Little Forked Lake.
Little Forked Lake is a 369-acre lake in the Whitney Wilderness, accessible only by paddling 4.5 miles from Raquette Lake through a chain of connecting waterways. No motorboats; the route's remoteness keeps traffic low, and NYSDEC maintains primitive campsites along the shore.
Little Forked Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Moose Pond Mountain and Negrohead Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
1 parking area· 1 accessible
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.
- 01DEC parking 18887Trailhead7.6 mi
Getting in, staying over.
Access.
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.
4- Long View Lodge Restaurant7.2 mi
Long View Lodge Restaurant on Long Lake offers a full-service dining experience with an award-winning chef. Known for its quality ingredients and an ever-changing menu in a warm, inviting Adirondack setting, no reservations are necessary.
- Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack8.9 mi
Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack is a family restaurant and bar with four Adirondack locations, offering homemade pizza, wings, and seafood. Guests can enjoy sports on high-def TVs, a full bar, and live music.
- Long Lake Diner & Owl’s Head Pub9.1 mi
Long Lake Diner & Owl's Head Pub has been proudly serving food, beverages, and memories since 2004.
- Northern Borne9.1 mi
Family-owned grocery and outdoor-supply store on Long Lake's Main Street, with organic, gluten-free, and vegan options plus a made-to-order deli counter. Camping and outdoor gear stocked alongside the grocery.
Sip.
4- Waypoint Cafe9.0 mi
Long Lake cafe at 1265 Main St. La Colombe coffee, homemade quiche, avocado toast, artisan sandwiches, salads, poke bowls, soups, and charcuterie. Closed Mondays; weeknight happy hour 4–6 p.m.
- Schoolhouse Grounds Coffee Shop9.6 mi
Seasonal coffee shop inside the 1895 schoolhouse that houses Blue Mountain Designs. Espresso, locally roasted coffee, loose-leaf tea, baked goods, avocado toast, sandwiches, and soups. May through October.
- Tamarack Cafe16.0 mi
Tamarack Cafe in downtown Inlet serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, from traditional favorites and specialty bowls to creative salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The cafe also features an 18-hole mini-golf course.
- Blue Line Coffee House16.0 mi
Blue Line Coffee House offers Adirondack-inspired apparel, handcrafted mugs, and mountain-themed gifts, along with pre-packaged coffee and coffee accessories. Products are available for nationwide shipping, and local customers can order dr…
Sweet.
4- The Park9.1 mi
Trying to find a fast food restaurant in Long Lake? Pay a visit to The Park. We offer a range of burgers, sides, ice cream, drinks and coffee options.
- Custard’s Last Stand9.1 mi
Custard's Last Stand is a historic ice cream shop in Long Lake, established in 1958, serving a variety of soft frozen custard & hard ice cream, sundaes, specialty shakes, floats, and ice cream sodas. They also offer merchandise and gift cards.
- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.16.1 mi
An Inlet institution for 40-plus years, a short walk from Arrowhead Park on Fourth Lake — soft serve, homemade gelato, floats, flurries, and specialty sundaes.
- Skyline Ice Cream20.9 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.
Drink.
4- Brookside Hops & Hoagies9.2 mi
Brookside Hops & Hoagies is a casual, family-friendly shop in Long Lake, founded in 2023, offering craft beers and hoagies made with fresh ingredients and Boars Head deli meats. It operates Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
- Hex and Hop Tasting Room - Blue Mountain Lake9.8 mi
Hex and Hop is a craft brewery and meadery located in Bloomingdale, New York. They offer full-flavored, high-quality craft beer and mead, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing community and craft.
- Daiker's19.0 mi
Daikers is an Adirondack pitstop in Old Forge, NY, offering seasonal and local dining with a deck overlooking Fourth Lake. Their caring and committed staff ensure a fantastic experience for guests.
- Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store19.5 mi
Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store offers a full bar with an extensive bottle selection and local drafts, alongside a menu featuring appetizers, sandwiches, and entrees. The restaurant is currently closed for mud season and wi…
Stay.
4- Forked Lake Campground4.0 mi
Forked Lake Campground is situated on the east shore of 1248-acre Forked Lake. This remote campground offers a great wilderness experience, featuring beautiful surroundings and comprehensive planning for visitors.
- Tioga Point Campground - Lean-To - Site #86.3 mi
Tioga Point Campground is a primitive campground located in Raquette Lake, NY with 15 lean-tos and 10 tent sites.
- Tioga Point Campground - Lean-To - Site #76.4 mi
A specific lean-to site (Site #7) at the DEC's Tioga Point Campground on Long Lake, with shoreline access reachable primarily by boat. Reservations through DEC.
- Tioga Point Campground - Lean-To - Site #96.4 mi
Tioga Point Campground is a primitive campground located in Raquette Lake, NY with 15 lean-tos and 10 tent sites.
See.
4- John Dillon Park7.3 mi
John Dillon Park, run by Paul Smith's College, is an accessible outdoor recreation area in Long Lake featuring a 3.5-mile accessible trail system, lean-tos, and fishing access. It is closed for the summer 2026 season for water system impro…
- Camp Pine Knot7.9 mi
William West Durant's 1877 compound on Raquette Lake — the camp that invented the Adirondack Great Camp style. Now SUNY Cortland's Huntington Memorial Camp, an outdoor-education center with occasional public programs.
- BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER8.2 mi
Blue Mountain Center is a working community of writers, artists, and activists set in the heart of the Adirondacks, the largest state park in the continental U.S.
- Adirondack Experience — Museum on Blue Mountain Lake8.7 mi
More than 20 buildings across 121 acres hold interactive exhibitions on Adirondack life, from boat collections and photography archives to outdoor activities and a research library.
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- Where is Little Forked Lake located?Little Forked Lake is a lake in the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Little Forked Lake?Little Forked Lake has a surface area of approximately 619 acres, a mid-sized water.
- Is Little Forked Lake open to the public?Yes, Little Forked 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 Little Forked Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Little Forked Lake: 72 designated campsites, 28 lean-tos or shelters, 2 listed campgrounds. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.