Curtis Lake.
Curtis Lake is a 13-acre water tucked into the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreation lists, which means it stays quiet even in high summer. No public data on fish species, and access details aren't well documented; local knowledge or a DEC call will clarify whether there's a carry-in launch or if it's landlocked by private holdings. The lake sits in the working forest west of the Fulton Chain, part of the patchwork of small ponds and private timberland that defines the Old Forge backcountry. If you're paddling the area, it's worth a phone call to the regional DEC office before you load the canoe.
Curtis Lake reaches a maximum depth of 36 feet, with a mean depth of 12 feet. Curtis Lake has public access.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
2 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.
- 01Vista Trail Parking LotTrailhead3.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Billy Hamlin Road Parking Area5.0 miunpavedDirections →
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
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.
1— 24.5 mi to the nearest table out here; plan the drive to dinner.
Stay.
4- The Bears Den Vacation Rental Resort23.0 mi
Booked as an exclusive buyout. Sleeps up to 20 across the main log lodge in Caroga Lake. Full kitchen and bar, three fireplaces, hot tub, sand volleyball court, wood-fired pizza oven, and a private sand beach on the West Branch Sacandaga River.
- The Balsam Inn & Cafe23.0 mi
Historic inn at 140 NY-10 in Caroga Lake, with newly renovated boutique rooms on the second floor and the Forever Wild Tavern downstairs. A minute from the West Branch of the Sacandaga and adjacent to state park land.
- The Inn on Piseco Lake23.1 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.
- Pine Lake Lodge24.2 mi
Pine Lake Lodge is a spacious eight-bedroom vacation rental near Great Sacandaga Lake, offering ample space and amenities for large groups, family reunions, and celebrations.
— 23.0 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
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- Where is Curtis Lake located?Curtis Lake is a lake in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Curtis Lake?Curtis Lake has a surface area of approximately 13 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Curtis Lake?Curtis Lake has a maximum depth of 36 feet, with a mean depth of 11.8 feet.
- Is Curtis Lake open to the public?Yes, Curtis 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 Curtis Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Curtis Lake: 1 designated campsite. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.