Desert Pond.
Desert Pond is a six-acre pocket water in the Old Forge corridor — small enough to miss on a map, tucked into the working forest south of the Moose River Recreation Area. No fish records on file, no formal trail infrastructure, no campsite register — this is the kind of place locals know by way of a logging road and a short bushwhack, not by an ADK trail sign. The name likely references the sandy, nutrient-poor soil common to glacial outwash zones in this part of the park, not any lack of water. If you're looking for it, you already know why.
Desert Pond reaches a maximum depth of 8 feet, with a mean depth of 3 feet. Desert Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Bald Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
8 parking areas· 3 accessible
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.
- 01Jakes Pond Parking AreaTrailhead2.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Parking Area3.7 mi
- 03Buck Pond Road Parking4.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Tied Lake Parking Area4.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Trailhead Parking4.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Parking Area4.8 mi
- 07Sand Pond Parking4.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Parking Area5.6 mi
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.
4- Big Moose Station Restaurant17.5 mi
Website under development
- The Lean-to at Great Pines22.6 mi
The Lean-To is our casual lakeside restaurant, open to guests and the public. It offers a full-service bar and a craft beer menu, along with a food menu inspired by local ingredients and regional influences.
- Mountainside Smokehouse & Grill22.7 mi
Mountainside Smokehouse & Grill offers delicious smoked meats, homemade BBQ sauces and desserts, with smoking done on-premise using apple wood. They also provide catering and meeting space.
- Walt's Diner22.8 mi
A working diner on Route 28 in Old Forge running for 25-plus years, with breakfast and lunch most days and a Friday fish fry until 8 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
— 17.5 mi to the nearest table out here; plan the drive to dinner.
Sip.
1— 22.7 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
2- Benny’s Ice Cream22.7 mi
A family-run, locally loved scoop shop on Old Forge's Main Street — hand-scooped hard flavors and soft serve.
- Pied Piper22.7 mi
A circa-1950s soft-serve and frozen-custard stand locals treat as a permanent fixture — the walk-up window after a day on the Fulton Chain or at the water park. Three daily soft-serve flavors plus around 20 hard flavors.
— 22.7 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
3- Daiker's22.5 mi
Daikers is an Adirondack pitstop in Old Forge, NY, offering seasonal and local dining with a deck overlooking Fourth Lake. Their caring and committed staff ensure a fantastic experience for guests.
- Slickers Adirondack Tavern22.7 mi
Slickers Adirondack Tavern, established in 1984, offers a classic tavern experience with a focus on quality ingredients. They are well-known for their signature French Dip Sandwich.
- Old Forge Brewing Company22.8 mi
Old Forge Brewing Company, established in 2008, is a brewpub committed to crafting quality beer and food while prioritizing local ingredients and community support. They offer a diverse menu, a range of craft beers, and host regular events.
— 22.5 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
4- Norridgewock Lodge13.8 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!
- The Waldheim18.8 mi
A rustic resort with log-cottages featuring porches with lake views, plus 3 included meals a day.
- Covewood Lodge19.7 mi
A Great Camp-style lodge on Big Moose Lake in Eagle Bay, with 19 housekeeping cottages and Main Lodge apartments and rooms. Open May through October, with kids' programming and weekly campfires from late June to Labor Day.
- Old Forge Camping Resort22.6 mi
A year-round campground on Route 28 in Old Forge in the Water Safari Resort family, with deluxe cabins, cottages, RV sites, and tent sites. Stay-and-Play packages for Water Safari.
See.
3- Enchanted Forest Water Safari22.6 mi
Located in Old Forge, Enchanted Forest Water Safari offers a blend of water park experiences and traditional theme park attractions. Visitors can access various slides, pools, and dry rides.
- Calypso's Cove22.6 mi
Calypso's Cove is a family fun park in Old Forge, NY, located next to Enchanted Forest Water Safari. It features attractions like go-karts, mini-golf, arcade games, and a ropes course with a zipline, offering afternoon and evening entertai…
- Adirondack Railbike23.0 mi
Adirondack Railbike Adventures offers unique railbike tours in the Adirondack Mountains. Riders can explore scenic routes from Old Forge (Thendara) and Tupper Lake, experiencing natural beauty and spectacular views on railbikes made in New…
— 22.6 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
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 Desert Pond located?Desert Pond is a pond in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Desert Pond?Desert Pond has a surface area of approximately 6 acres, a small pond.
- How deep is Desert Pond?Desert Pond has a maximum depth of 8 feet, with a mean depth of 3.3 feet.
- Is Desert Pond open to the public?Yes, Desert 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 Desert Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Desert Pond: 17 designated campsites, 4 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.