Buck Ponds.
Buck Ponds — plural, though the main basin reads as a single 10-acre pond — sits in the Speculator region without the fanfare of a trailhead sign or a DEC campsite marker. The name suggests old hunting territory or a settler's claim, but the ponds themselves stay quiet in the deeper woods, off the radar of the lake-access crowd that works NY-30 and the Kunjamuk corridor. No fish data on file, no nearby peaks to anchor a day hike — this is the kind of water that only shows up when you're looking at the survey map or walking an unmarked woods road with a compass and time to kill. If you're paddling the region, it's a side note; if you're hunting or snowshoeing the back country south of Speculator, it's a landmark you pass on the way to somewhere else.
Buck Ponds has public access. Summits nearby include Grass Mountain and T Lake Mountain.
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
4 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.
- 01Trail ParkingTrailhead3.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Norhtville Placid Parking-Haskells Rd4.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 03G Lake Trail Parking5.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Trail Parking6.5 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 Inn6.6 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.
- Firetower Pizza12.2 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 Store12.2 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.
- Alpine Grille19.4 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.
Sip.
4- The PERKS of Speculator12.3 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.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee16.9 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.
- Blue Line Coffee House21.1 mi
Blue Line Coffee House offers Adirondack-inspired apparel, handcrafted mugs, and mountain-themed gifts, along with pre-packaged coffee and coffee accessories. Products are available for nationwide shipping, and local customers can order dr…
- Tamarack Cafe21.1 mi
Tamarack Cafe in downtown Inlet serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, from traditional favorites and specialty bowls to creative salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The cafe also features an 18-hole mini-golf course.
Sweet.
4- Speculator Creamery12.0 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.
- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.20.6 mi
An Inlet institution for 40-plus years, a short walk from Arrowhead Park on Fourth Lake — soft serve, homemade gelato, floats, flurries, and specialty sundaes.
- Benny’s Ice Cream24.4 mi
A family-run, locally loved scoop shop on Old Forge's Main Street — hand-scooped hard flavors and soft serve.
- Pied Piper24.4 mi
A circa-1950s soft-serve and frozen-custard stand locals treat as a permanent fixture — the walk-up window after a day on the Fulton Chain or at the water park. Three daily soft-serve flavors plus around 20 hard flavors.
Drink.
4- Lemon Tree Brewery12.3 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 Mountain12.5 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse23.0 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.
- Daiker's23.2 mi
Daikers is an Adirondack pitstop in Old Forge, NY, offering seasonal and local dining with a deck overlooking Fourth Lake. Their caring and committed staff ensure a fantastic experience for guests.
Stay.
4- The Inn on Piseco Lake4.5 mi
Established in 1892 as the Irondequoit Inn, the historic Inn on Piseco Lake is a 600-acre lakefront retreat in the Hamilton County hamlet of Piseco — nine guest rooms, two-bedroom cabins that sleep six, beachfront and wooded campsites, and a restaurant open to the public. The Northville-Placid Trail crosses nearby. A rare survivor of the late-19th-century Adirondack hotel era.
- Wilbur's Cottages9.1 mi
Secluded housekeeping cabins on Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks. Sandy beach, dock, boats. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, fireplaces.
- Moffit Beach Campground9.8 mi
A 247-site DEC campground on Sacandaga Lake near Speculator at 1,730 feet elevation, with flat well-wooded sites under white pines and hardwoods. Pets allowed on a 6-foot leash.
- WatersEdge Cottages10.3 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.
See.
4- Speculator Historical Museum12.1 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 Falls15.0 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Great Camp Sagamore19.9 mi
Great Camp Sagamore is a historic Adirondack Great Camp offering multi-day programs, overnight stays, and daily activities focused on history, arts, outdoor recreation, and wellness.
- Raquette Lake Navigation Cruise23.3 mi
Raquette Lake Navigation Company offers dining, sightseeing, and special event cruises on Raquette Lake in New York. This family-owned and operated business has been providing scenic experiences aboard the W.W. Durant since 1991.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Buck Ponds located?Buck Ponds is a pond in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Buck Ponds?Buck Ponds has a surface area of approximately 10 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Buck Ponds open to the public?Yes, Buck Ponds 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 Ponds?Within roughly seven miles of Buck Ponds: 27 designated campsites, 7 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.