Dismal Pond sits northeast of Old Forge in the central Adirondack plateau — 65 acres of quiet water with a name that undersells the setting. The pond occupies a low basin in working forest country, accessible by informal roads and bushwhack routes rather than marked state trails, which keeps most casual traffic pointed toward the bigger Old Forge chain lakes to the west. No fish stocking records on file, and no lean-tos or designated campsites — this is ground better suited to paddlers comfortable reading contour lines and navigating by USGS quad. Bring a compass and leave the crowds at First Lake.
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data; surface and capacity from OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
+2 more on the map above
Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.
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Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
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What to do, where to stay, and what's reopening across the Park as the snow melts and the calendar fills.
A complete planning guide: difficulty by peak, common combo days, seasonal realities, and a sortable, filterable table of every summit.
Overnight, day, and trip camps in the Park — the camp belt, choosing the right fit, costs and financial aid, ACA accreditation, and the questions every parent should ask before they commit.