Frances Pond.
Frances Pond is a 14-acre pocket water in the Keene township — small, off-trail, and absent from most recreational databases. No fish surveys on record, no marked access, no adjacent trailheads pulling traffic from NY-73 or the Giant Wilderness corridor. It sits in that middle category of Adirondack waters: named, mapped, but functionally wild — the kind of place you bushwhack to with a topo and low expectations, or stumble onto while hunting the back ridges. If you're looking for solitude over infrastructure, Frances Pond delivers by default.
Frances Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Calkins Hill and Oak Hill.
The water, surveyed.
Before you launch.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
6 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.
- 01Poke-O-Moonshne Fire Tower Parking AreaTrailhead2.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Poke-O-Moonshine Hiker Parking3.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Poke-O-Moonshine Rock Climber Parking3.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Fay Mountain Trailhead Parking5.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Black Mountain Road Parking6.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Willsboro Bay Boat Launch Parking6.9 mipavedDirections →
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- Turtle Island Cafe6.1 mi
Turtle Island Cafe is a full-service restaurant in Willsboro, NY, offering bistro-style food, wine, beer, and cocktails in a casual and friendly environment. It has been named Best Burger in the Adirondacks by Adirondack Life Magazine for…
- F.I.G's Riverside Pizza Cafe10.2 mi
A casual pizza cafe on the Boquet River in Elizabethtown serving pies, sandwiches, and cafe fare.
- The Deer's Head Inn Restaurant10.5 mi
The Deer's Head Inn is a historic Elizabethtown tavern and restaurant — among the oldest inns in the Adirondacks — serving pub fare and regional dishes.
- Monday Tuesday Grill13.8 mi
Monday Tuesday Grill in Upper Jay offers fresh, friendly, and affordable comfort meals for indoor, outdoor, and takeout dining, including grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, and Swedish meatballs.
Sip.
4- Life Church Cafe10.2 mi
Life Church Elizabethtown is a local church dedicated to connecting lives and building community.
- Pleasant Valley Cafe10.3 mi
A local cafe in Elizabethtown serving breakfast, lunch, coffee, and comfort food in the heart of the Boquet Valley.
- Counter Space10.4 mi
A casual cafe in Elizabethtown serving coffee, espresso, and light bites — a local gathering spot in the Essex County seat.
- Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe12.9 mi
Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe is a coffee shop in Upper Jay, NY, serving fresh, slow-roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch daily. Located near Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack State Park, it also offers local beer and cocktails, with…
Sweet.
4- Sugar House Creamery12.9 mi
Sugar House Creamery is a farmstead creamery located in the Adirondacks, producing artisanal cheeses from the milk of their own cows. They offer a variety of cheeses, showcasing the quality of their local dairy.
- Black Rooster Maple15.1 mi
Pure Adirondack Maple Syrup, Maple Cream, Bourbon Barrel Maple Syrup
- Cedar Run Bakery & Market15.4 mi
Cedar Run Bakery & Market offers scratch-made baked goods, deli items, fresh menu options, and take & bake meals, alongside a selection of wine and spirits. They are open Friday through Monday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
- Whitebrook Dairy Bar15.6 mi
A classic roadside drive-in on Route 86 in Wilmington, five minutes from Whiteface — creamy soft serve (try the peanut-butter dip) plus footlongs and the Wilmington burger. Opening day is a local rite of spring.
Drink.
4- The Knock ADK12.1 mi
The Knock ADK is a restaurant and bar in Westport, NY, offering a plant-based dinner menu alongside classic and craft cocktails. They provide dinner reservations on non-show nights and welcome walk-ins on show nights.
- R.F. McDougall's Pub16.2 mi
The casual sibling of the Hungry Trout Restaurant, sharing the same Adirondack riverside property next to Whiteface. Pub food, regional beers, and the same view of the West Branch Ausable at a more relaxed price point.
- The Old Mine20.3 mi
The Old Miners Tavern is a historic Adirondack tavern in Moriah, NY, offering classic bar food like juicy burgers and chicken wings, a full bar with rotating craft beers, and a welcoming atmosphere for friends to gather.
- Tavern on Main22.2 mi
Tavern on Main brings a Chicago-style modern upscale gastropub to the historic Crown Point square — the closest sit-down dining to the Crown Point State Historic Site and the Lake Champlain Bridge crossing.
Stay.
4- Hilltop Motel9.9 mi
Hilltop Motel offers clean, comfortable lodging conveniently located at I-87 Exit 31 in Westport, where the Adirondack Mountains meet Lake Champlain. Guests enjoy easy access to a vast array of outdoor activities and attractions.
- The Olde Mill Inn Bed and Breakfast10.3 mi
An eight-room historic B&B inside Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, with an authentic 1700s log cabin, a king-sized suite, and homemade breakfast. EV charging on site.
- The Deer's Head Inn10.5 mi
The Deer's Head Inn in Elizabethtown, NY, is the oldest tavern in the Adirondacks. Reopened in August 2016 as an eatery and inn, it features tavern dining with a changing, seasonal menu focused on local, regional, and sustainably produced…
- Park Motor Inn10.5 mi
The Park Motor Inn is a charming, vintage, motel-style property that opened in Elizabethtown, New York, during the heyday of automobile tourism in the 1950's. Elizabethtown is where the Adirondack High Peaks meet the Champlain Valley, giving visitors unparalleled access to the region's spectacular lakes, rivers, and mountains.
See.
4- Adirondack History Museum10.3 mi
The Adirondack History Museum in Elizabethtown tells the story of Essex County and the Adirondacks — pioneer life, mining, tourism, and mountain heritage.
- Ausable Chasm12.0 mi
A sandstone gorge attraction on US 9 in Ausable Chasm, with rim trails, walkways through the gorge floor, and add-on tubing and rafting on the Ausable River. Open seasonally, roughly mid-May through Columbus Day.
- Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower12.7 mi
Perched atop Hurricane Mountain, this historic fire tower provides hikers with unparalleled 360-degree views of the Adirondacks, Lake Champlain, and Vermont's Green Mountains.
- Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge12.9 mi
The Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge is a vibrant venue dedicated to presenting music, theater, and visual arts in Upper Jay, NY. It serves as a community hub for various cultural events.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Frances Pond located?Frances Pond is a pond in the Keene region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Frances Pond?Frances Pond has a surface area of approximately 14 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Frances Pond open to the public?Yes, Frances 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 Frances Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Frances Pond: 1 designated campsite, 2 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.