Every named lake, pond, river, and stream worth fishing in the Adirondack Park — with the species you'll find, the access you can count on, and the regions they sit in.
Lake Champlain forms the entire eastern boundary of the Adirondack Park — 120 miles of shoreline from Whitehall north to the Canadian border, with the bulk of the named bays, boat launches, and state campgrounds concentrated in the broader basin north of Ticonderoga. The lake holds every species you'd expect in a massive, deep, cold-water system: landlocked salmon, lake trout, bass, pike, walleye, and a seasonal run of steelhead in the Boquet and Saranac tributaries. Most Adirondack access is via the string of DEC launch sites and campgrounds along NY-9N and NY-22 — Crown Point, Westport, Willsboro Bay, and Point au Roche among them. On a clear day from the High Peaks, Champlain is the blue line on the eastern horizon; from the lake itself, the peaks are a fifty-mile wall of granite running south from Whiteface.
Lake George spans 28,000 acres and drops to 196 feet — the largest lake entirely within the Adirondack Park and home to its strongest lake trout fishery. Multiple public launches and marinas line the 32-mile shoreline; smallmouth bass, salmon, and northern pike also present.
Great Sacandaga Lake spans 26,730 acres across forty-two miles — the largest lake in the southeastern Adirondacks and the Park's strongest walleye fishery. Depths reach seventy-five feet; multiple launches ring the shore, and the mix of walleye, bass, pike, and perch suits both beginners and anglers willing to learn its contours.
Cranberry Lake covers 6,975 acres in the northwestern Adirondacks with depths to 47 feet and mostly undeveloped shoreline. Lake trout in the main body, smallmouth bass on the structure, brook trout in the inlet streams.
Tupper Lake spans 6,240 acres with depths to 60 feet and walleye that hit hardest at dawn and dusk. Northern pike, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch fill the rest of the day — public launch access makes it a straightforward first Adirondack fishing trip.
Seven connected lakes in the heart of the former Finch, Pruyn paper-company lands — acquired by New York State in 2014 and opened to public recreation in 2016. Roughly 5,800 acres of new Forest Preserve wilderness. Paddle the chain — Pine, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Goodnow Pond — over a multi-day backcountry trip with primitive sites along the way. Lightly fished, lightly trafficked, with carries between most lakes. The freshest wilderness in the Park.
Tupper Lake is the literal and figurative center of the town that shares its name — a 5,447-acre working lake with marinas, public launches, and a mix of motorboat traffic and paddlers threading through the channels between Big Island and the northern coves. The lake opens north into Raquette Pond and south toward the Bog River Flow, making it a through-route for multi-day canoe trips and a launching point for anglers working the weed beds and drop-offs. The village shoreline is fully developed (lodges, town beach, boat access), but the upper bays and the eastern arm still feel remote once you clear the docks. Launch from the municipal ramp on Demars Boulevard or the DEC site on NY-30 south of town.
Raquette Lake covers 5,274 acres with depths to 96 feet — one of the largest lakes in the park, ringed by Great Camp-era boathouses. Lake trout hold in deep basins, smallmouth bass work rocky points, and northern pike patrol weedy bays; public access but open water demands respect in wind.
Upper Saranac Lake covers 5,088 acres and reaches 90 feet deep — the largest in the Saranac chain. Multiple public launches serve paddlers and anglers targeting lake trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and salmon across its considerable expanse.
Indian Lake is a 4,365-acre reservoir that reaches 64 feet deep and holds lake trout, walleye, and smallmouth bass in cold water. Public access is available, and the lake draws less pressure than nearby destinations — intermediate anglers willing to read structure will find room to work.
Schroon Lake covers 4,233 acres in the eastern Adirondacks and drops to 152 feet — deep enough for lake trout and landlocked salmon alongside smallmouth bass. Multiple public launches and calmer traffic than Lake George make it a practical choice for families and anglers seeking clear water without the crowds.
