Every named lake, pond, river, and stream worth fishing in the Adirondack Park — with the species you'll find, the access you can count on, and the regions they sit in.
Baby Lake sits off Big Moose Road west of Eagle Bay — a small, shallow-water pond in the rolling mid-elevation forest between Old Forge and Big Moose. At 28 acres it's more puddle than destination, the kind of backcountry water that shows up on a topo map during a longer paddle or snowshoe route but rarely justifies a trip of its own. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means limited depth, heavy organic matter, or winterkill — common enough in ponds this size tucked into the Old Forge lowlands. If you're headed to Big Moose or the Stillwater Reservoir system, Baby Lake is a map footnote, not a waypoint.
Bailey Lake is a small, remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness — reachable by bushwhack or via the Oswegatchie River drainage system. No maintained trail; primarily visited by canoeists willing to portage and navigate unmarked terrain.
Balfour Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, reachable only by trail or bushwhack. No motorized access; the isolation keeps it quiet and the fishing pressure light.
Barker Pond is a small backcountry water in the central Adirondacks, reached by bushwhack or unmarked path. No stocked fish, no facilities — a quiet option for paddlers willing to carry in and navigate without trail markers.
Barkley Pond sits just off the western shore of Lake George — a 57-acre basin tucked into the wooded corridor between the lake and the Northway. The proximity to Lake George puts it in recreational country, but the pond itself holds quiet water, away from the summer boat traffic and the village crowds. No fish species data on record, which typically means either a warmwater fishery that hasn't been surveyed recently or limited access that keeps angling pressure low. Access details are sparse — likely private shoreline or an unmarked woods approach — so this is one to scout before planning a trip.
Barnes Lake is a 10-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't show up on most regional shortlists, but navigable water nonetheless. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either unstocked and unfished or simply unreported; local anglers worth asking. The lake sits in working forestland southwest of the main Old Forge tourist corridor, part of the patchwork of private holdings and town forest that defines the lower-elevation Fulton Chain watershed. Access details are sparse — check with the town or local outfitters before planning a trip.
Barnes Pond is a small backcountry pond reached by bushwhack or unmaintained paths — no official trail, no development. Brook trout present; access typically from the south via old logging routes that fade in and out.
Barnes Pond is a small backcountry water accessible via bushwhack or unmarked path — no official trail leads to it. Minimal use, no development; a destination for anglers and paddlers willing to navigate off-trail.
Barto Lake is an 18-acre pond in the Speculator region — small enough to hold local knowledge close and large enough to paddle without turning tight circles. No fish data on file, which usually means either unstocked brookies that come and go with winter severity, or simply a pond that doesn't fish well enough to generate reports. The lake sits in the working forest landscape west of Speculator proper, where access typically means either private permission or older logging roads that may or may not still be passable. Worth a call to the Speculator town office or local DEC ranger if you're planning a trip.
Bass Lake is a 40-acre pond in the Paradox Lake region — the kind of small water that sits off the main recreation corridors and holds onto its anonymity. No fish species data on record, which usually means either light pressure or a gap in DEC survey coverage; anglers willing to scout it might find brook trout or warmwater species depending on depth and outlet flow. Access details are sparse in public records, so anyone planning a trip should check with the nearest town clerk or DEC office before committing to the drive. The Paradox Lake region itself runs between Schroon Lake and the Lake Champlain basin — rolling terrain, fewer peaks, more working forest than high-traffic trails.
Bass Lake is a 10-acre pocket water in the Saranac Lake region — small enough that it doesn't pull crowds, but large enough to hold a canoe for an hour or two of quiet paddling. No fish species data on record, which may mean it's unstocked, under-surveyed, or both; local knowledge tends to be the only reliable intel on waters this size. The lake sits in rolling forested terrain west of the village, part of the sprawl of small ponds and wetlands that define the St. Regis Canoe Area periphery. Access details vary widely for lakes this size — check DEC or local outfitters for current put-in options.
