Split Rock Lake.
Split Rock Lake is a 15-acre pond in the Speculator area — small enough that it flies under the radar of the summer rental crowd, big enough to hold a decent population of whatever swims in it (no fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means it's either too shallow for a sustainable trout fishery or it's been overlooked). The name suggests either a prominent glacial erratic or a split ledge formation somewhere along the shoreline — the kind of landmark feature that gave half the ponds in the western Adirondacks their names in the 1800s. Access and ownership details are thin, which in this part of Hamilton County often means private shoreline or a grown-over logging road that requires local knowledge to find.
Split Rock Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Twin Mountain and Grass Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
2 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.
- 01G Lake Trail ParkingTrailhead6.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Trail Parking6.9 miunpavedDirections →
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 13 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 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- Oxbow Inn11.0 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.
- Firetower Pizza16.5 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.
- Charlie Johns Store16.5 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.
- Seventh Lake House17.3 mi
Rustic space with a lake view preps classic & contemporary American dishes from seasonal goods.
Sip.
4- The PERKS of Speculator16.7 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 House18.5 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 Cafe18.5 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.
- Blue Line Coffee House20.5 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.
— 16.7 mi to the nearest pour to this spot; pack a thermos.
Sweet.
4- Speculator Creamery16.4 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.
- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.18.0 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.
- Benny’s Ice Cream20.5 mi
A family-run, locally loved scoop shop on Old Forge's Main Street — hand-scooped hard flavors and soft serve.
- Pied Piper20.5 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.
— 16.4 mi to the nearest scoop; save it for the ride home.
Drink.
4- Lemon Tree Brewery16.7 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 Mountain16.7 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
- Daiker's19.9 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 Tavern20.4 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.
— 16.7 mi to the nearest pint; appoint a driver.
Stay.
4- The Inn on Piseco Lake9.0 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.
- Wilbur's Cottages13.6 mi
Secluded housekeeping cabins on Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondacks. Sandy beach, dock, boats. Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, fireplaces.
- Moffit Beach Campground14.2 mi
A 247-site DEC campground on Sacandaga Lake near Speculator at 1,730 feet elevation, with flat well-wooded sites under white pines and hardwoods. Pets allowed on a 6-foot leash.
- WatersEdge Cottages14.8 mi
WatersEdge Cottages provides weekly rentals in fully renovated lakeside cabins and efficiency units on Lake Pleasant in the Central Adirondacks. Guests enjoy 180 feet of private waterfront, a sandy beach, boat docks, and a recreation room.
See.
4- Speculator Historical Museum16.4 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.
- Great Camp Sagamore19.1 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.
- Ampersand Christine Falls19.3 mi
Ampersand Energy LLC.
- Calypso's Cove20.4 mi
Calypso's Cove is a family fun park in Old Forge, NY, located next to Enchanted Forest Water Safari. It features attractions like go-karts, mini-golf, arcade games, and a ropes course with a zipline, offering afternoon and evening entertai…
— 16.4 mi to the nearest sight on file; fold it into the drive.
Add to the record.
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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.
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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 Split Rock Lake located?Split Rock Lake is a lake in the Speculator region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Split Rock Lake?Split Rock Lake has a surface area of approximately 15 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- Is Split Rock Lake open to the public?Yes, Split Rock 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 Split Rock Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Split Rock Lake: 16 designated campsites, 7 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.