Schroon Lake runs nine miles north-south along US-9 between Pottersville and the village of Schroon Lake — 4,200 acres of open water with a long history as a resort destination and one of the few large lakes in the Park with consistent highway access along its entire western shore. The lake supports a year-round population and a summer tourism economy: marinas, public beaches, boat launches at multiple points, and enough open water to keep the motorboat traffic dispersed. Unlike the remote ponds tucked into the High Peaks, Schroon Lake is a working lake — fishing tournaments, water skiing, public access ramps that fill on holiday weekends. For stillwater paddling without a shuttle, the Schroon River inlet at the south end offers a quieter option.
Long Lake runs fourteen miles through the central Adirondacks — 4,077 acres with depths to 60 feet. Smallmouth bass throughout, lake trout in the deeper pockets, and northern pike; a long paddle rewards those who work past the southern access.
Saratoga Lake — 3,880 acres straddling the Saratoga County line — is one of the largest lakes in the southern Adirondack region and pulls a mix of motorboat traffic, summer cottages, and public access from multiple launch points along the shore. The lake sits just outside Saratoga Springs proper, which means it's more suburban-recreational than backcountry: expect development on the east and west shores, marinas, and weekend ski boats. Historically a warmwater fishery, though specific species data for the lake isn't centrally cataloged. Multiple state-managed access sites ring the perimeter, so getting a boat in the water is straightforward — just don't expect solitude in July.
Cranberry Lake is the third-largest lake in the Adirondack Park — 3,528 acres of open water, fifty miles of shoreline, and a scattering of islands that make it feel more like northern Ontario than the central Adirondacks. The lake sits in the northwestern corner of the park, anchored by the village of Cranberry Lake on the southeast shore and ringed by state land on three sides — accessible by road, but remote enough that motorboats and paddlers spread out and disappear into the bays. The DEC maintains primitive campsites on several islands and along the shoreline; this is a paddling destination, not a roadside stop. Water levels fluctuate with dam releases, and the lake drains north into the Oswegatchie River system.
Raquette Lake — the largest natural water in the Adirondack Park — sprawls across 3,179 acres and defines the geography of the central Adirondacks, a hub from which the Raquette River drains north and the Fulton Chain system drains southwest. The lake unfolds in a jagged, multi-armed shape: South Inlet, North Bay, Sucker Brook Bay, and a handful of others break the shoreline into coves and narrows that give the water its character. Historically a steamboat crossroads and the heart of Great Camp country, Raquette Lake still carries that legacy in its boating culture — this is a motor lake, busy in summer, with marinas, lodges, and a year-round hamlet on the north shore. No fish data on file, but locals run walleye, smallmouth, and northern pike lines; launch at the state ramp off NY-28.
Lower Saranac Lake spans 2,214 acres with a maximum depth of 67 feet — the most accessible link in the Saranac chain. Smallmouth bass dominate the fishery, with northern pike, walleye, and yellow perch holding in numbers that support year-round angling.
Lake Placid covers 2,173 acres and drops to 150 feet — deep enough to hold lake trout in summer and salmon year-round, with smallmouth bass along the rock edges. Public launch at hand; the Brewster Park pier puts shore anglers over fishable depth.
Fourth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain at 2,125 acres and 81 feet deep, with public access from multiple marinas along its developed shoreline. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch draw family anglers; motorboats welcome.
Sacandaga Lake covers 1,605 acres near Speculator — smaller and quieter than Great Sacandaga Lake to the south. Smallmouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch; public access and calm water suit families learning to fish or paddle without remote logistics.
Brant Lake spans 1,525 acres in the eastern Adirondacks with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Smallmouth bass fishing draws repeat anglers; lake trout and yellow perch fill out the catch, and public access keeps it open to beginners.
Lows Lake is a 1,500-acre wilderness lake reached only by paddle — most visitors launch at Bog River and portage several miles through Five Ponds Wilderness. Brook trout hold in the tributaries, pike and smallmouth in the main basin; loon nesting closures apply seasonally, and the trip demands overnight gear and backcountry skill.
Lake Pleasant is a 1,559-acre lake in the Speculator region that produced New York's state-record lake trout and still holds trophy lakers along with smallmouth bass and yellow perch. At 68 feet deep, it spreads fishing pressure across enough water to avoid the crowds common on smaller Adirondack lakes.