Bear Lake is a 27-acre pond in the Old Forge township — one of dozens of small, named waters scattered across the working forest south and west of the main village corridor. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means either wild brookies or nothing at all; local anglers would know. The lake sits in private timberland checkerboarded with state easement parcels, so access depends on current land status and whatever woods roads or snowmobile trails pass nearest. If you're poking around this area, confirm access and ownership before you launch — this is not the marked-trail High Peaks.
Bear Lake sits in the Speculator region — a small, 15-acre water that holds the name but not the traffic of better-known bodies in the central Adirondacks. No fish species data on record, which often signals either limited access or limited angling pressure; in either case, it's the kind of pond that stays off most paddlers' radar until they stumble across it on a topo map or a long day exploring the backroads and trail networks around Lake Pleasant. If you're working this area, bring a compass and the DEC unit management plan — many of these smaller named waters don't appear on standard recreation maps. Worth confirming access and ownership before you bushwhack.
Bear Lake sits just north of Old Forge in the Fulton Chain lakes corridor — a 54-acre pond that holds a quiet middle ground between the resort-town energy of Fourth Lake and the deeper backcountry waters to the northeast. Access details are scarce in the public record, and the lake doesn't appear on the standard DEC stocking lists, which typically means private shoreline or limited put-in options for non-residents. The Old Forge area is dense with similar mid-sized ponds that straddle private and state land — worth a closer look at the DEC land classification maps before planning a trip. If you're shopping for stillwater paddling in this zone, check Big Moose Lake or the Fulton Chain itself for clearer public access.
Beaver Lake is a remote body of water in the Adirondack backcountry accessible by unmarked routes or bushwhack. No formal trail; expect wetland margins and variable water levels depending on beaver activity.
Beaver Lake is an 18-acre water in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to feel secluded, large enough to paddle without circling back on yourself in ten minutes. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means light stocking history and catch reports too sparse to register, though beaver ponds and their flowages often hold brookies that move in from feeder streams. The name is taxonomic — beaver activity shapes the shoreline and water levels here, as it does across much of the northwest Adirondacks where low-gradient drainages and alder thickets create ideal habitat. Best approached as a quiet-water paddle or a bushwhack objective rather than a fishing destination with known returns.
Belden Lake is a 25-acre water tucked into the working forest northwest of Long Lake village — one of those named ponds that doesn't show up on the typical paddling circuit but holds a place on the USGS quad and in local memory. Access details are scarce in the public record, which usually means either private holdings along the shore or a walk-in through unposted timberland that changes status with ownership transfers. No fish stocking data on file with DEC, so if there's a population it's likely whatever survived the last pond-out or wandered downstream during spring melt. Worth a call to the Long Lake town office or a conversation at the local tackle shop if you're curious — small waters like this tend to have stories that don't make it online.
Bellows Lake is a 31-acre water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — part of the lower-elevation patchwork south of the High Peaks where the park boundary weaves through private land and the shoreline access picture gets complicated. No fish species data on file, which often means either limited stocking history or simply no recent survey work. The lake sits in a zone where public access isn't guaranteed — worth checking DEC or local sources before hauling a canoe in. If you're fishing the Sacandaga corridor and looking for smaller, less-trafficked water, Bellows is on the map, but do your homework on where you can legally put in.
Bennett Lake sits in the Great Sacandaga watershed — 38 acres of private-shoreline water where the fish data is thin and the public access thinner. This is southern Adirondack territory: lower relief, more settlement, fewer DEC trailheads and more lakefront camps claiming the water's edge. If you're researching Bennett for paddling or fishing, your work begins with property maps and a conversation with the local town clerk. Without recorded species or designated launch points, this one stays on the reconnaissance list.
Big Metcalf Lake is a 6-acre water tucked into the working forest west of Speculator — small enough that it doesn't appear on many casual itineraries, but substantive enough to hold its own as a paddling destination if you're exploring the network of private timber company roads and seasonal access points in this part of the southern Adirondacks. The lake sits in terrain that toggles between public Forest Preserve and privately managed timberland, so access and parking protocols shift with ownership boundaries and logging schedules. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing — worth a cast if you're already there. Expect solitude and the low hum of a working forest, not trailhead infrastructure.
