Lake Desolation sits in the southern Adirondacks near the hamlet that shares its name — a 68-acre pond with year-round access and a mix of seasonal camps and open shoreline. The name undersells it: this is a working recreational pond with boat access and swimming, not a remote backcountry destination, and it sits just far enough from the Northway (Exit 15, ten minutes west) to stay off the summer tourist circuit. The pond drains into the Kayaderosseras Creek system, which eventually feeds the Hudson, and the surrounding low hills are second-growth hardwood — accessible Adirondack water without the altitude. No fish species data on file, but the pond sees regular angling pressure and supports a mix of warmwater fishery typical of the southern Park.
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data; surface and capacity from OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
+13 more on the map above
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.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
Suggest an edit →
What to do, where to stay, and what's reopening across the Park as the snow melts and the calendar fills.
A complete planning guide: difficulty by peak, common combo days, seasonal realities, and a sortable, filterable table of every summit.
Overnight, day, and trip camps in the Park — the camp belt, choosing the right fit, costs and financial aid, ACA accreditation, and the questions every parent should ask before they commit.