Lizard Pond.
Lizard Pond is a 22-acre water tucked into the woods near Speculator — small enough that it doesn't pull crowds, but large enough to feel like a destination if you're working the backcountry ponds in the southern Adirondacks. No fish data on record, which either means it's been overlooked by DEC surveys or it's too shallow and warm to hold trout through summer — a common story for ponds in this elevation band. Access details are scarce, likely a bushwhack or unmaintained path from one of the logging roads that web through this part of Hamilton County. If you're poking around the Route 8 / Route 30 corridor and want water that isn't on the weekend circuit, this is the kind of name worth investigating.
Lizard Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Gillingham Knoll and Mount Blue.
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.
- 01Garnet Lake Parking LotTrailhead1.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02W. Stony Creek Rd Baldwin Springs Parking2.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Mud Pond Homestead Parking Lot2.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Mud Pond Road Parking Lot3.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Bartman Road Parking Lot4.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Crane Mountain Parking Lot4.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 07E. Sacandaga Parking Lot5.0 mipavedDirections →
- 08Shanty Falls Parking Lot5.1 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
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Closest editorial picks for a meal, a scoop, a pint, a bed, and a sight worth your time.
Eat.
4- becks TAVERN12.4 mi
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Sip.
4- Uncle Carl's Coffee13.8 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 Speculator15.8 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.
- Caffe Vero17.8 mi
Breakfast, baked goods, sandwiches & house-roasted coffee in a comfy, earth-toned cafe.
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Sweet.
4- The Hungry Crow Market & Café13.1 mi
A downtown North Creek market and cafe serving soft serve alongside scratch-made desserts, next to Hudson River Trading Co. — the cone stop in the Gore and Upper Hudson area.
- Main Street Ice Cream Parlor15.6 mi
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- Crossroads Ice Cream16.0 mi
The ice cream counter at The Crossroads, a country and outdoors store off I-87 Exit 25 in Chestertown between Schroon and Brant Lake — hard and soft ice cream on the road north.
- Speculator Creamery16.1 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- Bandstand Brew Works13.4 mi
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- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain15.8 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Lemon Tree Brewery15.8 mi
Lemon Tree Brewery is a brewery and taproom located in Speculator, NY, steps from Lake Pleasant. It offers house brews like SASQUATCH HAZY IPA and Blueberry Wheat, along with other local NY State micro-brewed beers and wines in a relaxed s…
Stay.
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Rustic, all-inclusive ranch-style resort set on a river offering horseback riding, dining & pools.
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See.
4- The Promise Gardens Estate of the Adirondacks10.5 mi
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- Ampersand Christine Falls13.2 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
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Saved from demolition, this 1872 landmark station is now a museum, heritage center, and cultural hub in historic North Creek, featuring a fabulous diorama and exhibits on the Adirondack Railroad, Theodore Roosevelt, and local history.
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- Where is Lizard Pond located?Lizard Pond is a pond in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Lizard Pond?Lizard Pond has a surface area of approximately 22 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Lizard Pond open to the public?Yes, Lizard 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 Lizard Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Lizard Pond: 47 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.