accompany map.]
5. Fourpeaks Topographic Maps. Shows Fourpeaks "Hidden Valley" surrounded by our four 2,000-ft. peaks. 34x42 map for sale plus link to MapQuest On-Line version.
6. Map of Stonehouse Road. Take a walk back into history on our pretty one-lane dirt road.
7. Map of Jay NY AuSable River Beauty Spots with 1/4 mile river walk, shoals and islands, swimming holes and the old Covered Bridge.
About Stonehouse Road
Stonehouse Road is a 7/10-mile long one lane dirt road that goes uphill to Fourpeaks. Prettiest country road in the state? It wasn't built for today's highway driving! Observe the 10mph posted speed limit and stay to the center of the road. Meet another vehicle on the way? Read about Stonehouse Road and learn the "Rules of the Road." See the Stonehouse Road Map..
Getting to Fourpeaks: 3 mistakes to avoid.
Guests make the wrong turn off Route 73. They end up in Elizabethtown over an hour late. CLICK HERE to prevent this mistake.
Guests can't figure out that we're not running a 24-hour reception desk. They don't tell us their estimated arrival time. We have no clue when to expect them. CLICK HERE to prevent this mistake.
Guests are stumped once they get here. No Fourpeaks signs to guide them. Maybe they drive around asking where Fourpeaks is. (No luck. The locals haven't a clue.) CLICK HERE to prevent this mistake.
George says:
"For a happy beginning to your Fourpeaks vacation/getaway--Please DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES." Thanks.
"Very unhappy with the degree of hospitality we received." (An Email Exchange.)
Subject: REMOVE
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 17:30:18 EDT
From: "KC"@aol.com
To: YourAdirondackGuide@4peaks.com
Subject: our stay
Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2000 17:54:40 EDT
From: "KC"@aol.com
To: YourAdirondackGuide@4peaks.com
Dear Martin,
My husband, David, and I just finished a week long stay at the The Cabin.
Not usually one to criticize, I feel there is something I need to pass on.
David and I were very unhappy with the degree of hospitality we recieved. I
am not speaking of the accomadations. In fact, we found The Cabin to be
quite nice and we enjoyed the area and the isolation.
The problem- we felt like an inconvenience. We did not expect to be treated
as though we were at the Hilton, but we did expect some degree of common
respect. We were treated as tourists who probably were not prepared for the
primitive setting that we chose. This was not the case. I am sure that you
have had guests that were unhappy in this respect, but It would be wise not
to treat eveyone with the same degree of skepticism that we were confronted
with during our stay.
Did we love the area and Our cabin, Yes we did. Will we be returning-
absolutely not. If you wish to encourage return visitors, I would recommend
that you treat your guests more fairly, not just as an inconvenience to be
gotten rid of by returning part of thier fee and sending them to a hotel.
Kim C.
Subject: Re: our stay
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 13:44:54 -0400
From: MartinAndLouise
Reply-To: VisitUs@4peaks.com
Organization: Fourpeaks--Adirondack Backcountry Camps
To: "KC"@aol.com
To: Kim and Dave C.
At: [email address deleted]
Dear Kim,
I'm sorry to get your note. We must have made a bad first impression.
Fourpeaks vacation places are fun and private, but the amenities are
anything but standard, especially at the camps, and we have to
personally show each accommodation to be sure guests are comfortable--
and safe. Since the places are spread out over 2-1/2 miles on two
separate parcels, this takes time and planning. We explain how we
manage this in our Safety First! and Fourpeaks Rental Terms at http://4peaks.com/foshort.htm
Five guests were expected on the day you arrived and Louise and
I had a busy afternoon ahead of us.
You had arranged your arrival for between 1PM and 2PM, but you
arrived well after 4PM without phoning ahead. I was on my way
out the door to jeep some folks up to the Ridge and had time only
just to show you to the The Cabin and ask you to let yourselves in.
Louise came by later to show you the gas lighting, water, fireplace
and kitchen.
I am truly sorry you thought I was inhospitable when I just didn't
have time to greet you properly. I wish you had spoken to me about
this sooner, as I'm sure that we could have gotten over the initial
unpleasantness. Vacations are or should be a time for general good
feelings and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay at The Cabin anyway.
Please accept our apologies. Consider another visit. We'll
extend a 50% discount and go way out of our way to make you
feel comfortable and at home.
Sincerely yours,
Martin Schwalbaum
Member Whiteface Mountain Visitors Bureau
Member North Country Chamber of Commerce 518-563-1000
CLICK HERE for more Fourpeaks Email Exchanges. Verbatim email exchanges with guests and prospective guests. Many of them informative. All of them good clean fun, even those about very serious subjects. Great if you like to read other people's mail.
Safety First! & Guest Information. The buildings at Fourpeaks are spread out on a 700-acre property, 2-1/2 miles end to end. To maintain an orderly, 
clean and safe place to live, the good will and cooperation of our guests are essential. Prospective visitors must familiarize themselves with propane (gas) safety, fireplace/woodstove safety, water safety, housekeeping responsibilities, arrival arrangements, and other matters that will affect their personal safety and comfort at Fourpeaks. If you're considering a Fourpeaks vacation rental, CLICK HERE for our Safety First! & Guest Information pages.
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Are you in this picture?
Fourpeaks hosts now welcome paying guests to a 700-acre rest and playground for vacations in the Adirondack Great Camp tradition. Couples appreciate Fourpeaks secluded settings. Adventure families have fun exploring our accessible wilderness. Folks with dogs enjoy the open spaces to run their pets. A private nature retreat, a place for restoring personal energies. Are you in this picture? CLICK HERE to find out! [More about this at Frequently Asked Questions.]
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Your comments or suggestions will be equally appreciated.
[CLICK HERE for easy email form for your feedback/suggestions.] Thanks.
