Buck Pond.
Buck Pond sits off the Onchiota Road northwest of Saranac Lake village — a 69-acre kettle pond in the rolling terrain between the Saranac Chain and the St. Regis Canoe Area. The pond drains north into the St. Regis drainage and sits in a transition zone: not quite wilderness, not quite village lake, lacking the DEC pressure of the canoe routes but also lacking the boat launch and summer camp density of Lower Saranac. No fish species on record, which usually means either poor habitat or minimal stocking history — worth a call to the local DEC office if you're planning a fishing trip. The name suggests logging-era origins; the acreage suggests a pond worth paddling if you're already in the area.
Buck Pond reaches a maximum depth of 14 feet, with a mean depth of 8 feet. Buck Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Buck Pond Hill and Little Haystack Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
9 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.
- 01Buck Pond Boat Launch ParkingTrailhead0.4 mipavedDirections →
- 02Kushaqua Campsite Parking0.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 03White Fathers Lake Parking1.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Debar Mountain Parking4.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Rainbow Lake To Jones Canoe Carry Parking Lot4.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Jones Pond Parking5.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 07County Route 55 Parking Lot6.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Goldsmith Road Parking Area6.6 miunpavedDirections →
+1 more on the map above
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
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The peaks.
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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- Hohmeyer's Adirondack Alps Restaurant11.6 mi
A family-owned restaurant in the Adirondacks offering seasonal, 100-mile-focused fusion cuisine, a 1920s Speakeasy, and a hidden Beer and Wine Cellar.
- Our Plates12.3 mi
Our Plates offers Caribbean and Southern-inspired cuisine for pickup at 7 Broadway. Enjoy dishes like Empanadas Locas, Dominican Chimi Burgers, Bistec Encebollado, and Tres Leches cake.
- China Jade12.4 mi
A long-running Chinese restaurant on Saranac Lake's Main Street, doing classic American-Chinese standards for dine-in and takeout, Tuesday through Saturday.
- Owl's Nest Pizza Parlor12.4 mi
Owl's Nest Pizzeria is a local favorite in Saranac Lake, New York, offering New York Style pizza, wings, subs, and other munchies. Available for dine-in, take-out, and delivery, it's a convenient spot to grab a slice.
Sip.
4- Saranac Juice7.8 mi
Cold-pressed juices, cleanses, protein elixirs, and nut mylks from Saranac River Ranch in Bloomingdale, made from organic produce grown on the farm or sourced from local Adirondack growers.
- Nori's Village Market12.2 mi
Nori's Village Market and Riverside Cafe offers a market with organic and local produce, bulk foods, coffee, and teas, alongside a cafe serving natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and local meat options.
- Origin Coffee12.4 mi
Origin Coffee Co is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake serving a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu.
- Blue Moon12.4 mi
Blue Moon Café in Saranac Lake offers dine-in, pick-up, and curbside delivery services. Guests can enjoy weekly specials, restaurant menus, baked goods, coffee, grocery items, and adult beverages.
Sweet.
4- Mark Twain Maple Works12.9 mi
Mark Twain Maple Works produces New York State maple syrup on the shore of Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Park. They have been making syrup since 2013, expanding their operation and offering various grades.
- Mountain Mist Custard13.4 mi
A summer fixture on the shore of Lake Flower in Saranac Lake, with picnic tables and a dock you can tie a boat to. Frozen custard and soft serve with weekly-rotating flavors, shakes, and sundaes.
- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream14.2 mi
A fourth-generation Saranac Lake institution on a former dairy farm, serving exactly one rotating soft-serve flavor each day — twisted with vanilla on the same 1953 machine. Cash only; check the daily flavor. Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Whitebrook Dairy Bar16.0 mi
A classic roadside drive-in on Route 86 in Wilmington, five minutes from Whiteface — creamy soft serve (try the peanut-butter dip) plus footlongs and the Wilmington burger. Opening day is a local rite of spring.
Drink.
4- Hex and Hop Brewing6.8 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.
- The 1892 Bar & Grille11.3 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.
- RiverTrail Beerworks12.2 mi
RiverTrail Beerworks is Saranac Lake’s only riverfront brewpub, located on the Saranac Lake River Walk and Rail Trail. It features a heated patio, firepits, two golf simulators, and serves lunch and dinner daily with house-brewed beers and…
- Bitters & Bones12.2 mi
Saranac Lake's only downtown brewery, restaurant, and bar, Bitters & Bones offers craft beer brewed upstairs, fresh local cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and craft cocktails. It features rooftop decks and unique private event spa…
Stay.
4- The St. Regis Suites6.5 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 & Resort11.6 mi
Wooded lakefront resort featuring homey rooms & cabins, local dining, a pub & outdoor recreation.
- Hotel Saranac12.2 mi
Hotel Saranac — 100 Main Street, Saranac Lake. 1927-era National Register property reimagined as a modern boutique within the Hilton Curio Collection.
- Prescott House ADK12.2 mi
Welcome to Prescott House ADK, a cozy guesthouse in Saranac Lake that accommodates hikers, skiers, and history enthusiasts. The property features rooms with private or shared baths, a common kitchen, eating area, and a recreation room with…
See.
4- THE GREAT ADIRONDACK CORN MAZE6.7 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.
- White Pine Camp6.7 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.
- Topridge11.1 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.
- Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage12.1 mi
The Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum in Saranac Lake, New York, was the residence of the famous author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island. It preserves his personal belongings and is the world's first site dedicated to Ste…
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- Where is Buck Pond located?Buck Pond is a pond in the Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Buck Pond?Buck Pond has a surface area of approximately 69 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Buck Pond?Buck Pond has a maximum depth of 14 feet, with a mean depth of 7.5 feet.
- Is Buck Pond open to the public?Yes, Buck 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 Buck Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Buck Pond: 28 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.