Pitchfork Pond.
Pitchfork Pond is a 33-acre backcountry water in the Tupper Lake wild — remote enough that most paddlers and anglers stick to the better-known ponds in the area, but big enough to feel less like a puddle and more like a destination once you're standing at the shoreline. No formal fish stocking records on file, which often means brook trout if the pond has cold inlet water and depth, or nothing if it's shallow and warm — worth a cast if you're already out there. The name suggests old logging-era geography or a forked shoreline feature, typical of the working-forest nomenclature that still dots the northwestern park. Access details and current trail conditions are worth confirming with the regional DEC office before you go.
Pitchfork Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Iron Mountain and Mount Matumbla.
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.
- 01DEC parking 228694Trailhead2.9 mipavedDirections →
- 02Floodwood Mountain Trail Parking5.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Floodwood Reservation Trail Parking5.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 04West Pine Pond Trail Parking5.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Long Pond Parking Lot5.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 06East Pine Pond Fishing Access Parking5.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Black Pond Water Access Parking6.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Floodwood Crossing Parking Lot6.2 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
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.
4- PorkBusters BBQ2.8 mi
PorkBusters BBQ is a Tupper Lake restaurant serving barbecue dishes seven days a week from 11 AM to 9 PM. They offer a menu for dine-in or takeout, plus catering for parties and events.
- Amado4.4 mi
A small restaurant on Cliff Avenue in Tupper Lake serving Brazilian dishes (moqueca, feijoada) alongside lamb pot pie, fish fry, and a clearly marked vegan section. Homemade desserts.
- Guido's Pizzeria4.4 mi
Guido's Pizzeria in Tupper Lake has been serving hand-thrown pizzas, subs, calzones, dinners, and wings since 1988. They offer free delivery within the Town of Tupper Lake on any size order and make fresh dough daily.
- ADK Food Hub4.7 mi
A year-round market and casual eatery on Park Street in Tupper Lake, with a deli case, pantry staples, and a summer buffet built around the on-site Whitten Family Farm. Sunday farmhouse breakfast in July and August.
Sip.
4- Blue Moon18.5 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.
- Origin Coffee18.5 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.
- Nori's Village Market18.6 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.
- Waypoint Cafe21.6 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.
— 18.5 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- Skyline Ice Cream4.7 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.
- Mark Twain Maple Works17.1 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.
- Mountain Mist Custard18.5 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.
- Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream20.4 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.
Drink.
4- Raquette River Brewing4.2 mi
A family- and dog-friendly taproom pouring year-round craft beer alongside four permanent food trucks, from wood-fired pizza to Carolina barbecue.
- Lakeview Lanes & The Foul Line Sports Bar5.3 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.
- The 1892 Bar & Grille14.5 mi
The 1892 Bar & Grille is a locally owned rustic bar and restaurant in Lake Clear, NY, offering homemade food. Recently under new ownership, it brings fresh energy and an updated menu to its patrons.
- Bitters & Bones18.5 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…
Stay.
4- Trailhead Hotel in Tupper Lake, NY4.7 mi
A motel on Park Street in Tupper Lake with an outdoor pool, basketball court, putting green, mini-golf, free breakfast, and voice-controlled smart-room features. ADA-accessible rooms available.
- Park Motel and Cabins4.8 mi
Woodsy rooms & cabins in a family-owned motel offering an outdoor pool & free continental breakfast.
- Northwood Cabins5.5 mi
Straightforward cabins with TVs & porches on a wooded property offering fire pits.
- Pine Terrace Motel & Resort6.2 mi
Waterfront motel offers basic cabins with kitchens & WiFi plus pool & tennis courts.
See.
4- The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory2.4 mi
Free 2-Day Space Camp at the Adirondack Sky Center Calling all future space explorers— get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure! Join us to explore some of the most fascinating topics in outer space! We’ll cover black holes, space tra…
- Adirondack Railroad3.0 mi
Adirondack Railroad offers scenic train experiences through the beautiful outdoor scenery of New York, departing from stations in Utica, Thendara, and Tupper Lake. They provide various themed rides, including special events and multi-hour…
- The Wild Center5.3 mi
Live animals, hands-on exhibits & forest trails connect guests with the Adirondacks.
- Topridge13.7 mi
The sprawling Gilded Age estate Marjorie Merriweather Post built on Upper St. Regis Lake — later New York State's, now privately held. Best seen from the St. Regis lakes.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Pitchfork Pond located?Pitchfork Pond is a pond in the Tupper Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Pitchfork Pond?Pitchfork Pond has a surface area of approximately 33 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Pitchfork Pond open to the public?Yes, Pitchfork 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 Pitchfork Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Pitchfork Pond: 114 designated campsites, 2 lean-tos or shelters, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.