Palmer Creek.
Palmer Creek drains a small watershed in the Old Forge area — one of dozens of named tributaries feeding the Fulton Chain or Moose River network, depending on which side of the divide it falls. No fish stocking records on file, no marked trails or DEC campsites tied directly to the creek itself; it's the kind of water that shows up on the topo map but not in the guidebooks. Most paddlers and anglers working this corner of the Park focus on the bigger arteries — the Moose, the Middle Branch, the chain lakes — and Palmer Creek stays in the background. Worth a look if you're already in the drainage and want to confirm what a headwater stream looks like before it picks up volume.
Palmer Creek has public access. Summits nearby include Bald Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
6 parking areas· 3 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.
- 01Parking AreaTrailhead3.2 mi
- 02Jakes Pond Parking Area3.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Parking Area4.4 mi
- 04Parking Area4.8 mi
- 05South Creek Lake Parking Area5.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Sand Pond Parking6.8 miunpavedDirections →
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
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.
1— 21.1 mi to the nearest table out here; plan the drive to dinner.
Stay.
3- Norridgewock Lodge17.6 mi
NORRIDGEWOCK LODGE, an oasis in the Adirondack Mountains. Our lakeside resort is the perfect remote vacation in the wilderness of the Beaver River. Book online!
- The Waldheim22.6 mi
A rustic resort with log-cottages featuring porches with lake views, plus 3 included meals a day.
- Covewood Lodge23.5 mi
A Great Camp-style lodge on Big Moose Lake in Eagle Bay, with 19 housekeeping cottages and Main Lodge apartments and rooms. Open May through October, with kids' programming and weekly campfires from late June to Labor Day.
— 17.6 mi to the nearest bed on the register; book before you go.
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- Where is Palmer Creek located?Palmer Creek is a stream in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- Is Palmer Creek open to the public?Yes, Palmer Creek 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 Palmer Creek?Within roughly seven miles of Palmer Creek: 14 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.