Lake Lila is a 1,409-acre wilderness lake closed to motorboats — paddle access only via a half-mile carry from the gate. Brook and lake trout in undisturbed water; primitive camping along the shoreline by NYSDEC permit.
Middle Saranac Lake covers 1,376 acres and reaches 53 feet deep — the middle link in the three-lake Saranac chain. A public launch and calmer water than Upper Saranac make it a practical start for families; smallmouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch under standard NYSDEC limits.
Big Moose Lake covers 1,268 acres in the Old Forge region and reaches 70 feet deep — cold water that holds lake trout, smallmouth bass, and brook trout. It's quieter than the Fulton Chain, with public access and shoreline lodging for anglers who fish intermediate conditions.
Lake Clear spans 1,010 acres in the Saranac Lake region and reaches 99 feet at its deepest — cold water that holds lake trout, brook trout, and yellow perch. Public access; the fishery rewards patience and the clarity lives up to the name.
Long Lake — the town, the lake, the Route 30 corridor — is one of the longest bodies of water in the Adirondacks, stretching fourteen miles from the inlet at the north end down to the hamlet at the south. The lake defines the geography here: the town offices, marinas, and lodges all face the water, and NY-30 shadows the eastern shore for most of its length. It's a boat lake — deep enough for serious fishing, wide enough that afternoon winds can turn crossing the main body into a decision, and remote enough that the upper sections feel like backcountry even from a kayak. The hamlet itself sits at the southern outlet, where the Raquette River begins its long run north toward Tupper Lake and eventually the St. Lawrence.
Round Lake stretches across 744 acres just south of the hamlet of Long Lake — one of the largest bodies of water in this part of the central Adirondacks that still reads as backcountry rather than resort corridor. The lake sits in mixed hardwood and conifer forest, accessible from the Long Lake shoreline to the north, and historically tied to the logging and guiding economy that built the town in the late 1800s. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either limited stocking history or spotty angler reporting — local bait shops are the better source. It's the kind of water that gets traffic from paddlers staging out of Long Lake but rarely makes the must-do lists, which means midweek solitude even in July.
Round Lake spans 670 acres just off Tupper Lake — connected water, calmer conditions. Smallmouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch; public access suits paddle-fishing without the boat traffic of the main lake.
Cossayuna Lake — 665 acres straddling the Washington County line south of Lake George — is a warm-water fishery and summer cottage lake that sits just outside the Blue Line, technically in the broader Lake George watershed but operationally its own world. The lake has a state boat launch on the northeast shore (Cossayuna Lake Road, cartop and trailer access) and draws a local crowd for bass, panfish, and early-season pike, though no formal stocking or survey data is on file with DEC. It's quiet-ish for a developed lake — more rural Route 40 than Route 9N — and the water stays warm enough through Labor Day that it functions as a late-season swim alternative when the bigger Adirondack lakes have already turned cold. If you're camping at Glen Hudson or Huletts and want flatwater paddling without the tour-boat traffic, Cossayuna works.
Galway Lake spreads across 512 acres in the southern Adirondacks near the Great Sacandaga Lake basin — a mid-sized water with residential development along much of its shoreline and public access via a DEC launch on the eastern shore. The lake sits in a transitional zone where the park's quieter character begins to blend with suburban lakefront culture; you'll find motorboats and seasonal camps rather than lean-tos and hand-carry launches. No fisheries data on file with DEC, which typically means the lake sees pressure but limited management — likely warmwater species (bass, perch, panfish) holding in the coves and around downed timber. For backcountry paddlers heading north from Saratoga County, this is where the Adirondacks *begin*, not where they deepen.
First Lake anchors the eastern end of the Fulton Chain at 482 acres, with a public launch near Old Forge village. Smallmouth and largemouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch — manageable size and easy access make it a reliable start for families new to Adirondack paddling and fishing.
Stewarts Bridge Reservoir sits below the Great Sacandaga dam — 200 acres of smallmouth bass, walleye, and northern pike water that sees a fraction of the traffic on the main lake. Public access; anglers who study the structure find steady fishing without the crowds.
