McKenzie Pond.
McKenzie Pond is a 241-acre water northwest of Saranac Lake village — large enough to hold serious water in a blow, tucked into working forest between the hamlet and the St. Regis Canoe Area. The pond sits in that middle ground of Adirondack access: not a roadside pull-off, not a backcountry destination, but the kind of water that requires asking around or studying the DeLorme for the put-in. No fish species data on file with DEC, which often means either it's been unstocked for decades or it holds wild populations that don't get surveyed — brook trout or yellow perch are the usual suspects in ponds this size at this elevation. Check with local outfitters in Saranac Lake for current access and whether it's worth the paddle.
McKenzie Pond reaches a maximum depth of 53 feet, with a mean depth of 23 feet. McKenzie Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Little McKenzie Mountain and Baker Mountain.
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.
- 01Beta Parking for Jackrabbit TrailTrailhead1.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Jack Rabbit Trail Pulloff1.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Baker Mtn. Parking1.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Mckenzie Bouldering Trail Parking1.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Lake Flower Boat Launch Parking2.1 mipavedDirections →
- 06Turtle Pond Access2.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 07DEC parking 226302.2 mipavedDirections →
- 08Oseetah Trails Trail Parking2.2 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
McKenzie Pond.
From the people who’ve been here, plus what Google has on file.
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 14 recent seasons — the ledger below is the public record.
The stocking record.
Launch & supply.
Getting in, staying over.
On the water.
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- Blue Line Brewery2.0 mi
A brewery and restaurant on Lake Flower Avenue in Saranac Lake, doing thin-crust South Shore-style bar pizza and Wing Wars-winning wings alongside the house beer. The third-oldest brewery in the Adirondacks.
- Tail O' the Pup2.3 mi
A roadside stop offering barbecue, seafood, and casual fare, with a history stretching back over a century.
- ADK Street Eats2.3 mi
Food trailer at 1179 NY-86 in Ray Brook, between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake. Chef-driven menu of tacos (Carne Asada, Al Pastor), lobster rolls, ADK Spiedies, and Rochester Hot Meats. Tuesday–Sunday.
- Our Plates2.4 mi
Our Plates offers Caribbean and Southern-inspired cuisine for pickup at 7 Broadway. Enjoy dishes like Empanadas Locas, Dominican Chimi Burgers, Bistec Encebollado, and Tres Leches cake.
Sip.
4- Nori's Village Market2.3 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.
- Origin Coffee2.4 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.
- Blue Moon2.4 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.
- Saranac Juice4.4 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- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream2.2 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.
- Mountain Mist Custard2.6 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.
- Mark Twain Maple Works3.7 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.
- Emma's Lake Placid Creamery6.2 mi
A 1950s-themed creamery in the heart of walkable Lake Placid, famous for its Maple Creme soft serve alongside 16 hard flavors, gelato, sorbet, and old-fashioned malts. The reliable apres-hike treat.
Drink.
4- RiverTrail Beerworks2.2 mi
RiverTrail Beerworks is Saranac Lake’s only riverfront brewpub, located on the Saranac Lake River Walk and Rail Trail. It features a heated patio, firepits, two golf simulators, and serves lunch and dinner daily with house-brewed beers and…
- Ray Brook Brewhouse2.2 mi
Ray Brook Brewhouse is a unique brewery in Ray Brook, NY, offering wild and traditional brews paired with adventurous dishes made from local and exotic ingredients.
- Bitters & Bones2.4 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…
- Hex and Hop Brewing5.4 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.
Stay.
4- Mountain Lake Inn2.0 mi
Down-to-earth hotel featuring lake views & a restaurant, as well as an indoor pool.
- voco Saranac Lake NY - Waterfront by IHG2.1 mi
A waterfront IHG hotel on Lake Flower in Saranac Lake with an indoor pool, hot tub, pet-friendly rooms, and the on-site Lakeside Drift restaurant. Walking distance to downtown.
- Prescott House ADK2.1 mi
Welcome to Prescott House ADK, a cozy guesthouse in Saranac Lake that accommodates hikers, skiers, and history enthusiasts. The property features rooms with private or shared baths, a common kitchen, eating area, and a recreation room with…
- Gauthiers Saranac Lake Inn2.1 mi
This family-owned inn, established in **1923**, offers renovated, eco-conscious waterfront lodging with direct access to Saranac Lake's extensive waterways.
See.
4- Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage2.0 mi
The Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum in Saranac Lake, New York, was the residence of the famous author of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island. It preserves his personal belongings and is the world's first site dedicated to Ste…
- Ice Palace at the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival2.1 mi
The Ice Palace is a prominent feature of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a historic annual celebration in New York State established in 1897.
- Adirondack Carousel2.3 mi
A community-built carousel on Depot Street in Saranac Lake, with hand-carved Adirondack animals (bear, loon, deer, otter) instead of horses. Year-round, indoors, and the best rainy-day move in town for kids under 8.
- Adirondack Birding Center2.4 mi
The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation protects common loons in the Adirondack Park through research, conservation, and education. They focus on understanding and mitigating human impacts to ensure loons thrive as environmental sentin…
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- Where is McKenzie Pond located?McKenzie Pond is a pond in the Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is McKenzie Pond?McKenzie Pond has a surface area of approximately 241 acres, a mid-sized water.
- How deep is McKenzie Pond?McKenzie Pond has a maximum depth of 53 feet, with a mean depth of 22.6 feet.
- Is McKenzie Pond open to the public?Yes, McKenzie 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 McKenzie Pond?Within roughly seven miles of McKenzie Pond: 37 designated campsites, 8 lean-tos or shelters, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.