Prairie Lake.
Prairie Lake is a six-acre pond in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that it sits below the threshold where most recreational paddlers start to notice a body of water, and far enough from the High Peaks or Wild Forest trail networks that it operates in relative anonymity. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either intermittent stocking that didn't take or a pond that's been off the recreational radar long enough that no one's filed a survey. The name suggests old farmland or meadow flooding — common in the southern Adirondacks where settlement patterns pushed deeper before the Park boundaries were drawn. Worth checking local access before planning a trip; many small ponds in this region are bounded by private land or legacy camps.
Prairie Lake reaches a maximum depth of 15 feet, with a mean depth of 5 feet. Prairie Lake has public access.
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.
- 01Kane Mountain ParkingTrailhead1.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Pine Lake2.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Homes Lake2.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Marina Trail Parking2.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Nine Corner Lake Trail Parking2.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Marina Trail2.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Trail Parking3.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Chase Lake Parking4.6 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 6 recent seasons — the ledger below is the public record.
The stocking record.
Launch & supply.
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- Lanzi's on the Lake12.7 mi
An Italian restaurant and wedding venue on Route 30 in Mayfield on the Great Sacandaga shore, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a large deck, and event capacity up to 200.
- Klippel's Kozy Korner Cafe15.4 mi
India’s largest Food Delivery, Dining and Restaurant Discovery Service. Better food for more people.
- The Local15.6 mi
Fine-dining restaurant in the Great Sacandaga Lake region.
- Alpine Grille15.9 mi
A long-running roadside steak-and-seafood house on the Sacandaga, between Northville and Wells. Generous portions, a lively bar, and the kind of dining room where the staff knows the regulars by name. Reservations recommended on weekends.
Sip.
3- ADK Blend15.6 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee18.6 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.
- The PERKS of Speculator22.8 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.
— 15.6 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- Zippy's Ice Cream11.4 mi
A roadside soft-serve stand on Route 30 in Mayfield near the Park's southern gateway and Great Sacandaga Lake, known for dense, cold soft serve with weekly flavors like maple and coffee.
- The Village Scoop15.4 mi
A walk-up ice cream shop on Northville's Main Street at the north tip of Great Sacandaga Lake — hard ice cream and soft serve with a wide flavor selection.
- Cree-Mee Freeze17.4 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
- Speculator Creamery22.6 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.
Drink.
4- Nick Stoner Inn Seafood & Steakhouse1.6 mi
Caroga Lake restaurant at 1810 NY-10 doing hand-cut, in-house steaks, fresh seafood, and a tight made-to-order menu. 19 craft beers on tap, NY Finger Lakes wines. Open Thursday through Sunday; Sunday 11–5.
- Vrooman's Hotel2.7 mi
On the shore of West Caroga Lake, this family-owned hotel and tavern has been a beloved community fixture for generations, serving exceptional dishes and warm hospitality daily.
- Sacandaga Spirits11.4 mi
Located in Mayfield, Sacandaga Spirits offers a selection of handcrafted wines, liquors, and ciders. Visitors are invited to experience their local Adirondack offerings.
- Sport Island Pub14.9 mi
Sport Island Pub offers great food, refreshing drinks, and friendly entertainment on the Great Sacandaga Lake. This family-run restaurant, with three generations of service, invites you to enjoy exquisite dishes for dine-in or take-out.
Stay.
4- Pine Lake Lodge2.7 mi
Pine Lake Lodge is a spacious eight-bedroom vacation rental near Great Sacandaga Lake, offering ample space and amenities for large groups, family reunions, and celebrations.
- The Balsam Inn & Cafe5.3 mi
Historic inn at 140 NY-10 in Caroga Lake, with newly renovated boutique rooms on the second floor and the Forever Wild Tavern downstairs. A minute from the West Branch of the Sacandaga and adjacent to state park land.
- The Bears Den Vacation Rental Resort5.4 mi
Booked as an exclusive buyout. Sleeps up to 20 across the main log lodge in Caroga Lake. Full kitchen and bar, three fireplaces, hot tub, sand volleyball court, wood-fired pizza oven, and a private sand beach on the West Branch Sacandaga River.
- Sunset Bay Vacation Resort— RV Park & Marina12.3 mi
Sunset Bay Vacation Resort is an all-seasonal RV Park and Marina on the southwestern shore of Great Sacandaga Lake. This gated community offers full RV hookups, a private beach, marina, and boat launch, along with amenities like a cafe, pl…
See.
4- Grandview Mini Golf11.5 mi
An 18-hole lakeside mini golf course on Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield, with an arcade, ice cream novelties, snacks, and party hosting — reachable by boat or car. Open seven days, noon to 8pm; $8 unlimited all-day play.
- Historic Copeland Covered Bridge19.0 mi
The Historic Copeland Covered Bridge is a 35-foot Queenpost truss bridge built in 1879 by Arad Copeland in Edinburg, Saratoga County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the only covered bridge remaining in Saratoga C…
- Speculator Historical Museum22.9 mi
A small local-history museum on Route 8 in Speculator inside the original Lake Pleasant Town Hall and Library. Open weekends Memorial Day through August, plus weekday hours in summer.
- Ampersand Christine Falls24.5 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is Prairie Lake located?Prairie Lake is a lake in the Great Sacandaga Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Prairie Lake?Prairie Lake has a surface area of approximately 6 acres, a small pond.
- How deep is Prairie Lake?Prairie Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet, with a mean depth of 4.6 feet.
- Is Prairie Lake open to the public?Yes, Prairie 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 Prairie Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Prairie Lake: 54 designated campsites, 2 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.