Cranberry Lake.
Cranberry Lake is the third-largest lake in the Adirondack Park — 3,528 acres of open water, fifty miles of shoreline, and a scattering of islands that make it feel more like northern Ontario than the central Adirondacks. The lake sits in the northwestern corner of the park, anchored by the village of Cranberry Lake on the southeast shore and ringed by state land on three sides — accessible by road, but remote enough that motorboats and paddlers spread out and disappear into the bays. The DEC maintains primitive campsites on several islands and along the shoreline; this is a paddling destination, not a roadside stop. Water levels fluctuate with dam releases, and the lake drains north into the Oswegatchie River system.
Cranberry Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Burnt Rock and Bear Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
12 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.
- 01Dead Creek Trail Parking AreaTrailhead2.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 02High Falls Trailhead Parking Area2.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Moore Trail Parking Area2.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Peavine Swamp North Parking Area4.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Oswegatchie River Inlet Parking Area4.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Gilbert Tract Parking Area6.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Boundary Line Trail Parking Area7.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Roadside pull-off7.7 miverified pinDirections →
+4 more on the map above
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- The Clubhouse at Tupper Lake Country Club19.7 mi
The Clubhouse Restaurant & Bar at Tupper Lake Golf Club offers a full bar, weekly specials, and hosts events and weddings. Open to the public, enjoy meals with a view of the golf course.
- PorkBusters BBQ20.4 mi
PorkBusters BBQ is a Tupper Lake restaurant serving barbecue dishes seven days a week from 11 AM to 9 PM. They offer a menu for dine-in or takeout, plus catering for parties and events.
- Amado20.9 mi
A small restaurant on Cliff Avenue in Tupper Lake serving Brazilian dishes (moqueca, feijoada) alongside lamb pot pie, fish fry, and a clearly marked vegan section. Homemade desserts.
- Guido's Pizzeria21.0 mi
Guido's Pizzeria in Tupper Lake has been serving hand-thrown pizzas, subs, calzones, dinners, and wings since 1988. They offer free delivery within the Town of Tupper Lake on any size order and make fresh dough daily.
— 19.7 mi to the nearest table out here; plan the drive to dinner.
Sip.
1— 24.9 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
1— 21.2 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
2- Raquette River Brewing20.4 mi
A family- and dog-friendly taproom pouring year-round craft beer alongside four permanent food trucks, from wood-fired pizza to Carolina barbecue.
- Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar20.6 mi
Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar in Tupper Lake offers 8 lanes of bowling, an arcade, a sports bar, and outdoor seating with food and drinks for family fun.
— 20.4 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
4- The Lodge at Seveys15.3 mi
The Lodge @ Seveys is a spacious and recently remodeled facility that serves as the perfect family getaway in the heart of the Adirondacks. With seven bedrooms accommodating up to fourteen people, the lodge features a fully equipped…
- Norridgewock Lodge16.1 mi
NORRIDGEWOCK LODGE, an oasis in the Adirondack Mountains. Our lakeside resort is the perfect remote vacation in the wilderness of the Beaver River. Book online!
- Red Top Inn LLC19.3 mi
No-frills lodgings by Tupper Lake with boat rentals and nightly bonfires by the lake.
- Pine Terrace Motel & Resort19.6 mi
Waterfront motel offers basic cabins with kitchens & WiFi plus pool & tennis courts.
— 15.3 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
See.
4- Adirondack Railroad20.7 mi
Adirondack Railroad offers scenic train experiences through the beautiful outdoor scenery of New York, departing from stations in Utica, Thendara, and Tupper Lake. They provide various themed rides, including special events and multi-hour…
- John Dillon Park20.9 mi
John Dillon Park, run by Paul Smith's College, is an accessible outdoor recreation area in Long Lake featuring a 3.5-mile accessible trail system, lean-tos, and fishing access. It is closed for the summer 2026 season for water system impro…
- The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory21.4 mi
Free 2-Day Space Camp at the Adirondack Sky Center Calling all future space explorers— get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure! Join us to explore some of the most fascinating topics in outer space! We’ll cover black holes, space tra…
- The Wild Center22.2 mi
Live animals, hands-on exhibits & forest trails connect guests with the Adirondacks.
— 20.7 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
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 Cranberry Lake located?Cranberry Lake is a lake in the Tupper Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Cranberry Lake?Cranberry Lake has a surface area of approximately 3,528 acres, a large lake by Adirondack standards.
- Is Cranberry Lake open to the public?Yes, Cranberry Lake 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 Cranberry Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Cranberry Lake: 222 designated campsites, 23 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.