Lake Frances.
Lake Frances is a 14-acre pond in the Saranac Lake region — small enough to fish from shore in an afternoon, large enough to paddle without feeling landlocked. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either intermittent winter kill or a pond that's simply off the stocking rotation and under-surveyed. The name suggests private-land history (likely a landowner's family member), and many ponds in this size class near Saranac Lake sit on mixed public-private parcels — check local access before launching. Worth a call to the regional DEC office or a stop at a Saranac Lake fly shop for current conditions and clarity on where you can legally wet a line.
Lake Frances has public access. Summits nearby include Long Pond Mountain and Humbug Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
5 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.
- 01Deer River Flow Parking LotTrailhead4.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Twin Ponds Parking Area5.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Everton Falls Parking Lot5.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 04East Branch Parking Lot5.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Pinnacle Road Parking6.9 miunpavedDirections →
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.
1— 23.3 mi to the nearest table out here; plan the drive to dinner.
Sip.
1— 24.2 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Drink.
2- Hex and Hop Brewing23.1 mi
Hex and Hop Brewing is a craft brewery and meadery in Bloomingdale, New York, making full-flavored, locally sourced beer and mead. They prioritize community and craft, using fresh, local ingredients.
- The 1892 Bar & Grille23.3 mi
The 1892 Bar & Grille is a locally owned rustic bar and restaurant in Lake Clear, NY, offering homemade food. Recently under new ownership, it brings fresh energy and an updated menu to its patrons.
— 23.1 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
2- The St. Regis Suites18.9 mi
Five well-appointed suites of various sizes, between Saranac Lake and Paul Smith's College in Gabriels, NY. Renovated by Cedar Circle LLC with green building techniques. Stays from three days to three months.
- Hohmeyer's Lake Clear Lodge & Resort23.4 mi
Wooded lakefront resort featuring homey rooms & cabins, local dining, a pub & outdoor recreation.
— 18.9 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
See.
3- White Pine Camp17.2 mi
The 1907 Great Camp on Osgood Pond that served as Calvin Coolidge's Summer White House in the summer of 1926. Seasonal guided tours, and several cottages rent by the week.
- Topridge19.4 mi
The sprawling Gilded Age estate Marjorie Merriweather Post built on Upper St. Regis Lake — later New York State's, now privately held. Best seen from the St. Regis lakes.
- THE GREAT ADIRONDACK CORN MAZE20.5 mi
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze at Tucker Farms in Gabriels offers a new maze design each year, providing a fun experience of getting lost in the cornfield.
— 17.2 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 Lake Frances located?Lake Frances is a pond in the Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Lake Frances?Lake Frances has a surface area of approximately 14 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Lake Frances open to the public?Yes, Lake Frances 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 Lake Frances?Within roughly seven miles of Lake Frances: 2 designated campsites. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.