Limekiln Lake covers 460 acres and runs to 70 feet deep—cold water that holds lake trout, brook trout, and landlocked salmon. A state campground and launch on the shore; quieter than the Fulton Chain but still minutes from Old Forge.
Kayuta Lake sprawls across 459 acres just west of Old Forge — big enough to feel like open water but tucked into the working landscape of the western Adirondacks rather than the High Peaks granite. The lake sees a mix of seasonal camps, local boat traffic, and the kind of quiet midweek fishing that doesn't make it onto social media. No public access data on file, which in this part of the Park usually means private shoreline or town launch worth asking about at the Old Forge visitor center. Species records are thin, but waters this size in the Old Forge chain typically hold bass, pike, and panfish.
Pharaoh Lake is a 444-acre wilderness lake that reaches 70 feet deep, accessible only by trail in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. Lake trout and smallmouth bass hold in water few anglers reach — the hike keeps pressure light and the fish less wary.
Canada Lake anchors the southern edge of the Great Sacandaga region — 390 acres of quieter, residential water that sits apart from the reservoir's draw-down cycles and summer weekend traffic. The shoreline mixes private camps with public access points, and the lake itself holds a mid-depth profile that historically supported warm-water species, though current fish population data isn't on record. It's the kind of place that operates on a different tempo than the High Peaks corridor — less about trailhead logistics, more about launching a canoe mid-morning and drifting the perimeter. For lodging and supplies, the small hamlet of Canada Lake (same name) sits on the eastern shore.
A 390-acre lake at the northern end of the historic St. Regis chain. Famous for the Gilded Age "Great Camps" along its shores — including Topridge, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post estate. Connected to Spitfire Lake by short carry.
Cedar Lakes is a 380-acre chain of three connected backcountry lakes in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness, accessed only by trail. Lean-tos dot the shoreline and the Northville-Placid Trail corridor — a remote base for multi-day paddling or through-hiking.
Lake Kushaqua covers 375 acres north of Loon Lake, with a public launch on Route 3. Lake trout and smallmouth bass hold in relatively undeveloped water — most of the shoreline remains wooded, bordered by private camps and the old Stony Wold sanatorium property.
Trout Lake sits northeast of the village of Tupper Lake — a 371-acre water in the middle ground between the hamlet's developed shoreline lakes and the deeper backcountry to the south. The name suggests brook trout history, but no recent species data is on file; if you're fishing it, assume baseline warmwater species (bass, perch, pike) until you know otherwise. Access details aren't widely documented, which usually means either private shoreline or a local-knowledge put-in — worth a stop at a Tupper Lake outfitter or the town office if you're planning a paddle. The lake sits in working forest, not wilderness, so expect a quieter but less scenic experience than the St. Regis Canoe Area ten miles west.
West Caroga Lake is the larger of the two Caroga lakes — together they form a 500-acre chain in southern Fulton County, east of the Great Sacandaga and well outside the Blue Line. The west lake holds most of the development: year-round homes, seasonal camps, a state boat launch on the south shore off NY-29A. It's a warmwater fishery — bass, panfish, pickerel — and a local weekend destination rather than a backcountry asset. The lake drains east into East Caroga Lake, which drains into the Sacandaga watershed; both lakes sit in farm-and-forest transition country, closer in character to the southern Adirondack fringe than to the interior lakes most users associate with the Park.
Glen Lake occupies 319 acres in the Lake George region — a mid-sized water that sits outside the main tourist corridor but still carries the residential and recreational profile typical of southern Adirondack lakes with road access. The lake has no fish species data on record in the DEC's public stocking and survey reports, which usually indicates either a private fishery, minimal angling pressure, or both. Without nearby peaks or public trailheads in the curated directory, this is a lake defined more by shoreline property and boat access than by backcountry utility. If you're launching here, assume local knowledge and confirm access points in advance.
