Big Duck Pond.
Big Duck Pond is a 9-acre water tucked into the working forest west of Saranac Lake — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreation maps, quiet enough that it holds onto morning mist well past sunrise. Access is typically via seasonal logging roads or bushwhack routes known mostly to local anglers and hunters; this isn't a trailhead-and-sign destination. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means limited stocking history and marginal habitat — though that also means you're unlikely to share the shoreline with anyone but the pond's namesake waterfowl. Worth a look if you're already back in that country for hunting season or exploring the patchwork of private timberlands and state easement parcels south of the village.
Big Duck Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Long Pond Mountain and Humbug Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
5 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.
- 01Everton Falls Parking LotTrailhead4.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 02East Branch Parking Lot5.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Deer River Flow Parking Lot5.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Twin Ponds Parking Area6.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Pinnacle Road Parking6.5 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.
1— 23.9 mi to the nearest table out here; plan the drive to dinner.
Sip.
1— 24.9 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Drink.
2- The 1892 Bar & Grille23.8 mi
The 1892 Bar & Grille is a locally owned rustic bar and restaurant in Lake Clear, NY, offering homemade food. Recently under new ownership, it brings fresh energy and an updated menu to its patrons.
- Hex and Hop Brewing23.9 mi
Hex and Hop Brewing is a craft brewery and meadery in Bloomingdale, New York, making full-flavored, locally sourced beer and mead. They prioritize community and craft, using fresh, local ingredients.
— 23.8 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
2- The St. Regis Suites19.6 mi
Five well-appointed suites of various sizes, between Saranac Lake and Paul Smith's College in Gabriels, NY. Renovated by Cedar Circle LLC with green building techniques. Stays from three days to three months.
- Hohmeyer's Lake Clear Lodge & Resort23.9 mi
Wooded lakefront resort featuring homey rooms & cabins, local dining, a pub & outdoor recreation.
— 19.6 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
See.
3- White Pine Camp17.8 mi
The 1907 Great Camp on Osgood Pond that served as Calvin Coolidge's Summer White House in the summer of 1926. Seasonal guided tours, and several cottages rent by the week.
- Topridge19.8 mi
The sprawling Gilded Age estate Marjorie Merriweather Post built on Upper St. Regis Lake — later New York State's, now privately held. Best seen from the St. Regis lakes.
- THE GREAT ADIRONDACK CORN MAZE21.1 mi
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze at Tucker Farms in Gabriels offers a new maze design each year, providing a fun experience of getting lost in the cornfield.
— 17.8 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
Add to the record.
Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.
Every page on this site gets better when readers contribute. Mark a peak you’ve climbed, drop a photo, file a field note, or flag a correction — every addition makes the next visitor’s page better.
Add a shot.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →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 Duck Pond located?Big Duck Pond is a pond in the Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Big Duck Pond?Big Duck Pond has a surface area of approximately 9 acres, a small pond.
- Is Big Duck Pond open to the public?Yes, Big Duck Pond 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 Duck Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Big Duck Pond: 2 designated campsites. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.