Stink Lake.
Stink Lake sits in the Old Forge town cluster — a 15-acre pond with a name that either warns you off or makes you curious, depending on your tolerance for Adirondack straight talk. No fish stocking records on file, no formal trail system, and no nearby peaks to anchor it in the hiking network, which means it's likely private or tucked into working forestland where access isn't advertised. The name itself is old settler vocabulary — "stink" often referred to stagnant water, beaver work, or sulfur seeps, not necessarily a permanent condition. If you're poking around Old Forge's back roads and see the name on a map, expect low water, shallow margins, and a pond that serves the local ecosystem more than it serves paddlers.
Stink Lake reaches a maximum depth of 15 feet, with a mean depth of 10 feet. Stink Lake has public access. Summits nearby include Stink Lake Mountain and Higley 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.
- 01Indian Lake Road Parking AreaTrailhead4.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 02Brooktrout Lake Trail Parking6.0 miunpavedDirections →
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- Seventh Lake House8.0 mi
Rustic space with a lake view preps classic & contemporary American dishes from seasonal goods.
- Archie's Alley8.3 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 Eagle8.3 mi
Gift certificates available, please give us a call! (315) 357-6026
- Tony Harpers Pizza and Clam Shack8.4 mi
Tony Harper's Pizza & Clam Shack offers family-friendly dining with pizza, wings, and seafood across four Adirondack locations: year-round in Old Forge and Lowville, and seasonal spots in Inlet and Raquette Lake. The Raquette Lake location…
Sip.
4- Blue Line Coffee House8.4 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 Cafe8.4 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 House9.9 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.
- The PERKS of Speculator24.2 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.
Sweet.
4- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.8.0 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 Cream9.9 mi
A family-run, locally loved scoop shop on Old Forge's Main Street — hand-scooped hard flavors and soft serve.
- Pied Piper9.9 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.
- Speculator Creamery24.0 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- Daiker's8.9 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 Tavern9.8 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.
- Old Forge Brewing Company9.9 mi
Old Forge Brewing Company, established in 2008, is a brewpub committed to crafting quality beer and food while prioritizing local ingredients and community support. They offer a diverse menu, a range of craft beers, and host regular events.
- Acorn Pub & Eatery at Oak Mountain23.8 mi
Acorn Pub & Eatery is a dining option at Oak Mountain, offering a place to eat and drink.
Stay.
4- Deer Meadows Motel & Cottages7.9 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.
- Marina Motel8.2 mi
A family-run motel on a hill in Inlet overlooking Fourth Lake, with king or double-XL rooms, complimentary breakfast, and walking access to Arrowhead Park and the village.
- The Woods Inn8.5 mi
A restored historic waterfront inn on Route 28 in Inlet, on Fourth Lake of the Fulton Chain. The only full-service hotel in the Inlet/Old Forge area, with main-inn rooms, a Carriage House, and a Lakefront Cottage. Three on-site dining options.
- Viking Village on Fourth Lake8.6 mi
A family cottage resort on Fourth Lake near Old Forge, with waterfront cabins and boating on the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
See.
4- Calypso's Cove9.8 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…
- Enchanted Forest Water Safari9.8 mi
Located in Old Forge, Enchanted Forest Water Safari offers a blend of water park experiences and traditional theme park attractions. Visitors can access various slides, pools, and dry rides.
- Adirondack Railbike10.9 mi
Adirondack Railbike Adventures offers unique railbike tours in the Adirondack Mountains. Riders can explore scenic routes from Old Forge (Thendara) and Tupper Lake, experiencing natural beauty and spectacular views on railbikes made in New…
- Great Camp Sagamore13.0 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.
Add to the record.
Free, takes thirty seconds. Yours forever.
Every page on this site gets better when readers contribute. Mark a peak you’ve climbed, drop a photo, file a field note, or flag a correction — every addition makes the next visitor’s page better.
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 Stink Lake located?Stink Lake is a lake in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Stink Lake?Stink Lake has a surface area of approximately 15 acres, a smaller backcountry water.
- How deep is Stink Lake?Stink Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet, with a mean depth of 9.5 feet.
- Is Stink Lake open to the public?Yes, Stink 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 Stink Lake?Within roughly seven miles of Stink Lake: 69 designated campsites. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.