Brantingham Lake sits at 311 acres in the western foothills near Old Forge — a private community lake ringed by seasonal camps and year-round homes, with no public launch or DEC access. The water is deep enough for motorboats and clear enough that locals talk about it in the same breath as the bigger Tug Hill lakes to the west, but unless you know someone with a dock key, you're looking at it from NY-294. The Lake Association maintains the shoreline and enforces a strict no-trespassing perimeter; this is one of those Adirondack Park waters that exists on the map but lives behind camp gates. If you're after public water in the area, head east toward the Fulton Chain or north to Stillwater Reservoir.
Lower Lake sprawls across 295 acres just northwest of the hamlet of Tupper Lake — close enough to town that it feels like a working waterfront rather than wilderness, but large enough to shake the pressure on a Tuesday morning in July. The shoreline is a mix of seasonal camps, year-round homes, and a few undeveloped stretches of mixed hardwood and softwood, with most lake access coming from private property or local knowledge. No formal DEC launch or mapped public shore, but the lake connects hydrologically to the broader Raquette River drainage and shares the same glacial basin geology as the rest of the Tupper Lake chain. Fish species records are thin — likely a warm-water mix of bass, pickerel, and panfish, but you'd want to check with a local tackle shop before you rig.
Pleasant Lake occupies 259 acres in the Great Sacandaga basin — a mid-sized warmwater lake in a region defined more by reservoir shoreline and private development than by High Peaks wilderness. No public fish stocking records on file, which often signals a mix of private ownership and limited DEC access, though warmwater species (bass, perch, pickerel) typically establish themselves in lakes of this size and depth profile. The name appears on USGS quads but not in the standard DEC trailhead or campsite directories — a tell that access here is likely private or via seasonal camp roads rather than marked public trails. If you're researching a stay, start with local marinas or the town of Lake Pleasant for current access and launch details.
Spectacle Lake sits in the southern Adirondacks near the Great Sacandaga basin — a 211-acre water that holds its quiet in a region better known for the reservoir's sprawl and summer cottage density. The lake doesn't appear in DEC fish stocking records, which typically means it's either a private holdout or a warmwater fishery managed by natural reproduction rather than hatchery trucks. No trailhead infrastructure or lean-to sites show up in the state system, so access is likely via local roads or private easement — worth a call to the nearest town clerk or DEC office before you load the canoe. In this corner of the Park, what looks like public water on a map isn't always open water on the ground.
Lake Flower is a 175-acre impoundment in the center of Saranac Lake village with a public boat launch at the beach. The lake hosts in-village paddling, winter ice-fishing, and serves as the site for the Winter Carnival ice palace.
Lake Lonely sits just north of the Great Sacandaga Lake reservoir system in southern Saratoga County — a 145-acre residential lake with private shoreline development and no public boat launch or swimming access. The name dates to the 19th century, likely a reference to its position set back from the main travel corridors between Northville and Edinburg, though the lake itself is anything but remote today. Most of the perimeter is ringed by seasonal camps and year-round homes; paddlers occasionally launch from private access with permission, but this is not a public recreation destination. If you're looking for water access in the Great Sacandaga region, the main reservoir itself offers multiple DEC launches and several thousand acres of open paddling.
Mayfield Lake sits in the southern Adirondack foothills near the western arm of Great Sacandaga Lake — a 141-acre impoundment that reads more like a wide spot in a tributary system than a standalone destination. The shoreline is largely private, with residential development defining most of the perimeter, though local access exists for small craft and shoreline fishing. No fish stocking records or species surveys on file with DEC, which typically signals a warmwater fishery left to its own devices — likely panfish, bass, and whatever migrates up from the Sacandaga drainage. Best treated as a local paddle or a quiet morning with a canoe if you're already in the area.
Hunt Lake sits in the Great Sacandaga basin — 135 acres with no formal access documentation and no fish species on DEC record, which usually means private shoreline or restricted entry. Waters in this region tend to be warm-water fisheries (bass, panfish, occasional pickerel) but without public confirmation, it's a name-on-the-map lake rather than a reliably accessible one. If you're researching Hunt Lake for a paddle or a fish, call the DEC Region 5 office in Ray Brook or check the most recent Sacandaga Lake Association records — lakefront ownership and right-of-way in this basin change quietly and often. No nearby peaks, no marked trailheads — this one lives off the public radar.
