Mud Pond.
Mud Pond — 111 acres near Saranac Lake — is one of those moderately sized ponds that lives in the gap between roadside accessibility and true backcountry destination, common enough in name that confirming you've found the right one on a map matters. No fish species data on record suggests either limited access, minimal stocking history, or both — the kind of water that gets overlooked in a region dense with better-known trout ponds. Worth confirming access and current conditions with the local DEC office in Ray Brook before committing to a trip; "Mud Pond" appears six times across the Park, and this one doesn't yet have the detail to distinguish it from the others.
Mud Pond reaches a maximum depth of 5 feet, with a mean depth of 3 feet. Mud Pond has public access. Summits nearby include McKillip Mountain and Duncan Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
10 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.
- 01Rt.3 Shoulder Parking LotTrailhead1.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Parking Area1.1 mipavedDirections →
- 03Casey Road Parking2.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Casey Road Parking Lot2.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Union Falls Road Parking Lot3.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Union Falls Informal Boat Launch Parking3.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Goldsmith Road Parking Area4.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 087 Mile Road Parking Area4.6 miunpavedDirections →
+2 more on the map above
Getting in, staying over.
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- The Hungry Trout14.2 mi
Situated on the West Branch of the Ausable River, the Hungry Trout offers two distinct dining experiences, from an upscale restaurant to a lively tavern.
- Artisans at the Lake Placid Lodge17.9 mi
The restaurant at the Lake Placid Lodge, a Relais and Chateaux property, serving a seasonal farm-to-fork menu in a fire-lit dining room with a three-season terrace over the lake. Breakfast and dinner daily.
- Heritage Indian Grill18.7 mi
Heritage Indian Grill in Lake Placid offers a vibrant exploration of Indian cuisine, presenting a curated selection of traditional recipes and contemporary creations.
- Monday Tuesday Grill18.7 mi
Monday Tuesday Grill in Upper Jay offers fresh, friendly, and affordable comfort meals for indoor, outdoor, and takeout dining, including grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, and Swedish meatballs.
Sip.
4- Saranac Juice13.9 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.
- Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe17.2 mi
Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe is a coffee shop in Upper Jay, NY, serving fresh, slow-roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch daily. Located near Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack State Park, it also offers local beer and cocktails, with…
- Simply Gourmet18.8 mi
Simply Gourmet in Lake Placid offers daily breakfast and lunch with a focus on clean food, using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients free of additives or preservatives. They also provide comprehensive catering services for various ev…
- Nori's Village Market19.1 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.
Sweet.
4- Whitebrook Dairy Bar12.6 mi
A classic roadside drive-in on Route 86 in Wilmington, five minutes from Whiteface — creamy soft serve (try the peanut-butter dip) plus footlongs and the Wilmington burger. Opening day is a local rite of spring.
- Sugar House Creamery17.0 mi
Sugar House Creamery is a farmstead creamery located in the Adirondacks, producing artisanal cheeses from the milk of their own cows. They offer a variety of cheeses, showcasing the quality of their local dairy.
- Ben & Jerry's19.8 mi
The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop on Lake Placid's Main Street above Mirror Lake — the Vermont brand's pints and cones in the heart of the village.
- Emma's Lake Placid Creamery19.8 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- Hex and Hop Brewing13.3 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.
- R.F. McDougall's Pub14.2 mi
The casual sibling of the Hungry Trout Restaurant, sharing the same Adirondack riverside property next to Whiteface. Pub food, regional beers, and the same view of the West Branch Ausable at a more relaxed price point.
- Top of the Park18.9 mi
A Lake Placid bar on Main Street offering a curated selection of wine, scotch, bourbon, craft beer, and top-shelf liquors, complemented by small plates and signature cocktails. Enjoy 'Spirits with a View' from its large deck overlooking Mi…
- RiverTrail Beerworks19.0 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…
Stay.
4- Adirondack Spruce Lodge12.9 mi
Twenty-seven-room independent lodge in Wilmington village, minutes from Whiteface Mountain and walking distance from the Ausable River. Complimentary breakfast, fire pit, and Adirondack-character rooms.
- Cadence Lodge at Whiteface12.9 mi
Cadence Lodge in Wilmington, NY, offers an ideal base camp for outdoor adventurers. The property features recently updated guest rooms with amenities to enhance your stay, including a restaurant onsite, weekend breakfast options, and…
- Wolfjaw Lodge12.9 mi
Welcome to the totally transformed Wolfjaw Lodge, located at the base of Whiteface Mountain, just a 2-minute drive from both Whiteface and Wilmington beach. Each of our 2 private houses and 11 lodge rooms and suites has been recently…
- Mountain Brook Lodge13.0 mi
Welcome to your home away from home! Mountain Brook Lodge offers a unique blend of comfort and convenience, ensuring your stay is memorable. We pride ourselves on offering a variety of amenities to make your stay as comfortable as…
See.
4- Summit Weather Observatory13.6 mi
The Summit Weather Observatory, part of the University at Albany's Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), provides real-time weather conditions and data from its observatory at the summit of Whiteface Mountain and a field station at…
- High Falls Gorge15.0 mi
A 22-acre privately owned nature park on Route 86 in Wilmington with rim trails, glass-floor walkways over Ausable River waterfalls, a cafe, and gift shop. Open year-round, weather permitting.
- THE GREAT ADIRONDACK CORN MAZE15.8 mi
The Great Adirondack Corn Maze at Tucker Farms in Gabriels offers a new maze design each year, providing a fun experience of getting lost in the cornfield.
- White Pine Camp16.7 mi
The 1907 Great Camp on Osgood Pond that served as Calvin Coolidge's Summer White House in the summer of 1926. Seasonal guided tours, and several cottages rent by the week.
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- Where is Mud Pond located?Mud Pond is a pond in the Saranac Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Mud Pond?Mud Pond has a surface area of approximately 111 acres, a mid-sized water.
- How deep is Mud Pond?Mud Pond has a maximum depth of 5 feet, with a mean depth of 2.6 feet.
- Is Mud Pond open to the public?Yes, Mud 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 Mud Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Mud Pond: 10 designated campsites, 2 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.