South Lake.
South Lake sits in the central Adirondacks at 1,762 feet elevation, accessible via a moderate 2.4-mile trail from Route 28N. Clear water, rocky shoreline, and a lean-to make it a reliable overnight destination for paddlers and hikers.
South Lake reaches a maximum depth of 33 feet, with a mean depth of 16 feet. South Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Kitty Cobble.
The water, surveyed.
- Cold-water season returns — dress for immersion, and from Nov 1 New York requires wearing a PFD in boats under 21 ft.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
4 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.
- 01Brooktrout Lake Trail ParkingTrailhead5.0 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Trail Parking5.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Indian Lake Road Parking Area5.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Pillsbury Mountain Trail Parking7.3 miunpavedDirections →
What’s in the water.
Launch & supply.
Getting in, staying over.
Access.
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- Seventh Lake House12.3 mi
Rustic space with a lake view preps classic & contemporary American dishes from seasonal goods.
- Oxbow Inn12.7 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.
- Archie's Alley14.0 mi
Archie's Alley, established in 2022 in Inlet, NY, is a restaurant offering Mexican-inspired cuisine, a bar, and family dining with outdoor options. It is open Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with specific hours listed on its website.
- Screamen Eagle14.0 mi
Gift certificates available, please give us a call! (315) 357-6026
Sip.
4- Blue Line Coffee House14.1 mi
Blue Line Coffee House offers Adirondack-inspired apparel, handcrafted mugs, and mountain-themed gifts, along with pre-packaged coffee and coffee accessories. Products are available for nationwide shipping, and local customers can order dr…
- Tamarack Cafe14.1 mi
Tamarack Cafe in downtown Inlet serves a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, from traditional favorites and specialty bowls to creative salads, sandwiches, and burgers. The cafe also features an 18-hole mini-golf course.
- The PERKS of Speculator14.8 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.
- Blue Line Coffee House19.1 mi
A coffee shop on Route 28 in Old Forge selling drinks, Adirondack-themed apparel, handcrafted mugs, and shipped coffee subscriptions. Order drinks for pickup or shop the gift line online.
Sweet.
4- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.13.5 mi
An Inlet institution for 40-plus years, a short walk from Arrowhead Park on Fourth Lake — soft serve, homemade gelato, floats, flurries, and specialty sundaes.
- Speculator Creamery14.6 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.
- Benny’s Ice Cream19.1 mi
A family-run, locally loved scoop shop on Old Forge's Main Street — hand-scooped hard flavors and soft serve.
- Pied Piper19.1 mi
A circa-1950s soft-serve and frozen-custard stand locals treat as a permanent fixture — the walk-up window after a day on the Fulton Chain or at the water park. Three daily soft-serve flavors plus around 20 hard flavors.
Drink.
4- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain14.5 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Lemon Tree Brewery14.9 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…
- Daiker's16.7 mi
Daikers is an Adirondack pitstop in Old Forge, NY, offering seasonal and local dining with a deck overlooking Fourth Lake. Their caring and committed staff ensure a fantastic experience for guests.
- Slickers Adirondack Tavern19.0 mi
Slickers Adirondack Tavern, established in 1984, offers a classic tavern experience with a focus on quality ingredients. They are well-known for their signature French Dip Sandwich.
Stay.
4- The Inn on Piseco Lake11.0 mi
Established in 1892 as the Irondequoit Inn, the historic Inn on Piseco Lake is a 600-acre lakefront retreat in the Hamilton County hamlet of Piseco — nine guest rooms, two-bedroom cabins that sleep six, beachfront and wooded campsites, and a restaurant open to the public. The Northville-Placid Trail crosses nearby. A rare survivor of the late-19th-century Adirondack hotel era.
- Kamp Kill Kare11.4 mi
Kamp Kill Kare is a historic Adirondack Great Camp on 1,000 acres featuring a private 500-acre lake, offering a luxurious and customized guest experience.
- Lake Kora11.4 mi
Originally Kamp Kill Kare, built in 1898 by William West Durant for Lt. Gov. Timothy Woodruff. One-thousand acres, a private 500-acre lake, sixteen bedrooms, all-inclusive — booked as an exclusive buyout for groups up to 35.
- Deer Meadows Motel & Cottages12.6 mi
A motel and cottage operation on Seventh Lake in the Fulton Chain, 1.5 miles north of Inlet, with a private beach, swim and boat access from the property, and a bonfire setup.
See.
4- Great Camp Sagamore12.5 mi
Great Camp Sagamore is a historic Adirondack Great Camp offering multi-day programs, overnight stays, and daily activities focused on history, arts, outdoor recreation, and wellness.
- Speculator Historical Museum14.6 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.
- Raquette Lake Navigation Cruise15.8 mi
Raquette Lake Navigation Company offers dining, sightseeing, and special event cruises on Raquette Lake in New York. This family-owned and operated business has been providing scenic experiences aboard the W.W. Durant since 1991.
- Camp Pine Knot16.3 mi
William West Durant's 1877 compound on Raquette Lake — the camp that invented the Adirondack Great Camp style. Now SUNY Cortland's Huntington Memorial Camp, an outdoor-education center with occasional public programs.
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Suggest an edit →Frequently asked.
- Where is South Lake located?South Lake is a lake in the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is South Lake?South Lake has a surface area of approximately 88 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is South Lake?South Lake has a maximum depth of 33 feet, with a mean depth of 16.1 feet.
- Is South Lake open to the public?Yes, South 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 South Lake?Within roughly seven miles of South Lake: 59 designated campsites, 25 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.