Nine Corner Lake sits in the southern Adirondacks near the Great Sacandaga Lake reservoir — a 126-acre body of water whose name suggests the irregular shoreline that defines it. The lake is residential and accessible by road, part of the network of mid-sized waters in this lower-elevation zone where the Adirondacks transition into foothills and private land. No fish species on record in the state database, though warmwater species typical of the Sacandaga drainage (bass, pickerel, panfish) are the safe assumption. For backcountry fishing or peak-bagging, look north — this is lake country for shoreline property and motorboats.
Mirror Lake lies in the center of Lake Placid village—122 acres and 60 feet deep, steps from Main Street. Motor-free water stocked with rainbow and brown trout; easy launch access makes it a practical first paddle or a quick cast between errands.
Lewey Lake stretches across 116 acres in the southwestern Adirondacks off NY-30 between Speculator and Indian Lake — part of the Cedar River Flow drainage and one of the quieter options in a corridor better known for Lake Pleasant and the Cedar River Road backcountry. The DEC-run Lewey Lake Campground anchors the eastern shore with 200+ sites, boat launch, and beach access — a family basecamp for exploring the flatwater chain that connects south to Indian Lake via the Cedar River. The lake itself fishes but lacks the aggressive stocking programs of nearby waters; most anglers here are canoe-camping through or chasing bass in the weed beds along the northern coves. Motorboats are common but the 10 mph limit keeps it manageable for paddlers working toward the Cedar River or Miami River tributaries.
Miner Lake is a 115-acre water in the Lake Placid region — sizable enough to be worth knowing about, but without the public access infrastructure or fishery data that would put it on most paddlers' or anglers' short lists. The lake sits in private or limited-access territory, which explains the absence of trail mileage, launch sites, or stocking records in the usual channels. If you're looking at Miner Lake on a map and wondering how to get there, the answer is probably a conversation with a local landowner or a closer look at current easement maps. For a similar-sized paddle with clear public access, Lake Placid itself is ten minutes away with multiple launches and full amenities.
Hedges Lake is a 112-acre water in the southeastern Adirondacks, set in the lower-elevation terrain between Lake George and the Vermont line — quieter country than the big lake corridors to the west. The shoreline is largely private, which keeps it off the casual paddler's radar, and there's no public launch or DEC campsite to anchor a visit. No fish species data on file with the state, which usually means limited stocking history and light angling pressure, if any. If you're poking around this corner of Warren County, Hedges is a name on the map — not a destination, but part of the patchwork of small lakes that define the region's working landscape.
Chase Lake holds 109 acres in the Old Forge township — part of the working forest south of the main tourist corridor, where access patterns follow private logging roads and historical camp leases rather than marked DEC trails. The lake sits in mixed hardwood and conifer cover typical of the southwestern Adirondacks, where loons nest in May and the shoreline stays quiet outside of deer season. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all — worth a reconnaissance trip with a canoe and a fly rod. Old Forge proper is fifteen minutes north for resupply and the Fulton Chain launch sites.
Echo Lake sits in the Old Forge township — a 105-acre water in a region dense with named ponds and lakes, where the exact Echo Lake you're looking for often depends on which side of the Moose River you started from. No fish species data on record, which typically means either private ownership with no stocking history or a pond that doesn't hold trout through the summer. The Old Forge area is more motorboat and resort-lake territory than backcountry, so if this is the Echo Lake off one of the local road networks, expect development on at least part of the shoreline. Confirm access and ownership before you load the canoe.
Efner Lake sits in the southern Adirondacks near the Great Sacandaga Lake basin — 100 acres that hold water quietly enough to stay off most recreation radar. No fish stocking records and no formal access trails in the DEC system, which typically means either private shoreline or a local-knowledge put-in that doesn't show up on the official maps. The lake belongs to that category of Adirondack water that exists more as a named blue shape than as a paddling or fishing destination — worth knowing if you're connecting dots on the USGS quad, but not a place you'll find a trailhead sign pointing toward.
