Military Lake.
Military Lake is a 19-acre water tucked into the Long Lake township — quiet, off the main corridors, and largely outside the standard hiking circuit. No fish records on file with DEC, which usually means either the lake doesn't hold trout or it's simply not stocked and not sampled. Access details are sparse: this is one of those waters that exists in the gaps between the trailhead system, likely reached by bushwhack or private road if at all. If you're mapping backcountry routes in the Long Lake area and come across it, expect solitude — and low odds of a established campsite or maintained path.
Military Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Goodnow Mountain and Catlin Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
7 parking areas· 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.
- 01Camp Santanoni Parking LotTrailhead3.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Parking Area4.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Essex Chain Equestrian Staging Area5.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Fifth Lake Permit Parking6.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Fifth Lake Accessible Parking6.5 mi
- 06Polaris Bridge Parking Area6.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Deer Pond Road Parking Lot6.7 miunpavedDirections →
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
The waters.
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 Lake Diner & Owl’s Head Pub9.8 mi
Long Lake Diner & Owl's Head Pub has been proudly serving food, beverages, and memories since 2004.
- Northern Borne9.8 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.
- Long View Lodge Restaurant11.5 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.
- Chef Darrell’s Mountain Diner13.2 mi
Chef Darrell’s Mountain Diner: the best Diner in Indian Lake, NY. Order directly online today for takeout or delivery. Save money, support local business!
Sip.
4- Waypoint Cafe10.0 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 Shop13.2 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.
- Origin Coffee24.1 mi
Origin Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, offering a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu served all day. It serves as a community gathering spot for locals and Adirondack travelers.
- The Coffee Bar24.3 mi
A small coffee bar on Main Street in Lake Placid with Mirror Lake and Whiteface Mountain views, pulling shots from Tug Hill Artisan Roasters beans.
Sweet.
4- Custard’s Last Stand9.7 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.
- The Park9.7 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.
- Skyline Ice Cream20.3 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.
- The Hungry Crow Market & Café22.9 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.
Drink.
4- Brookside Hops & Hoagies9.7 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 Lake13.4 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.
- Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store13.8 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…
- Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar19.9 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.
Stay.
4- The Pilot's House4.8 mi
The Pilot's House sits above the Outfitter's storefront, with a wonderful view of Vanderwhacker Mt. and the Hudson River, and Santanoni Mt as a backdrop.
- Motel Long Lake & Cottages9.7 mi
A family-owned lakefront property on Dock Road in Long Lake with 8 motel rooms and 18 cottages on 3.4 acres of frontage. Private beach, two boat docks, boat rentals, and walking distance to the hamlet.
- Adirondack Herrenhaus9.8 mi
A vacation rental in Long Lake in the central Adirondacks — a home base for paddling, hiking, and quiet days on the water.
- Adirondack Hotel9.9 mi
A 20-room hotel from the 1850s on Long Lake's main street, with a fine-dining room, a casual lakeview taproom, and a veranda that earns its keep from June through foliage.
See.
4- Newcomb Ski Slope2.7 mi
2 slope municipal ski slope free to the public.
- Camp Santanoni5.2 mi
Built by the wealthy Pruyn family, Camp Santanoni is a publicly-owned National Historic Landmark, offering visitors a glimpse into the early Adirondack Great Camp era and opportunities for outdoor recreation.
- Blue Mountain Fire Observation Station11.5 mi
Blue Mountain offers a rewarding fire tower hike in the Central Adirondacks, featuring sweeping views and historical significance, with a world-class museum located at its base.
- Adirondack Experience — Museum on Blue Mountain Lake13.1 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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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.
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Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
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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 Military Lake located?Military Lake is a lake in the Long Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Military Lake?Military Lake has a surface area of approximately 19 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Military Lake open to the public?Yes, Military 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 Military Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Military Lake: 29 designated campsites, 6 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.