Lead Pond.
Lead Pond sits northeast of Tupper Lake village — an 89-acre body that punches above its size class in the local pond hierarchy but remains largely off the recreational radar for anyone not working from local knowledge. No fish stocking records and no DEC survey data in recent years, which usually means wild brookies or nothing; the pond's name suggests old mining or industrial history, though specifics are lost to time. Access is likely via unmaintained woods roads or private land — the kind of water you reach by asking around at a tackle shop or studying old survey maps. Not a destination pond, but worth the effort if you're already deep in the Tupper Lake backcountry and need a reason to bushwhack.
Lead Pond reaches a maximum depth of 12 feet, with a mean depth of 6 feet. Lead Pond has public access.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
12 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.
- 01Black Pond Water Access ParkingTrailhead2.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Crusher Boat Launch Parking3.1 mipavedDirections →
- 03Deer Pond (Rt30/3) Trail Parking3.3 mipavedDirections →
- 04Echo Pond Water Access Parking3.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Deer Pond Trail Parking Lot3.4 mipavedDirections →
- 06Rt 30 Intersection Misc Parking3.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Trombley Landing Parking Lot3.7 mipavedDirections →
- 08DEC parking 2286943.8 mipavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
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- ADK Food Hub4.3 mi
A year-round market and casual eatery on Park Street in Tupper Lake, with a deli case, pantry staples, and a summer buffet built around the on-site Whitten Family Farm. Sunday farmhouse breakfast in July and August.
- PorkBusters BBQ4.5 mi
PorkBusters BBQ is a Tupper Lake restaurant serving barbecue dishes seven days a week from 11 AM to 9 PM. They offer a menu for dine-in or takeout, plus catering for parties and events.
- Guido's Pizzeria4.7 mi
Guido's Pizzeria in Tupper Lake has been serving hand-thrown pizzas, subs, calzones, dinners, and wings since 1988. They offer free delivery within the Town of Tupper Lake on any size order and make fresh dough daily.
- Amado4.8 mi
A small restaurant on Cliff Avenue in Tupper Lake serving Brazilian dishes (moqueca, feijoada) alongside lamb pot pie, fish fry, and a clearly marked vegan section. Homemade desserts.
Sip.
4- Blue Moon14.2 mi
Blue Moon Café in Saranac Lake offers dine-in, pick-up, and curbside delivery services. Guests can enjoy weekly specials, restaurant menus, baked goods, coffee, grocery items, and adult beverages.
- Origin Coffee14.2 mi
Origin Coffee Co is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake serving a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu.
- Nori's Village Market14.3 mi
Nori's Village Market and Riverside Cafe offers a market with organic and local produce, bulk foods, coffee, and teas, alongside a cafe serving natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and local meat options.
- Saranac Juice18.3 mi
Cold-pressed juices, cleanses, protein elixirs, and nut mylks from Saranac River Ranch in Bloomingdale, made from organic produce grown on the farm or sourced from local Adirondack growers.
Sweet.
4- Skyline Ice Cream4.8 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Tupper Lake since 1985 — vanilla and black-raspberry twists, gelato, Dole Whip, and Michigans, now with an expanded burger-and-fries menu.
- Mark Twain Maple Works12.8 mi
Mark Twain Maple Works produces New York State maple syrup on the shore of Saranac Lake in the Adirondack Park. They have been making syrup since 2013, expanding their operation and offering various grades.
- Mountain Mist Custard14.1 mi
A summer fixture on the shore of Lake Flower in Saranac Lake, with picnic tables and a dock you can tie a boat to. Frozen custard and soft serve with weekly-rotating flavors, shakes, and sundaes.
- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream16.0 mi
A fourth-generation Saranac Lake institution on a former dairy farm, serving exactly one rotating soft-serve flavor each day — twisted with vanilla on the same 1953 machine. Cash only; check the daily flavor. Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Drink.
4- Raquette River Brewing5.1 mi
A family- and dog-friendly taproom pouring year-round craft beer alongside four permanent food trucks, from wood-fired pizza to Carolina barbecue.
- Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar5.7 mi
Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar in Tupper Lake offers 8 lanes of bowling, an arcade, a sports bar, and outdoor seating with food and drinks for family fun.
- The 1892 Bar & Grille10.7 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.
- Bitters & Bones14.2 mi
Saranac Lake's only downtown brewery, restaurant, and bar, Bitters & Bones offers craft beer brewed upstairs, fresh local cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and craft cocktails. It features rooftop decks and unique private event spa…
Stay.
4- Fish Creek Pond Campground3.1 mi
This expansive campground offers 355 sites with direct water access to Fish Creek and Square Ponds, providing ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming from May to October.
- Northwood Cabins3.2 mi
Straightforward cabins with TVs & porches on a wooded property offering fire pits.
- Park Motel and Cabins4.2 mi
Woodsy rooms & cabins in a family-owned motel offering an outdoor pool & free continental breakfast.
- Trailhead Hotel in Tupper Lake, NY4.3 mi
A motel on Park Street in Tupper Lake with an outdoor pool, basketball court, putting green, mini-golf, free breakfast, and voice-controlled smart-room features. ADA-accessible rooms available.
See.
4- The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory3.4 mi
Free 2-Day Space Camp at the Adirondack Sky Center Calling all future space explorers— get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure! Join us to explore some of the most fascinating topics in outer space! We’ll cover black holes, space tra…
- Adirondack Railroad4.3 mi
Adirondack Railroad offers scenic train experiences through the beautiful outdoor scenery of New York, departing from stations in Utica, Thendara, and Tupper Lake. They provide various themed rides, including special events and multi-hour…
- The Wild Center4.4 mi
Live animals, hands-on exhibits & forest trails connect guests with the Adirondacks.
- Topridge10.9 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.
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- Where is Lead Pond located?Lead Pond is a pond in the Tupper Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Lead Pond?Lead Pond has a surface area of approximately 89 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Lead Pond?Lead Pond has a maximum depth of 12 feet, with a mean depth of 5.6 feet.
- Is Lead Pond open to the public?Yes, Lead 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 Lead Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Lead Pond: 303 designated campsites, 7 lean-tos or shelters, 2 listed campgrounds. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.