Buck Pond.
Buck Pond is a small seven-acre water in the Speculator area — one of those named ponds that shows up on the map without much fanfare and without much pressure. No fish stocking records on file, no designated campsites, no trailhead sign pointing you in — which means it's either a local spot with informal access or a pond that gets more attention from moose than from anglers. If you're in the area and have a topo map, it's worth the reconnaissance; if not, there are bigger, better-documented options within a short drive.
Buck Pond reaches a maximum depth of 22 feet, with a mean depth of 4 feet. Buck Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Round Top and Dugway Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
6 parking areas· 1 accessible
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.
- 01Trail ParkingTrailhead1.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Blackbridge Road Parking Area4.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Trail Parking5.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 04DEC parking 189175.7 mi
- 05Fawn Lake Parking6.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Trail Parking6.9 miunpavedDirections →
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
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.
4- Oxbow Inn5.4 mi
Oxbow Inn is a welcoming restaurant and bar in Lake Pleasant offering great pizza, local beef burgers, and a wide selection of 16 draft beers. Enjoy casual dining, live music, and an outdoor deck with fire pits and lake views.
- Alpine Grille7.6 mi
A long-running roadside steak-and-seafood house on the Sacandaga, between Northville and Wells. Generous portions, a lively bar, and the kind of dining room where the staff knows the regulars by name. Reservations recommended on weekends.
- Firetower Pizza8.3 mi
Hand-tossed pizzeria in Speculator with specialty pies named after Adirondack peaks (Mt Marcy, Snowy Mountain, Whiteface). Wings, baked ziti, white clam pie. Cozy waiting area with retro jukebox and arcade.
- Charlie Johns Store8.4 mi
Opened in 1939, Charlie Johns Store is Speculator's anchor general store — 12,000 square feet of full grocery selection, produce, fresh meats, a full deli, bakery, and hardware. Purchased from Charlie Johns in 1971 by Dean Lane, the Lane family has owned and operated it since.
Sip.
3- Uncle Carl's Coffee6.4 mi
Uncle Carl's Coffee serves expertly crafted coffees, artisan teas, pastries, and light savory bites. They also offer daily quiche and bagels, along with homemade soups, frozen meals, local meats, and cheeses.
- The PERKS of Speculator8.1 mi
Speculator coffee shop and bakery at 2855 NY-30. Specialty coffee, espresso, fresh-baked bagels and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Gluten-free options across the bakery case.
- ADK Blend16.3 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
Sweet.
4- Speculator Creamery7.9 mi
A family-run village creamery anchoring Speculator's tiny downtown near Lake Pleasant — a genuine community summer hub. Wide-ranging soft-serve flavors, the 16oz Nor'Easter blend, and hand-dipped hard ice cream. Roughly May through September.
- The Village Scoop16.2 mi
A walk-up ice cream shop on Northville's Main Street at the north tip of Great Sacandaga Lake — hard ice cream and soft serve with a wide flavor selection.
- Cree-Mee Freeze18.4 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
- Zippy's Ice Cream20.4 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Mayfield near the Park's southern gateway and Great Sacandaga Lake, known for dense, cold soft serve with weekly flavors like maple and coffee.
Drink.
4- Lemon Tree Brewery8.0 mi
Lemon Tree Brewery is a brewery and taproom located in Speculator, NY, steps from Lake Pleasant. It offers house brews like SASQUATCH HAZY IPA and Blueberry Wheat, along with other local NY State micro-brewed beers and wines in a relaxed s…
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain9.1 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Sport Island Pub16.2 mi
Sport Island Pub offers great food, refreshing drinks, and friendly entertainment on the Great Sacandaga Lake. This family-run restaurant, with three generations of service, invites you to enjoy exquisite dishes for dine-in or take-out.
- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse16.3 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.
Stay.
4- WatersEdge Cottages6.1 mi
WatersEdge Cottages provides weekly rentals in fully renovated lakeside cabins and efficiency units on Lake Pleasant in the Central Adirondacks. Guests enjoy 180 feet of private waterfront, a sandy beach, boat docks, and a recreation room.
- Wilbur's Cottages6.3 mi
Secluded housekeeping cabins on Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks. Sandy beach, dock, boats. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, fireplaces.
- Red Pines Bed & Breakfast6.4 mi
Red Pines Bed & Breakfast is a year-round getaway on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, NY, offering a relaxed and friendly setting with private beach access and beautiful lake views.
- Bearhurst Lakeside Cottages6.9 mi
Five renovated outbuildings from a turn-of-the-century Adirondack Great Camp on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, run as lakefront rental cottages by the Armstrong family. Boathouse, Icehouse, Cubhurst, and two Cherry duplex halves.
See.
4- Speculator Historical Museum8.1 mi
A small local-history museum on Route 8 in Speculator inside the original Lake Pleasant Town Hall and Library. Open weekends Memorial Day through August, plus weekday hours in summer.
- Ampersand Christine Falls10.0 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Historic Copeland Covered Bridge19.1 mi
The Historic Copeland Covered Bridge is a 35-foot Queenpost truss bridge built in 1879 by Arad Copeland in Edinburg, Saratoga County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the only covered bridge remaining in Saratoga C…
- Grandview Mini Golf20.6 mi
An 18-hole lakeside mini golf course on Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield, with an arcade, ice cream novelties, snacks, and party hosting — reachable by boat or car. Open seven days, noon to 8pm; $8 unlimited all-day play.
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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 Buck Pond located?Buck Pond is a pond in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Buck Pond?Buck Pond has a surface area of approximately 7 acres, a small pond.
- How deep is Buck Pond?Buck Pond has a maximum depth of 22 feet, with a mean depth of 4.3 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: 24 designated campsites, 5 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.