Great Chazy River.
The Great Chazy River runs north through the Adirondack foothills toward the Canadian border — a long, low-gradient stream that drains farmland and forest on its way to Lake Champlain. It's not a backcountry destination in the High Peaks sense, but it sees consistent use from anglers working its pools and riffles for brook trout and stocked browns, and from paddlers running gentle Class I–II stretches through mixed hardwood and open country. The river crosses through multiple small towns and state-owned easements; access points are scattered and local-knowledge driven. In early May, the snowmelt push turns it muddy and fast — by mid-June it settles into a clear, moderate flow.
Great Chazy River has public access. Summits nearby include Topknot Mountain and Ellenburg Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
10 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.
- 01Wilfred King Parking AreaTrailhead2.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Nys Route 374 Field Parking Area3.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Lyon Mountain Trail Parking Area3.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Smith Road Parking Area4.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Route 374 Parking Area4.3 mipavedDirections →
- 06Chazy Lake Road Parking Area4.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Route 374 Spring Parking Area4.4 mipavedDirections →
- 08Bridge Road Parking Area4.7 miunpavedDirections →
+2 more on the map above
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.
See.
1— 24.1 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
Add to the record.
Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.
Every page on this site gets better when readers contribute. Mark a peak you’ve climbed, drop a photo, file a field note, or flag a correction — every addition makes the next visitor’s page better.
Add a shot.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →File a report.
Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
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 Great Chazy River located?Great Chazy River is a stream in the Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- Is Great Chazy River open to the public?Yes, Great Chazy River 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 Great Chazy River?Within roughly seven miles of Great Chazy River: 2 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.