Sacandaga Lake (small).
Sacandaga Lake covers 1,605 acres near Speculator — smaller and quieter than Great Sacandaga Lake to the south. Smallmouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch; public access and calm water suit families learning to fish or paddle without remote logistics.
Fish on record include Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, and Yellow perch — always check current New York State DEC regulations before fishing. Sacandaga Lake (small) has public access. Summits nearby include Rift Hill and Sturges Hill.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
10 parking areas· 4 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.
- 01Dot RowTrailhead0.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Dot Row0.4 mi
- 03Town Parking0.5 mi
- 04Gilman Lake2.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 05DEC parking 189293.9 mi
- 06Fawn Lake Parking4.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Auger Falls Parking5.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 08DEC parking 189316.3 mi
+2 more on the map above
Sacandaga Lake (small).
From the people who’ve been here, plus what Google has on file.
What’s in the water.
Launch & supply.
Getting in, staying over.
Camping.
What the lake is doing today.
What rings this water.
The peaks.
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- Charlie Johns Store0.7 mi
Opened in 1939, Charlie Johns Store is Speculator's anchor general store — 12,000 square feet of full grocery selection, produce, fresh meats, a full deli, bakery, and hardware. Purchased from Charlie Johns in 1971 by Dean Lane, the Lane family has owned and operated it since.
- Firetower Pizza0.8 mi
Hand-tossed pizzeria in Speculator with specialty pies named after Adirondack peaks (Mt Marcy, Snowy Mountain, Whiteface). Wings, baked ziti, white clam pie. Cozy waiting area with retro jukebox and arcade.
- Oxbow Inn8.5 mi
Oxbow Inn is a welcoming restaurant and bar in Lake Pleasant offering great pizza, local beef burgers, and a wide selection of 16 draft beers. Enjoy casual dining, live music, and an outdoor deck with fire pits and lake views.
- Alpine Grille11.3 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- The PERKS of Speculator0.6 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.
- Uncle Carl's Coffee7.1 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.
- ADK Blend21.2 mi
Northville smoothie & açaí-bowl spot in the Great Sacandaga Lake corridor.
Sweet.
4- Speculator Creamery0.9 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 Village Scoop21.2 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.
- The Hungry Crow Market & Café22.6 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.
- Cree-Mee Freeze22.9 mi
A summer soft-serve stand near Northville on the Great Sacandaga Lake shore, with twists and specialty sundaes.
Drink.
4- Lemon Tree Brewery0.6 mi
Lemon Tree Brewery is a brewery and taproom located in Speculator, NY, steps from Lake Pleasant. It offers house brews like SASQUATCH HAZY IPA and Blueberry Wheat, along with other local NY State micro-brewed beers and wines in a relaxed s…
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain1.1 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Indian Lake Restaurant, Tavern and Liquor Store20.0 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…
- Sport Island Pub21.3 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- Cedarhurst Motor Lodge0.6 mi
A family-owned year-round motor lodge in Speculator, on the route between Lake Pleasant and Indian Lake, with free Wi-Fi and weekly rates. Standard rooms, no frills.
- Inn At Speculator1.1 mi
The Inn at Speculator offers a full-service dining experience featuring classic dishes and local flavors, along with comfortable lodging options including private and shared bath rooms. Breakfast is included for guests.
- Bearhurst Lakeside Cottages1.5 mi
Five renovated outbuildings from a turn-of-the-century Adirondack Great Camp on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, run as lakefront rental cottages by the Armstrong family. Boathouse, Icehouse, Cubhurst, and two Cherry duplex halves.
- Red Pines Bed & Breakfast2.2 mi
Red Pines Bed & Breakfast is a year-round getaway on Lake Pleasant in Speculator, NY, offering a relaxed and friendly setting with private beach access and beautiful lake views.
See.
4- Speculator Historical Museum0.8 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 Falls2.2 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Revolution Rail Co. - Thurman Station22.8 mi
A pedal-powered rail biking operation at Thurman Station on the Adirondack Railroad bed near North Creek, with family-friendly seasonal tours rolling alongside the Hudson River corridor through forest and open river-bank country.
- North Creek Depot Museum22.9 mi
Saved from demolition, this 1872 landmark station is now a museum, heritage center, and cultural hub in historic North Creek, featuring a fabulous diorama and exhibits on the Adirondack Railroad, Theodore Roosevelt, and local history.
Add to the record.
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Add a shot.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →File a report.
Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Spot something off?
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 Sacandaga Lake (small) located?Sacandaga Lake (small) is a lake in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Sacandaga Lake (small)?Sacandaga Lake (small) has a surface area of approximately 1,605 acres, a large lake by Adirondack standards.
- What fish are in Sacandaga Lake (small)?Sacandaga Lake (small) supports populations of Smallmouth bass, Northern pike, and Yellow perch. Always check current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation fishing regulations before casting.
- Is Sacandaga Lake (small) open to the public?Yes, Sacandaga Lake (small) 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 Sacandaga Lake (small)?Within roughly seven miles of Sacandaga Lake (small): 23 designated campsites, 1 lean-to or shelter, 2 listed campgrounds. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.