Cotters Pond.
Cotters Pond is an 11-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — small enough to miss on most maps, set in the mix of private land and old working forest that defines this corner of the eastern Adirondacks. The Paradox Lake corridor runs quieter than the High Peaks or the central lakes, and ponds like Cotters tend to hold their solitude: no marked trails, no DEC campsites, no pressure from day-trippers routing between bigger destinations. Access details are sparse, which usually means posted shoreline or a bushwhack through second-growth hardwoods. No fish data on record, but that's the norm for small ponds off the tourism grid — worth a knock on a nearby door if you're curious.
Cotters Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Blue Hill and Sucker Hole 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.
- 01LONG SWING TRAILHEAD PARKINGTrailhead0.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 02CRANE POND TRAILHEAD1.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Tubmill Marsh/Short Swing Trail Parking2.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 04EAGLE LAKE/OTTER POND PARKING LOT3.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Schroon Falls Parking Area4.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Dirgy Lot Parking4.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 07BERRYMILL POND AND GRIZZLE OCEAN PARKING5.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 08LOST POND PARKING LOT5.9 miunpavedDirections →
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 14 recent seasons — the ledger below is the public record.
The stocking record.
Launch & supply.
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- Trail Break at Schroon Lake5.0 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 Restaurant5.7 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 Pizzeria6.3 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 & Bar6.9 mi
Sticks and Stones Wood fired Bistro and Bar, Menu, Events, Catering, Location, Adirondack style private parties.
Sip.
4- Cupola Crepes5.7 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 Co5.7 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 Company22.2 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 Space23.5 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 Cream12.6 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.
- Crossroads Ice Cream16.6 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.
- Main Street Ice Cream Parlor17.1 mi
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- The Hungry Crow Market & Café20.5 mi
A downtown North Creek market and cafe serving soft serve alongside scratch-made desserts, next to Hudson River Trading Co. — the cone stop in the Gore and Upper Hudson area.
Drink.
4- Paradox Brewery5.7 mi
Paradox Brewery offers a diverse tap selection, a full menu with pizza, burgers, and BBQ, and an expansive mountain landscape.
- Flanagan's Pub & Grill5.7 mi
Long-standing, log cabin–style haunt offering traditional pub grub, draft beer & cocktails.
- The Brown Swan and Tavern5.9 mi
The Brown Swan and Tavern in Schroon Lake, NY, offers Adirondacks-inspired cuisine with locally sourced ingredients in a family-friendly setting.
- The Pub12.1 mi
The Pub is a British-inspired restaurant recognized for serving the best Fish and Chips in the U.S. by the UK’s Greene King Brewery. It offers excellent food, drinks, and genuine hospitality with a wide selection of beers.
Stay.
4- Medcalf Acres Riverfront Campground - Camping in the Adirondacks4.1 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 Motel4.8 mi
Modest property offering simple rooms & cabins with fridges, microwaves & free WiFi, plus a pool.
- Blue Ridge Motel5.0 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.
- Terra Alta cottages5.2 mi
Historic Montgomery Ward kit-home cottages from the 1930s on 14 acres with 400 feet of Schroon Lake shoreline, owned by the Starfield family since the mid-1950s. Dog-friendly for a fee.
See.
4- Penfield Homestead Museum7.1 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 Museum12.3 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.
- Natural Stone Bridge & Caves13.0 mi
Explore the largest marble cave entrance in the eastern U.S., carved by Trout Brook. Offers self-guided trails, adventure tours, and winter snowshoeing with ice formations.
- Fort Ticonderoga14.0 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.
Add to the record.
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Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
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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 Cotters Pond located?Cotters Pond is a pond in the Paradox Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Cotters Pond?Cotters Pond has a surface area of approximately 11 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Cotters Pond open to the public?Yes, Cotters 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 Cotters Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Cotters Pond: 152 designated campsites, 30 lean-tos or shelters, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.