Butternut Pond.
Butternut Pond is a 159-acre water in the Keene Valley corridor — large enough to hold decent depth and structure, but off the main trail network and absent from most fishing reports. No documented stocking or species surveys in the DEC records, which usually means either legacy brookies that haven't been sampled in decades or a pond that doesn't winter well enough to hold trout year-round. Access likely requires bushwhacking or following old logging roads — the kind of water that shows up on the topo but not in the trail register. If you're looking for solitude and don't mind uncertain fishing, ponds like this are the reason people still carry a compass.
Butternut Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Perkett Mountain and Baldface Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Before you launch.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
6 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.
- 01Poke-O-Moonshine Rock Climber ParkingTrailhead1.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Poke-O-Moonshine Hiker Parking1.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Poke-O-Moonshne Fire Tower Parking Area2.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Port Douglass Boat Launch Parking5.5 mipavedDirections →
- 05Willsboro Bay Boat Launch Parking5.7 mipavedDirections →
- 06Black Mountain Road Parking7.1 miunpavedDirections →
Butternut Pond.
From the people who’ve been here, plus what Google has on file.
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- Turtle Island Cafe6.9 mi
Turtle Island Cafe is a full-service restaurant in Willsboro, NY, offering bistro-style food, wine, beer, and cocktails in a casual and friendly environment. It has been named Best Burger in the Adirondacks by Adirondack Life Magazine for…
- F.I.G's Riverside Pizza Cafe15.4 mi
A casual pizza cafe on the Boquet River in Elizabethtown serving pies, sandwiches, and cafe fare.
- The Deer's Head Inn Restaurant15.6 mi
The Deer's Head Inn is a historic Elizabethtown tavern and restaurant — among the oldest inns in the Adirondacks — serving pub fare and regional dishes.
- Monday Tuesday Grill16.5 mi
Monday Tuesday Grill in Upper Jay offers fresh, friendly, and affordable comfort meals for indoor, outdoor, and takeout dining, including grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, and Swedish meatballs.
Sip.
4- Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe15.1 mi
Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe is a coffee shop in Upper Jay, NY, serving fresh, slow-roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch daily. Located near Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack State Park, it also offers local beer and cocktails, with…
- Life Church Cafe15.4 mi
Life Church Elizabethtown is a local church dedicated to connecting lives and building community.
- Pleasant Valley Cafe15.5 mi
A local cafe in Elizabethtown serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, and comfort food in the heart of the Boquet Valley.
- Counter Space15.6 mi
A casual cafe in Elizabethtown serving coffee, espresso, and light bites — a local gathering spot in the Essex County seat.
— 15.1 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- Sugar House Creamery15.0 mi
Sugar House Creamery is a farmstead creamery located in the Adirondacks, producing artisanal cheeses from the milk of their own cows. They offer a variety of cheeses, showcasing the quality of their local dairy.
- Whitebrook Dairy Bar16.4 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.
- Black Rooster Maple18.8 mi
Pure Adirondack Maple Syrup, Maple Cream, Bourbon Barrel Maple Syrup
- Cedar Run Bakery & Market18.9 mi
Cedar Run Bakery & Market offers scratch-made baked goods, deli items, fresh menu options, and take & bake meals, alongside a selection of wine and spirits. They are open Friday through Monday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
— 15.0 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
2- The Knock ADK17.0 mi
The Knock ADK is a restaurant and bar in Westport, NY, offering a plant-based dinner menu alongside classic and craft cocktails. They provide dinner reservations on non-show nights and welcome walk-ins on show nights.
- R.F. McDougall's Pub17.6 mi
The casual sibling of the Hungry Trout Restaurant, sharing the same Adirondack riverside property next to Whiteface. Pub food, regional beers, and the same view of the West Branch Ausable at a more relaxed price point.
— 17.0 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
4- Hilltop Motel15.1 mi
Hilltop Motel offers clean, comfortable lodging conveniently located at I-87 Exit 31 in Westport, where the Adirondack Mountains meet Lake Champlain. Guests enjoy easy access to a vast array of outdoor activities and attractions.
- Ice Jam Inn & Restaurant15.2 mi
Ice Jam Inn & Restaurant is a welcoming Adirondack inn and restaurant located minutes from Whiteface Mountain, offering ski-friendly lodging and après-ski dining.
- The Olde Mill Inn Bed and Breakfast15.5 mi
An eight-room historic B&B inside Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, with an authentic 1700s log cabin, a king-sized suite, and homemade breakfast. EV charging on site.
- The Deer's Head Inn15.6 mi
The Deer's Head Inn in Elizabethtown, NY, is the oldest tavern in the Adirondacks. Reopened in August 2016 as an eatery and inn, it features tavern dining with a changing, seasonal menu focused on local, regional, and sustainably produced…
— 15.1 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
See.
4- Ausable Chasm6.8 mi
A sandstone gorge attraction on US 9 in Ausable Chasm, with rim trails, walkways through the gorge floor, and add-on tubing and rafting on the Ausable River. Open seasonally, roughly mid-May through Columbus Day.
- Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge15.1 mi
The Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge is a vibrant venue dedicated to presenting music, theater, and visual arts in Upper Jay, NY. It serves as a community hub for various cultural events.
- Adirondack History Museum15.5 mi
The Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown tells the story of Essex County and the Adirondacks — pioneer life, mining, tourism, and mountain heritage.
- Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower17.0 mi
Perched atop Hurricane Mountain, this historic fire tower provides hikers with unparalleled 360-degree views of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and Vermont's Green Mountains.
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 Butternut Pond located?Butternut Pond is a pond in the Keene region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Butternut Pond?Butternut Pond has a surface area of approximately 159 acres, a mid-sized water.
- Is Butternut Pond open to the public?Yes, Butternut 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 Butternut Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Butternut Pond: 2 designated campsites, 2 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.