
Porter Brook.
Porter Brook flows through the Indian Lake region — a network of small streams and wetlands that feed the central Adirondack reservoir system, far enough off the tourist corridors that most paddlers and anglers stick to the main lakes. No formal access points or named trails on record, and the fisheries data is silent — typical for tributary streams in this part of the park that see more moose than foot traffic. If you're poking around the Indian Lake backcountry with a topo map and waders, Porter Brook is the kind of water you cross or follow, not the destination itself.
Porter Brook has public access. Summits nearby include Beaver Mountain and Burgess 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.
- 01Snowy Mountain Trail ParkingTrailhead2.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Watch Hill Parking Area3.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Sprague Pond Parking Area4.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Big Brook Rd Parking Lot4.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Sawyer Mountain Trail Parking5.0 mipavedDirections →
- 06Sawyer Mountain Parking Lot5.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Rock River Trail Parking Lot5.1 mipavedDirections →
- 08John Pond Parking Lot5.4 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
Getting in, staying over.
On the water.
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- McSweeney's Irish Pub4.3 mi
An Irish-style pub on Route 30 in Indian Lake serving comfort-food classics (shepherd's pie, fish and chips) seven days a week, year-round. The dependable dinner spot in town.
- Chef Darrell’s Mountain Diner9.3 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!
- Long View Lodge Restaurant15.7 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.
- Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack15.9 mi
Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack is a family restaurant and bar with four Adirondack locations, offering homemade pizza, wings, and seafood. Guests can enjoy sports on high-def TVs, a full bar, and live music.
Sip.
4- Schoolhouse Grounds Coffee Shop9.8 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.
- The PERKS of Speculator16.8 mi
Speculator coffee shop and bakery at 2855 NY-30. Specialty coffee, espresso, fresh-baked bagels and pastries, plus breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Gluten-free options across the bakery case.
- Waypoint Cafe16.9 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.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee22.9 mi
Uncle Carl's Coffee serves expertly crafted coffees, artisan teas, pastries, and light savory bites. They also offer daily quiche and bagels, along with homemade soups, frozen meals, local meats, and cheeses.
Sweet.
4- Custard’s Last Stand16.5 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 Park16.5 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.
- Speculator Creamery16.8 mi
A family-run village creamery anchoring Speculator's tiny downtown near Lake Pleasant — a genuine community summer hub. Wide-ranging soft-serve flavors, the 16oz Nor'Easter blend, and hand-dipped hard ice cream. Roughly May through September.
- The Hungry Crow Market & Café17.3 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.
— 16.5 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store4.3 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…
- Hex and Hop Tasting Room - Blue Mountain Lake9.6 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.
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain15.7 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Brookside Hops & Hoagies16.5 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.
Stay.
4- The Lorca Adirondacks1.4 mi
A classic Adirondack drive-in lodge rebuilt as a self-check-in contemporary boutique. Eight rooms walled in natural pine, with fire pits, grills, lawn games, a seasonal pool, and a short walk to Indian Lake.
- Camp Driftwood1.9 mi
Camp Driftwood offers 10 unique and comfortable rental cabins on the shores of Indian Lake in the Adirondack Park, providing a serene escape since 1919.
- Snowy Mountain Inn2.0 mi
Snowy Mountain Inn offers Bed & Breakfast lodging and secluded cottages with lake and mountain views, plus a "guests only" dining room featuring Real Pit Southern BBQ.
- Point Breeze Motel and Cottages2.7 mi
Family-run lakefront property on 9 acres in Indian Lake, with a small motel (daily) and four cottages (weekly). Private docks, sandy beach, and a fire pit on the lake. Set well back from the road.
See.
4- Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts9.6 mi
Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is a vibrant hub for creativity in the Adirondacks, offering inspiring performances, gallery exhibits, workshops, and community events for all ages.
- Blue Mountain Fire Observation Station9.9 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.
- BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER10.8 mi
Blue Mountain Center is a working community of writers, artists, and activists set in the heart of the Adirondacks, the largest state park in the continental U.S.
- Adirondack Experience — Museum on Blue Mountain Lake10.9 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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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 Porter Brook located?Porter Brook is a stream in the Indian Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- Is Porter Brook open to the public?Yes, Porter Brook 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 Porter Brook?Within roughly seven miles of Porter Brook: 58 designated campsites, 5 lean-tos or shelters, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.