Challis Pond.
Challis Pond is a 16-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — a quieter corner of the eastern Adirondacks where the named ponds tend to be tucked into private land or accessed by unmarked woods roads rather than marked DEC trails. The pond sits outside the High Peaks corridor, which means fewer hikers and more local anglers who know the back routes. No fish species data on record, which typically signals either limited stocking history or simply that no one's filed a survey — common for smaller eastern waters that don't pull traffic from the tourist routes. Worth a call to the Region 5 DEC office in Ray Brook if you're planning a visit; access status and conditions change year to year on these outlier ponds.
Challis Pond reaches a maximum depth of 45 feet, with a mean depth of 22 feet. Challis Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Berrymill Hill and Sweet Fern Hill.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
8 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.
- 01Hammond Pond/Berrymill Flow Trail ParkingTrailhead0.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Walker Brook Parking Lot2.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 03West Mill Brook Parking Lot3.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 04East Mill Flow - Round Pond Trail Parking3.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Courtney Pond Trail Parking Area3.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Crowfoot Pond Trail Parking6.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 07King Phillips Spring Parking Lot6.4 mipavedDirections →
- 08Schroon Falls Parking Area7.0 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.
4- Trail Break at Schroon Lake10.2 mi
Trail Break at Schroon Lake offers a restaurant, bar, and lodging in Schroon Lake. Guests can enjoy a menu of food, wine, and beer, live music on select evenings, and overnight stays in their rooms from May through October.
- Pitkins Restaurant11.2 mi
Pitkin's Restaurant is a family dining landmark in Schroon Lake, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a broad menu in a modern rustic setting. It features a new patio, including pet-friendly outdoor dining, and is conveniently locate…
- DeCesare's Pizzeria11.8 mi
DeCesare's Pizzeria in Schroon Lake offers a menu of pizza, Italian dishes, and salads. They provide online ordering for both carryout and delivery.
- Sticks & Stones Wood Fired Bistro & Bar12.7 mi
Sticks and Stones Wood fired Bistro and Bar, Menu, Events, Catering, Location, Adirondack style private parties.
Sip.
4- Cupola Crepes11.2 mi
Family-run creperie at 1095 Main Street in Schroon Lake. Sweet and savory crepes (gluten-free batter available), scones, coffee, and soft serve. Wednesday through Sunday.
- 9 Mile Coffee Co11.2 mi
9 Mile Coffee Co. is a coffee shop in downtown Schroon Lake, NY, serving a variety of coffees, teas, smoothies, sandwiches, and soups. They also sell their custom coffee blends and gift cards online.
- Old Mountain Coffee Company15.2 mi
Great Coffee, Great Food, Great Baked Goods & Great People. Stop in to enjoy our house roasted coffee, browse our menu for a bite to eat or grab a delicious treat from our bakery. Order Online for pickup or stop in.
- Counter Space16.3 mi
A casual cafe in Elizabethtown serving coffee, espresso, and light bites — a local gathering spot in the Essex County seat.
Sweet.
4- Stone Bridge Ice Cream18.9 mi
Stone Bridge Ice Cream is a seasonal stand located 2.5 miles from the Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, offering over 40 flavors of soft serve, custom ice cream cakes, and signature sundaes. It features outdoor seating and a kids' swing set.
- Black Rooster Maple19.3 mi
Pure Adirondack Maple Syrup, Maple Cream, Bourbon Barrel Maple Syrup
- Cedar Run Bakery & Market19.8 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.
- Crossroads Ice Cream23.4 mi
The ice cream counter at The Crossroads, a country and outdoors store off I-87 Exit 25 in Chestertown between Schroon and Brant Lake — hard and soft ice cream on the road north.
— 18.9 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- Paradox Brewery4.1 mi
Paradox Brewery offers a diverse tap selection, a full menu with pizza, burgers, and BBQ, and an expansive mountain landscape.
- The Old Mine9.6 mi
The Old Miners Tavern is a historic Adirondack tavern in Moriah, NY, offering classic bar food like juicy burgers and chicken wings, a full bar with rotating craft beers, and a welcoming atmosphere for friends to gather.
- Tavern on Main10.9 mi
Tavern on Main brings a Chicago-style modern upscale gastropub to the historic Crown Point square — the closest sit-down dining to the Crown Point State Historic Site and the Lake Champlain Bridge crossing.
- Flanagan's Pub & Grill11.3 mi
Long-standing, log cabin–style haunt offering traditional pub grub, draft beer & cocktails.
Stay.
4- Blue Ridge Motel5.5 mi
A renovated roadside motel on Route 9 between Schroon Lake and North Hudson, with private baths, AC, wifi, a pet-friendly room, and a continental breakfast in the lobby.
- Blue Ridge Falls Campsites5.8 mi
Blue Ridge Falls Campsites is a campground in North Hudson, NY, offering RV, pop-up, and tent camping near Schroon Lake and I-87. Guests can enjoy Wi-Fi, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and a camp store, with easy access to area attraction…
- Medcalf Acres Riverfront Campground - Camping in the Adirondacks8.1 mi
A riverfront campground on River Road in Schroon Lake with seasonal sites, in-house Schroon River tubing, free ice and wood at check-in, and tribute-band weekends.
- Maple Leaf Motel9.9 mi
Modest property offering simple rooms & cabins with fridges, microwaves & free WiFi, plus a pool.
See.
4- Penfield Homestead Museum7.9 mi
Penfield Homestead Museum preserves the history of Crown Point, NY, and the surrounding Ironville area. Explore the historic homestead, barns, church, and learn about local history, military conflicts, and notable families.
- Ticonderoga Heritage Museum15.6 mi
A local history museum on Montcalm Street in Ticonderoga inside the 1888 building, the sole surviving structure from the Ticonderoga Pulp and Paper Company. Free walking tours of the La Chute industrial corridor.
- Adirondack History Museum16.4 mi
The Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown tells the story of Essex County and the Adirondacks — pioneer life, mining, tourism, and mountain heritage.
- Fort Ticonderoga17.2 mi
A restored French and Indian War / Revolutionary War fort on 2,000-plus acres at the south end of Lake Champlain in Ticonderoga, with living-history demonstrations, the King's Garden, a corn maze, and boat tours on the lake aboard the Carillon.
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- Where is Challis Pond located?Challis Pond is a pond in the Paradox Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Challis Pond?Challis Pond has a surface area of approximately 16 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Challis Pond?Challis Pond has a maximum depth of 45 feet, with a mean depth of 22.3 feet.
- Is Challis Pond open to the public?Yes, Challis 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 Challis Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Challis Pond: 10 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.