Surprise Pond.
Surprise Pond is a five-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't show up on most recreational maps and remote enough that it lives up to its name. No fish stocking records and no established access mean this one stays off the casual paddler's radar; if you find it, you're likely doing so by bushwhack or old logging trace rather than marked trail. The pond sits in mixed hardwood-conifer forest typical of the central Adirondack transition zone — quiet, unmanaged, and functionally wild. Bring a compass and don't expect cell service.
Surprise Pond reaches a maximum depth of 8 feet, with a mean depth of 4 feet. Surprise Pond has public access. Summits nearby include Rocky Mountain and Slide Off Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
12 parking areas· 1 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.
- 01Bub & Sis Lakes Trail ParkingTrailhead572 ftpavedDirections →
- 02Cascade Lake Trail Parking1.2 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Moss Lake Parking1.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Moss Lake Accessible Parking1.7 mi
- 05Black Bear And Rocky Mtn Parking Area2.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Windfall Pond Parking2.6 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Rodaxe Fire Tower Parking3.1 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Third Lake Creek Parking3.5 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.
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- Mountainside Smokehouse & Grill0.3 mi
Mountainside Smokehouse & Grill offers delicious smoked meats, homemade BBQ sauces and desserts, with smoking done on-premise using apple wood. They also provide catering and meeting space.
- The Lean-to at Great Pines0.9 mi
The Lean-To is our casual lakeside restaurant, open to guests and the public. It offers a full-service bar and a craft beer menu, along with a food menu inspired by local ingredients and regional influences.
- The Tavern1.3 mi
Located at 5520 state route 28 in Eagle Bay, NY.
- Tony Harpers Pizza and Clam Shack2.6 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 House2.6 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 Cafe2.6 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 House7.4 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.
- Schoolhouse Grounds Coffee Shop21.5 mi
Seasonal coffee shop inside the 1895 schoolhouse that houses Blue Mountain Designs. Espresso, locally roasted coffee, loose-leaf tea, baked goods, avocado toast, sandwiches, and soups. May through October.
Sweet.
3- Northern Lights Creamery Inc.3.1 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.
- Pied Piper7.4 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.
- Benny’s Ice Cream7.4 mi
A family-run, locally loved scoop shop on Old Forge's Main Street — hand-scooped hard flavors and soft serve.
Drink.
4- Daiker's2.1 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 Tavern7.4 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.
- Old Forge Brewing Company7.6 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.
- Hex and Hop Tasting Room - Blue Mountain Lake21.5 mi
Hex and Hop is a craft brewery and meadery located in Bloomingdale, New York. They offer full-flavored, high-quality craft beer and mead, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, emphasizing community and craft.
Stay.
4- Palmer Point Boats & Cottages0.1 mi
Palmer Point offers pontoon boat rentals and charming cottages in Old Forge, NY, perfect for enjoying Fourth Lake in the Adirondacks.
- Viking Village on Fourth Lake0.8 mi
A family cottage resort on Fourth Lake near Old Forge, with waterfront cabins and boating on the Fulton Chain of Lakes.
- Great Pines Resort0.9 mi
Airy quarters, some with balconies, in a relaxed lakeside retreat offering a private beach & dining.
- Eagle Bay Village1.4 mi
A cluster of lakeside cottages and vacation units at Eagle Bay on Fourth Lake in the Old Forge / Fulton Chain region — a base for boating and summer lake life.
See.
4- Calypso's Cove7.2 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 Safari7.2 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 Railbike9.4 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…
- Raquette Lake Navigation Cruise9.9 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.
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 Surprise Pond located?Surprise Pond is a pond in the Old Forge region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- How big is Surprise Pond?Surprise Pond has a surface area of approximately 5 acres, a small pond.
- How deep is Surprise Pond?Surprise Pond has a maximum depth of 8 feet, with a mean depth of 4.3 feet.
- Is Surprise Pond open to the public?Yes, Surprise 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 Surprise Pond?Within roughly seven miles of Surprise Pond: 59 designated campsites, 10 lean-tos or shelters. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.