Follensby Pond.
Follensby Pond is one of the largest privately-owned waters in the Adirondack Park — 742 acres in the Tupper Lake watershed, long inaccessible to the public and largely absent from guidebooks as a result. The Nature Conservancy acquired the property in 2009 and now permits limited seasonal access, though logistics change year to year and require advance planning. The pond has minor literary history: Emerson, Agassiz, and a cohort of Cambridge intellectuals camped here in 1858, calling themselves the "Philosophers' Camp" — a footnote in Adirondack mythology that gets recycled in regional histories. Access details and current fish population are unknowns for most paddlers; check with TNC directly before assuming you can launch.
Follensby Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Buck Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
- Peak foliage from the water — the best seats in the Park are in a canoe this month.
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.
- 01Axton Landing ParkingTrailhead3.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Ampersand Road Parking Lot3.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Coreys Road 2 Trail Parking3.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Panther Mtn. Paved Parking Lot4.4 mipavedDirections →
- 05Coreys Road 1 Trail Parking4.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Crusher Boat Launch Parking4.5 mipavedDirections →
- 07Rt 3 Plow Turn Misc Parking4.8 mipavedDirections →
- 08Deer Pond (Rt30/3) Trail Parking4.8 mipavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
Follensby Pond.
From the people who’ve been here, plus what Google has on file.
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
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- ADK Food Hub5.0 mi
A year-round market and casual eatery on Park Street in Tupper Lake, with a deli case, pantry staples, and a summer buffet built around the on-site Whitten Family Farm. Sunday farmhouse breakfast in July and August.
- The Clubhouse at Tupper Lake Country Club5.3 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.
- Guido's Pizzeria5.5 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.
- Amado5.6 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.
Sip.
4- Waypoint Cafe14.1 mi
Long Lake cafe at 1265 Main St. La Colombe coffee, homemade quiche, avocado toast, artisan sandwiches, salads, poke bowls, soups, and charcuterie. Closed Mondays; weeknight happy hour 4–6 p.m.
- Blue Moon16.0 mi
Blue Moon Café in Saranac Lake offers dine-in, pick-up, and curbside delivery services. Guests can enjoy weekly specials, restaurant menus, baked goods, coffee, grocery items, and adult beverages.
- Origin Coffee16.0 mi
Origin Coffee Co is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake serving a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu.
- Nori's Village Market16.1 mi
Nori's Village Market and Riverside Cafe offers a market with organic and local produce, bulk foods, coffee, and teas, alongside a cafe serving natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and local meat options.
Sweet.
4- Skyline Ice Cream5.2 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Tupper Lake since 1985 — vanilla and black-raspberry twists, gelato, Dole Whip, and Michigans, now with an expanded burger-and-fries menu.
- The Park14.4 mi
Trying to find a fast food restaurant in Long Lake? Pay a visit to The Park. We offer a range of burgers, sides, ice cream, drinks and coffee options.
- Custard’s Last Stand14.4 mi
Custard's Last Stand is a historic ice cream shop in Long Lake, established in 1958, serving a variety of soft frozen custard & hard ice cream, sundaes, specialty shakes, floats, and ice cream sodas. They also offer merchandise and gift cards.
- Mark Twain Maple Works14.8 mi
Mark Twain Maple Works produces New York State maple syrup on the shore of Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Park. They have been making syrup since 2013, expanding their operation and offering various grades.
Drink.
4- Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar5.1 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.
- Raquette River Brewing6.1 mi
A family- and dog-friendly taproom pouring year-round craft beer alongside four permanent food trucks, from wood-fired pizza to Carolina barbecue.
- Brookside Hops & Hoagies14.4 mi
Brookside Hops & Hoagies is a casual, family-friendly shop in Long Lake, founded in 2023, offering craft beers and hoagies made with fresh ingredients and Boars Head deli meats. It operates Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
- The 1892 Bar & Grille15.0 mi
The 1892 Bar & Grille is a locally owned rustic bar and restaurant in Lake Clear, NY, offering homemade food. Recently under new ownership, it brings fresh energy and an updated menu to its patrons.
Stay.
4- Northwood Cabins4.5 mi
Straightforward cabins with TVs & porches on a wooded property offering fire pits.
- Park Motel and Cabins4.9 mi
Woodsy rooms & cabins in a family-owned motel offering an outdoor pool & free continental breakfast.
- Trailhead Hotel in Tupper Lake, NY5.0 mi
A motel on Park Street in Tupper Lake with an outdoor pool, basketball court, putting green, mini-golf, free breakfast, and voice-controlled smart-room features. ADA-accessible rooms available.
- Pine Terrace Motel & Resort5.5 mi
Waterfront motel offers basic cabins with kitchens & WiFi plus pool & tennis courts.
See.
4- The Wild Center4.4 mi
Live animals, hands-on exhibits & forest trails connect guests with the Adirondacks.
- Adirondack Railroad6.9 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…
- The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory7.3 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…
- John Dillon Park12.9 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…
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- Where is Follensby Pond located?Follensby Pond is a pond in the Tupper Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Follensby Pond?Follensby Pond has a surface area of approximately 742 acres, a mid-sized water.
- Is Follensby Pond open to the public?Yes, Follensby 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 Follensby Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Follensby Pond: 83 designated campsites, 27 lean-tos or shelters, 2 listed campgrounds. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.