Big Bill Brook.
Big Bill Brook drains north through the working forest between the Old Forge town line and the Moose River Plains — logging road country, not trail system country, which means access depends on season and whether the gates are open. The brook shows up on the DeLorme but not in the DEC's stocked-water reports, so if there are brook trout here they're wild holdovers in the headwater pockets. This is scout-it-yourself water: pull a USGS quad, check the Moose River Plains seasonal access schedule, and plan on a spur road walk or a bushwhack if you want to see it up close.
Big Bill Brook has public access.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
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.
Drink.
2- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse23.6 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.
- Vrooman's Hotel23.7 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.
— 23.6 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
3- Pine Lake Lodge21.6 mi
Pine Lake Lodge is a spacious eight-bedroom vacation rental near Great Sacandaga Lake, offering ample space and amenities for large groups, family reunions, and celebrations.
- The Balsam Inn & Cafe22.2 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.
- The Bears Den Vacation Rental Resort22.2 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.
— 21.6 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Big Bill Brook located?Big Bill Brook is a stream in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- Is Big Bill Brook open to the public?Yes, Big Bill Brook has public access. See the listing page for current trailhead, parking, and boat-launch details, and check active DEC advisories before visiting.