West Branch Ausable.
The West Branch Ausable is New York's most celebrated trout stream, holding brown, rainbow, and brook trout under catch-and-release regulations in its managed stretches. Technical water that demands wading skill and artificial-lure discipline — this is an advanced fishery, not a learning ground.
Fish on record include Brown trout, Rainbow trout, and Brook trout — always check current New York State DEC regulations before fishing. West Branch Ausable has public access. Summits nearby include Marble Mountain and Lookout Mountain.
The water, surveyed.
Seasonal pattern for this lake · live closures appear above
12 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.
- 01Wilmington Flume WestTrailhead0.9 mipavedDirections →
- 02Wilmington Flume East0.9 miunpavedDirections →
- 03Asrc Trail Parking1.5 miunpavedDirections →
- 04Pull Off Parking1.8 miunpavedDirections →
- 05Lower Notch Parking2.3 miunpavedDirections →
- 06Quarry Trail2.4 miunpavedDirections →
- 07Copper Kill Pond Trail- Gillespie Drive2.7 miunpavedDirections →
- 08Notch Parking2.7 miunpavedDirections →
+4 more on the map above
West Branch Ausable.
From the people who’ve been here, plus what Google has on file.
What’s in the water.
NYSDEC has stocked this water across 2 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.
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- The Hungry Trout0.9 mi
Situated on the West Branch of the Ausable River, the Hungry Trout offers two distinct dining experiences, from an upscale restaurant to a lively tavern.
- Monday Tuesday Grill5.6 mi
Monday Tuesday Grill in Upper Jay offers fresh, friendly, and affordable comfort meals for indoor, outdoor, and takeout dining, including grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, and Swedish meatballs.
- The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn8.3 mi
The Cottage Restaurant and Cafe is located directly on the shore of Mirror Lake, offering spectacular views of the Adirondack High Peaks. It features food and drink options sourced from the Lake Placid region and operates on a first-come,…
- Artisans at the Lake Placid Lodge8.4 mi
The restaurant at the Lake Placid Lodge, a Relais and Chateaux property, serving a seasonal farm-to-fork menu in a fire-lit dining room with a three-season terrace over the lake. Breakfast and dinner daily.
Sip.
4- Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe4.8 mi
Adirondack Mountain Coffee Cafe is a coffee shop in Upper Jay, NY, serving fresh, slow-roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch daily. Located near Whiteface Mountain and the Adirondack State Park, it also offers local beer and cocktails, with…
- The Coffee Bar8.6 mi
A small coffee bar on Main Street in Lake Placid with Mirror Lake and Whiteface Mountain views, pulling shots from Tug Hill Artisan Roasters beans.
- Simply Gourmet8.8 mi
Simply Gourmet in Lake Placid offers daily breakfast and lunch with a focus on clean food, using fresh, local, and sustainable ingredients free of additives or preservatives. They also provide comprehensive catering services for various ev…
- Origin Coffee8.8 mi
Origin Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, offering a chef-driven breakfast and lunch menu served all day. It serves as a community gathering spot for locals and Adirondack travelers.
Sweet.
4- Whitebrook Dairy Bar2.1 mi
A classic roadside drive-in on Route 86 in Wilmington, five minutes from Whiteface — creamy soft serve (try the peanut-butter dip) plus footlongs and the Wilmington burger. Opening day is a local rite of spring.
- Sugar House Creamery4.6 mi
Sugar House Creamery is a farmstead creamery located in the Adirondacks, producing artisanal cheeses from the milk of their own cows. They offer a variety of cheeses, showcasing the quality of their local dairy.
- Cedar Run Bakery & Market8.5 mi
Cedar Run Bakery & Market offers scratch-made baked goods, deli items, fresh menu options, and take & bake meals, alongside a selection of wine and spirits. They are open Friday through Monday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
- Ben & Jerry's8.9 mi
The Ben & Jerry's scoop shop on Lake Placid's Main Street above Mirror Lake — the Vermont brand's pints and cones in the heart of the village.
Drink.
4- R.F. McDougall's Pub0.9 mi
The casual sibling of the Hungry Trout Restaurant, sharing the same Adirondack riverside property next to Whiteface. Pub food, regional beers, and the same view of the West Branch Ausable at a more relaxed price point.
- Top of the Park8.4 mi
A Lake Placid bar on Main Street offering a curated selection of wine, scotch, bourbon, craft beer, and top-shelf liquors, complemented by small plates and signature cocktails. Enjoy 'Spirits with a View' from its large deck overlooking Mi…
- Lake Placid Pub & Brewery8.7 mi
A brewpub on Mirror Lake Drive in Lake Placid since 1996, with 12 house beers on tap including the original Ubu Ale, a downstairs Irish pub, and a deck over Mirror Lake.
- Hex and Hop Brewing11.5 mi
Hex and Hop Brewing is a craft brewery and meadery in Bloomingdale, New York, making full-flavored, locally sourced beer and mead. They prioritize community and craft, using fresh, local ingredients.
Stay.
4- The Hungry Trout Resort0.9 mi
A year-round resort in Wilmington with 1,500 feet of frontage on the West Branch of the Ausable, two on-site restaurants, an in-house fly shop, and Whiteface Mountain a mile up the road.
- Whiteface Farm Bed and Breakfast1.0 mi
Wilmington bed-and-breakfast with three deluxe rooms (king/queen feather beds, in-room fireplaces, jacuzzis), plus a suite and a one-bedroom apartment. Sauna, outdoor hot tub, full local-ingredient breakfast. Bike- and ski-friendly.
- Ledge Rock at Whiteface1.2 mi
Cottages and lodging in Wilmington near Whiteface Mountain and the Ausable River — a base for skiing, hiking, and fly-fishing in the High Peaks.
- Wilmington Notch Campground1.5 mi
Wilmington Notch is located beside the Ausable River and accommodates fishermen looking to challenge the rapids in search of a great catch.
See.
4- High Falls Gorge2.0 mi
A 22-acre privately owned nature park on Route 86 in Wilmington with rim trails, glass-floor walkways over Ausable River waterfalls, a cafe, and gift shop. Open year-round, weather permitting.
- Summit Weather Observatory2.3 mi
The Summit Weather Observatory, part of the University at Albany's Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC), provides real-time weather conditions and data from its observatory at the summit of Whiteface Mountain and a field station at…
- Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge4.7 mi
The Upper Jay Art Center and Recovery Lounge is a vibrant venue dedicated to presenting music, theater, and visual arts in Upper Jay, NY. It serves as a community hub for various cultural events.
- Captain Marney's Boat Rental8.0 mi
Captain Marney's Boat Rental offers boat and water sports rentals in the Lake Placid, NY area. They provide reasonably priced options for various water enthusiasts, including discounts for multi-day, multi-boat, and group rentals.
Add to the record.
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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 West Branch Ausable located?West Branch Ausable is a river in the Lake Placid region of the Adirondack Park in northern New York State.
- What fish are in West Branch Ausable?West Branch Ausable supports populations of Brown trout, Rainbow trout, and Brook trout. Always check current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation fishing regulations before casting.
- Is West Branch Ausable open to the public?Yes, West Branch Ausable 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 West Branch Ausable?Within roughly seven miles of West Branch Ausable: 8 designated campsites, 10 lean-tos or shelters, 1 listed campground. Permit and primitive-camping rules vary; check NYSDEC before you go.