Barto Lake.
Barto Lake is an 18-acre pond in the Speculator region — small enough to hold local knowledge close and large enough to paddle without turning tight circles. No fish data on file, which usually means either unstocked brookies that come and go with winter severity, or simply a pond that doesn't fish well enough to generate reports. The lake sits in the working forest landscape west of Speculator proper, where access typically means either private permission or older logging roads that may or may not still be passable. Worth a call to the Speculator town office or local DEC ranger if you're planning a trip.
Barto Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Morehouse Mountain and Dexter Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
- Peak foliage from the water — the best seats in the Park are in a canoe this month.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
1 parking area
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data and NYSDEC records; surface and capacity from NYSDEC and OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
- 01G Lake Trail ParkingTrailhead3.8 miunpavedDirections →
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
The trails.
Read before you launch.
Make a weekend of it.
Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
4- Oxbow Inn10.8 mi
Oxbow Inn is a welcoming restaurant and bar in Lake Pleasant offering great pizza, local beef burgers, and a wide selection of 16 draft beers. Enjoy casual dining, live music, and an outdoor deck with fire pits and lake views.
- Firetower Pizza18.5 mi
Hand-tossed pizzeria in Speculator with specialty pies named after Adirondack peaks (Mt Marcy, Snowy Mountain, Whiteface). Wings, baked ziti, white clam pie. Cozy waiting area with retro jukebox and arcade.
- Charlie Johns Store18.6 mi
Opened in 1939, Charlie Johns Store is Speculator's anchor general store — 12,000 square feet of full grocery selection, produce, fresh meats, a full deli, bakery, and hardware. Purchased from Charlie Johns in 1971 by Dean Lane, the Lane family has owned and operated it since.
- Alpine Grille21.7 mi
A long-running roadside steak-and-seafood house on the Sacandaga, between Northville and Wells. Generous portions, a lively bar, and the kind of dining room where the staff knows the regulars by name. Reservations recommended on weekends.
Sip.
2- The PERKS of Speculator18.6 mi
Speculator coffee shop and bakery at 2855 NY-30. Specialty coffee, espresso, fresh-baked bagels and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Gluten-free options across the bakery case.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee20.7 mi
Uncle Carl's Coffee serves expertly crafted coffees, artisan teas, pastries, and light savory bites. They also offer daily quiche and bagels, along with homemade soups, frozen meals, local meats, and cheeses.
— 18.6 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
1— 18.3 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse18.3 mi
Caroga Lake restaurant at 1810 NY-10 doing hand-cut, in-house steaks, fresh seafood, and a tight made-to-order menu. 19 craft beers on tap, NY Finger Lakes wines. Open Thursday through Sunday; Sunday 11–5.
- Lemon Tree Brewery18.6 mi
Lemon Tree Brewery is a brewery and taproom located in Speculator, NY, steps from Lake Pleasant. It offers house brews like SASQUATCH HAZY IPA and Blueberry Wheat, along with other local NY State micro-brewed beers and wines in a relaxed s…
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain19.1 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Vrooman's Hotel19.2 mi
On the shore of West Caroga Lake, this family-owned hotel and tavern has been a beloved community fixture for generations, serving exceptional dishes and warm hospitality daily.
— 18.3 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
4- The Inn on Piseco Lake9.7 mi
Established in 1892 as the Irondequoit Inn, the historic Inn on Piseco Lake is a 600-acre lakefront retreat in the Hamilton County hamlet of Piseco — nine guest rooms, two-bedroom cabins that sleep six, beachfront and wooded campsites, and a restaurant open to the public. The Northville-Placid Trail crosses nearby. A rare survivor of the late-19th-century Adirondack hotel era.
- The Bears Den Vacation Rental Resort12.4 mi
Booked as an exclusive buyout. Sleeps up to 20 across the main log lodge in Caroga Lake. Full kitchen and bar, three fireplaces, hot tub, sand volleyball court, wood-fired pizza oven, and a private sand beach on the West Branch Sacandaga River.
- The Balsam Inn & Cafe12.5 mi
Historic inn at 140 NY-10 in Caroga Lake, with newly renovated boutique rooms on the second floor and the Forever Wild Tavern downstairs. A minute from the West Branch of the Sacandaga and adjacent to state park land.
- Wilbur's Cottages15.0 mi
Secluded housekeeping cabins on Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks. Sandy beach, dock, boats. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, fireplaces.
See.
2- Speculator Historical Museum18.4 mi
A small local-history museum on Route 8 in Speculator inside the original Lake Pleasant Town Hall and Library. Open weekends Memorial Day through August, plus weekday hours in summer.
- Ampersand Christine Falls21.4 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
— 18.4 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Barto Lake located?Barto Lake is a lake in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Barto Lake?Barto Lake has a surface area of approximately 18 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Barto Lake open to the public?Yes, Barto Lake has public access. See the listing page for current trailhead, parking, and boat-launch details, and check active DEC advisories before visiting.
- Can you camp at Barto Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Barto Lake: 38 designated campsites. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.