Benton Pond is a 9-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't pull crowds, big enough that it holds water through the summer and registers as a named feature on the DEC inventory. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means either native brookies that never got documented or a pond that winterkills in lean snow years. Access and trail conditions vary widely for waters this size in the Old Forge corridor — some have maintained approaches from seasonal roads, others require bushwhacking or permission across private land. Check the DEC Unit Management Plan for the surrounding forest preserve unit before heading out.
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What to do, where to stay, and what's reopening across the Park as the snow melts and the calendar fills.

A complete planning guide: difficulty by peak, common combo days, seasonal realities, and a sortable, filterable table of every summit.

Overnight, day, and trip camps in the Park — the camp belt, choosing the right fit, costs and financial aid, ACA accreditation, and the questions every parent should ask before they commit.