We identified structural attributes of old-growth hardwood-conifer riparian forests in the Adirondack Mountains of New York that influenced in-stream wood recruitment and dynamics along 1^st and 2^nd order streams.  Sites were classified as mature forest (6 sites), mature with remnant old-growth trees (3 sites), and old-growth (10 sites).  Forest structure was characterized over stream channels and at varying distances from each stream bank.  Large logs, debris dams and pools were surveyed; a line-intercept method was used to measure wood volume in streams and on the riparian forest floor.  In-stream wood volumes were significantly greater at old-growth sites (200 m³/ha) compared to mature sites (34 m³/ha) and were strongly influenced by the basal area of adjacent forests.  In-stream large-log densities correlated strongly with debris-dam densities.  AIC models that included large-log density, debris-dam density, boulder density, and bankfull width provided the most support for predicting pool density.  A greater proportion of wood-formed pools was found at old-growth sites by comparison with mature sites that were dominated by boulder-formed pools.  Old-growth riparian forests provide in-stream habitat features that have not been widely recognized in eastern North America, representing another potential benefit of riparian forest management upon in-stream processes.