Holmes Lake.
Holmes Lake is a 16-acre water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough to slip past most paddlers headed for the reservoir itself, quiet enough to matter if you're looking for something off the main corridor. No fish species data on record, which likely means it's either not stocked or not surveyed, and in either case it's fishing at your own optimism. The lake sits in a landscape shaped more by the Sacandaga's flooding history than by High Peaks drama — flatter terrain, second-growth hardwoods, the grid of old Route 30 access roads that predated the reservoir. Worth a look if you're already in the area and want water to yourself.
Holmes Lake has public access.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
11 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.
- 01Homes LakeTrailhead0.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Chase Lake Parking2.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Kane Mountain Parking3.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Pine Lake4.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Marina Trail Parking4.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Nine Corner Lake Trail Parking4.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Trail Parking5.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Marina Trail5.1 miunpavedDirections →
+3 more on the map above
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 13 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 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- Lanzi's on the Lake10.9 mi
An Italian restaurant and wedding venue on Route 30 in Mayfield on the Great Sacandaga shore, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a large deck, and event capacity up to 200.
- Klippel's Kozy Korner Cafe13.2 mi
India’s largest Food Delivery, Dining and Restaurant Discovery Service. Better food for more people.
- The Local13.4 mi
Fine-dining restaurant in the Great Sacandaga Lake region.
- Alpine Grille14.0 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.
Sip.
3- ADK Blend13.4 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee16.9 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.
- The PERKS of Speculator21.6 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.
Sweet.
4- Zippy's Ice Cream10.0 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 Scoop13.2 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.
- Cree-Mee Freeze15.3 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
- Speculator Creamery21.5 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.
Drink.
4- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse3.6 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 Hotel4.4 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.
- Sacandaga Spirits10.0 mi
Located in Mayfield, Sacandaga Spirits offers a selection of handcrafted wines, liquors, and ciders. Visitors are invited to experience their local Adirondack offerings.
- Sport Island Pub12.7 mi
Sport Island Pub offers great food, refreshing drinks, and friendly entertainment on the Great Sacandaga Lake. This family-run restaurant, with three generations of service, invites you to enjoy exquisite dishes for dine-in or take-out.
Stay.
4- Pine Lake Lodge4.6 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 Balsam Inn & Cafe5.9 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.
- The Bears Den Vacation Rental Resort6.0 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.
- Sunset Bay Vacation Resort— RV Park & Marina10.6 mi
Sunset Bay Vacation Resort is an all-seasonal RV Park and Marina on the southwestern shore of Great Sacandaga Lake. This gated community offers full RV hookups, a private beach, marina, and boat launch, along with amenities like a cafe, pl…
See.
4- Grandview Mini Golf10.1 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.
- Historic Copeland Covered Bridge16.8 mi
The Historic Copeland Covered Bridge is a 35-foot Queenpost truss bridge built in 1879 by Arad Copeland in Edinburg, Saratoga County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the only covered bridge remaining in Saratoga C…
- Speculator Historical Museum21.7 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 Falls23.1 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Holmes Lake located?Holmes Lake is a lake in the Great Sacandaga Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Holmes Lake?Holmes Lake has a surface area of approximately 16 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Holmes Lake open to the public?Yes, Holmes Lake 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 Holmes Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Holmes Lake: 43 designated campsites, 4 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.