River Pond.
River Pond sits northeast of Tupper Lake proper — 22 acres, low-traffic, and one of those mid-sized ponds that doesn't make the short list but fishes quietly if you bring a canoe. No state-maintained access or designated campsites on record, which usually means private shoreline or informal carry-in from a nearby road. The name suggests it might sit near or between flow channels — common in this part of the park where ponds string together through beaver meadows and slow-moving creeks. Worth a knock on a local door or a call to a Tupper Lake outfitter if you're looking for brookies and solitude without the scenic-overlook crowds.
River Pond reaches a maximum depth of 12 feet, with a mean depth of 6 feet. River Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Iron Mountain and Floodwood Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
- Peak foliage from the water — the best seats in the Park are in a canoe this month.
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.
- 01Floodwood Mountain Trail ParkingTrailhead1.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Floodwood Reservation Trail Parking1.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Long Pond Parking Lot2.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 04West Pine Pond Trail Parking2.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 05East Pine Pond Fishing Access Parking3.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Floodwood Crossing Parking Lot3.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Little Square Pond Trail Parking4.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Middle Pond Parking5.0 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
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- PorkBusters BBQ6.8 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.
- Amado8.1 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 Pizzeria8.1 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 Hub8.1 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 Moon17.1 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 Coffee17.1 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 Market17.2 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.
- Saranac Juice20.0 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.
— 17.1 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- Skyline Ice Cream8.4 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 Works15.8 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 Custard17.3 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 Cream19.3 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 Brewing8.1 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 Bar9.1 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 & Grille12.2 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 & Bones17.0 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- Fish Creek Pond Campground6.4 mi
This expansive campground offers 355 sites with direct water access to Fish Creek and Square Ponds, providing ample opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming from May to October.
- The Point7.7 mi
An all-inclusive Great Camp on Upper Saranac Lake, built by William Avery Rockefeller II a century ago. The first Relais & Chateaux property in North America and the only Forbes Five Star property in Upstate New York. Adults-only, communal dining.
- Northwood Cabins8.0 mi
Straightforward cabins with TVs & porches on a wooded property offering fire pits.
- Park Motel and Cabins8.1 mi
Woodsy rooms & cabins in a family-owned motel offering an outdoor pool & free continental breakfast.
See.
4- The Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory5.9 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 Railroad6.9 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 Center8.6 mi
Live animals, hands-on exhibits & forest trails connect guests with the Adirondacks.
- Topridge10.3 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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- Where is River Pond located?River Pond is a pond in the Tupper Lake region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is River Pond?River Pond has a surface area of approximately 22 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is River Pond?River Pond has a maximum depth of 12 feet, with a mean depth of 5.9 feet.
- Is River Pond open to the public?Yes, River 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 River Pond?Within roughly seven miles of River Pond: 253 designated campsites, 3 lean-tos or shelters, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.