Big Creek.
Big Creek drains south through the Old Forge corridor, one of several outlet streams threading through the Fulton Chain watershed — more utility than destination, more working watercourse than named feature on a paddler's map. The creek moves quietly through mixed forest and wetland, accessible in fragments where it crosses roads or abuts private land, but without the kind of put-in or trail access that would make it a deliberate trip. Brook trout move through these systems seasonally, but fishing pressure tends to follow the lakes and ponds where access is clearer. If you're driving NY-28 between Old Forge and Inlet and you cross a culvert marked Big Creek, that's the water — not a stop, just a place name.
Big Creek has public access.
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
2 parking areas
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.
- 01Dobbs Road Parking AreaTrailhead5.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 02South Creek Lake Parking Area5.8 miunpavedDirections →
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 9 recent seasons — the ledger below is the public record.
The stocking record.
Launch & supply.
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The waters.
The trails.
Read before you launch.
Add to the record.
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File a report.
Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Spot something off?
Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Big Creek located?Big Creek is a stream in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- Is Big Creek open to the public?Yes, Big Creek 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 Big Creek?Within roughly seven miles of Big Creek: 1 designated campsite. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.