Franks Pond.
Franks Pond is a three-acre pocket water in the Speculator region — small enough that it likely holds more appeal for a canoe paddle or a quiet morning than for any particular fishing or through-hiking objective. No species data on record, which usually means either unstocked and marginal habitat or simply off the radar for DEC survey work. These small ponds in the southern Adirondacks often sit on private land or lack formal access, so confirm ownership and entry before planning a trip. Worth a look if you're already in the area and chasing solitude over infrastructure.
Franks Pond reaches a maximum depth of 14 feet, with a mean depth of 5 feet. Franks Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Sugarbush Mountain and Little Goldmine Hill.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
4 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.
- 01Trail ParkingTrailhead3.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Trail Parking6.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Route 10 Parking6.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 04G Lake Trail Parking6.9 miunpavedDirections →
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 10 recent seasons — the ledger below is the public record.
The stocking record.
Launch & supply.
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
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- Oxbow Inn11.5 mi
Oxbow Inn is a welcoming restaurant and bar in Lake Pleasant offering great pizza, local beef burgers, and a wide selection of 16 draft beers. Enjoy casual dining, live music, and an outdoor deck with fire pits and lake views.
- Alpine Grille19.4 mi
A long-running roadside steak-and-seafood house on the Sacandaga, between Northville and Wells. Generous portions, a lively bar, and the kind of dining room where the staff knows the regulars by name. Reservations recommended on weekends.
- Firetower Pizza19.4 mi
Hand-tossed pizzeria in Speculator with specialty pies named after Adirondack peaks (Mt Marcy, Snowy Mountain, Whiteface). Wings, baked ziti, white clam pie. Cozy waiting area with retro jukebox and arcade.
- Charlie Johns Store19.4 mi
Opened in 1939, Charlie Johns Store is Speculator's anchor general store — 12,000 square feet of full grocery selection, produce, fresh meats, a full deli, bakery, and hardware. Purchased from Charlie Johns in 1971 by Dean Lane, the Lane family has owned and operated it since.
Sip.
3- The PERKS of Speculator19.3 mi
Speculator coffee shop and bakery at 2855 NY-30. Specialty coffee, espresso, fresh-baked bagels and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Gluten-free options across the bakery case.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee19.4 mi
Uncle Carl's Coffee serves expertly crafted coffees, artisan teas, pastries, and light savory bites. They also offer daily quiche and bagels, along with homemade soups, frozen meals, local meats, and cheeses.
- ADK Blend24.5 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
— 19.3 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
3- Speculator Creamery19.1 mi
A family-run village creamery anchoring Speculator's tiny downtown near Lake Pleasant — a genuine community summer hub. Wide-ranging soft-serve flavors, the 16oz Nor'Easter blend, and hand-dipped hard ice cream. Roughly May through September.
- Zippy's Ice Cream23.3 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Mayfield near the Park's southern gateway and Great Sacandaga Lake, known for dense, cold soft serve with weekly flavors like maple and coffee.
- The Village Scoop24.4 mi
A walk-up ice cream shop on Northville's Main Street at the north tip of Great Sacandaga Lake — hard ice cream and soft serve with a wide flavor selection.
— 19.1 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse13.0 mi
Caroga Lake restaurant at 1810 NY-10 doing hand-cut, in-house steaks, fresh seafood, and a tight made-to-order menu. 19 craft beers on tap, NY Finger Lakes wines. Open Thursday through Sunday; Sunday 11–5.
- Vrooman's Hotel13.9 mi
On the shore of West Caroga Lake, this family-owned hotel and tavern has been a beloved community fixture for generations, serving exceptional dishes and warm hospitality daily.
- Lemon Tree Brewery19.3 mi
Lemon Tree Brewery is a brewery and taproom located in Speculator, NY, steps from Lake Pleasant. It offers house brews like SASQUATCH HAZY IPA and Blueberry Wheat, along with other local NY State micro-brewed beers and wines in a relaxed s…
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain20.1 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
Stay.
4- The Bears Den Vacation Rental Resort7.4 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 & Cafe7.5 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.
- Pine Lake Lodge10.1 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.
- The Inn on Piseco Lake11.3 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.
See.
3- Speculator Historical Museum19.2 mi
A small local-history museum on Route 8 in Speculator inside the original Lake Pleasant Town Hall and Library. Open weekends Memorial Day through August, plus weekday hours in summer.
- Ampersand Christine Falls21.9 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Grandview Mini Golf23.4 mi
An 18-hole lakeside mini golf course on Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield, with an arcade, ice cream novelties, snacks, and party hosting — reachable by boat or car. Open seven days, noon to 8pm; $8 unlimited all-day play.
— 19.2 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Franks Pond located?Franks Pond is a pond in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Franks Pond?Franks Pond has a surface area of approximately 3 acres, a small pond.
- How deep is Franks Pond?Franks Pond has a maximum depth of 14 feet, with a mean depth of 5.2 feet.
- Is Franks Pond open to the public?Yes, Franks 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 Franks Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Franks Pond: 66 designated campsites. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.