Third Lake sits in the Fulton Chain near Old Forge — smaller and quieter than the more trafficked First and Second Lakes to the west, but still part of the same navigable waterway that threads through the central Adirondacks. At 46 acres it's large enough to feel open but compact enough to paddle in an hour, with wooded shoreline and the occasional private camp. The lake connects east to Fourth Lake (the largest in the chain) and sees a mix of kayakers, canoeists, and small motorboats moving through on longer trips. No fish species data on record, but the Fulton Chain historically holds smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish.
Closest parking lots within range, ranked by walking distance. Accessibility flags come from Google verified-data; surface and capacity from OpenStreetMap. Confirm hours and seasonal closures before you go.
+9 more on the map above
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.
Sunrise on the dock, a cairn at the summit, a bend on the trail. Your camera roll, our archive.
Add a photo →Trail conditions, water level, bug pressure, blowdown. The kind of detail that helps the next person plan.
Write a field note →Wrong elevation, outdated access notes, a coordinate that's drifted. We'd rather hear it than miss it.
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What to do, where to stay, and what's reopening across the Park as the snow melts and the calendar fills.
A complete planning guide: difficulty by peak, common combo days, seasonal realities, and a sortable, filterable table of every summit.
Overnight, day, and trip camps in the Park — the camp belt, choosing the right fit, costs and financial aid, ACA accreditation, and the questions every parent should ask before they commit.
