WELLS — Hidden treasures of the Southern Adirondacks will be introduced to a new generation of hikers, bikers, fly fishers and paddlers who love to experience wilderness, now that plans are gathering speed to offer them a new overnight option near spectacular Griffin Gorge.

Adirondack Hamlets to Huts closed this week on the donation of 18 acres from the Adirondack Land Trust, and is fundraising for a building to provide recreational lodging and educational programs in place of a tumbledown hotel along state Route 8 in Wells, across from the gorge.

The non-profit’s goals include establishing a hut-to-hut route between the village of Speculator 12 miles to the northwest and the hamlet of Wells, seven miles to the southwest in Southern Hamilton County.

“We’re aiming to fill a lodging gap along a hiking and biking route connecting Speculator and Wells,” said Joe Dadey, Executive Director of Adirondack Hamlets to Huts. “This site will also serve as a base camp to enjoy awesome gravel biking, rock climbing, lake and stream fishing, and boating. Nature lovers will be able to access deep forests and waterfalls and enjoy the quiet beauty of this area. Come winter, there’s good snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on nearby trails.”

This innovative opportunity results from a collaboration with the Adirondack Land Trust and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which acquired a combined total of 78 acres from the estate and heirs of Fernando Sisto.

“We want more people to experience all that this beautiful part of the Adirondack Park has to offer, and by doing so, bring more business to the surrounding communities,” Dadey said.

In addition to supporting outdoor recreation, the project will foster stewardship of conservation lands, interpret local history, and promote personal wellness.

Besides the 18 acres donated to Adirondack Hamlets to Huts, the other 60 acres are being added to the Adirondack Forest Preserve bordering the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, and protecting 1.1 miles of scenic shoreline along the East Branch of the Sacandaga River. That stretch features a series of cascading falls through the pinch in the river known as the Griffin Gorge.

The transaction includes an easement that allows the NYSDEC to one day build a new trailhead with parking across the road from the Gorge and adjacent to the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, connecting to a trail that leads south toward Wells through the Pine Orchard, a well-known stand of old growth white pine and hemlocks.

Those interested in helping or donating to the lodging and educational facility can contact Dadey via the Hamlets to Huts office in Saranac Lake at joe@adkh2h.org or 518-354-5109.