Big Moose Lake covers 1,268 acres in the Old Forge region and reaches 70 feet deep — cold water that holds lake trout, smallmouth bass, and brook trout. It's quieter than the Fulton Chain, with public access and shoreline lodging for anglers who fish intermediate conditions.
Big Otter Lake is a 367-acre lake in the southern Adirondacks, accessible by car via Big Otter Lake Road. Warmwater fishing for bass and panfish; public boat launch on the north shore.
Black Cat Lake is a 30-acre pond tucked into the Speculator township — a small water with minimal public record and no documented fish surveys on file with DEC. The name suggests local folklore or a trapper's reference, though the specifics are lost to history. Access and shoreline conditions are unclear; this is one of several dozen Adirondack waters that exist in the official nomenclature but see almost no recreational traffic. If you know the put-in or have paddled it, the knowledge is worth sharing — these off-grid ponds are where the last untracked shoreline still hides.
Black Creek Lake is a remote body of water in the northern Adirondacks, accessible via unmarked paths and seasonal logging roads. The lake holds brook trout and sees minimal pressure — plan for navigation challenges and no maintained facilities.
Black Creek Lake is a 12-acre pond in the Speculator working-forest zone — small enough that it likely sees more pressure from local anglers than through-hikers, and remote enough that it's not on the standard lake-loop circuits. No fish stocking records on file, which in this region usually means native brookies or nothing, depending on whether the outlet survived the tannery era. The lake sits in mixed private and conservation easement land, so access depends on whether the current landowner allows it — check locally before assuming a right-of-way. If you're already in the area for Lake Pleasant or Piseco, it's worth asking at the town office or the nearest bait shop.
Blue Mountain Lake spans 1,555 acres in the central Adirondacks, with public boat launch access and a mix of shoreline camps and conserved forest. Known for lake trout and landlocked salmon; the Adirondack Museum overlooks the water from its western shore.
Bochen Lake sits on 25 acres in the Speculator region — a smaller backcountry water without the foot traffic of the bigger systems to the north and east. No fish species data on record, which usually means light stocking history or no recent survey work, though brookies sometimes hold in these overlooked lakes if the pH and oxygen levels cooperate. The lake is the kind of place that doesn't announce itself — no highway pull-off, no lean-to marquee — which keeps it quiet even in mid-July. Worth a look if you're already in the area and prefer solitude over certainty.
Bog Lake is a remote backcountry water in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by a multi-mile hike with no maintained trail access. The lake holds native brook trout and sees minimal pressure — plan for primitive conditions and careful navigation.
Bonner Lake is a 52-acre water tucked into the Old Forge area — mid-sized by the region's standards, quiet enough to register as off-the-grid even in a town built around motorized lake traffic. No public fish stocking records on file, which usually means either private shoreline or light angling pressure; either way, it's not the lake you hear about at the tackle shop. The Old Forge lakes trend toward development and easy access — Bonner skews the other direction, holding its own pocket of stillwater without much fanfare. Worth a map check if you're looking for something past the First through Eighth Lake corridor.
Boyer Lake is a 31-acre water in the Speculator area — small enough to paddle in an afternoon, remote enough that you won't share the shoreline with weekend crowds. No official fish stocking records on file, which typically means wild brookies or holdover populations from neighboring drainages, but also means you're fishing on speculation. The lake sits in the southern working-forest belt of the park, where property lines shift between state land and private timber tracts — check current DEC access status before heading in. If you're looking for solitude over infrastructure, Boyer delivers.
Brandreth Lake is a 377-acre private lake in the central Adirondacks, entirely within the Brandreth Park preserve—no public access. The shoreline remains undeveloped wilderness, visible only to members and their guests.
Brandy Lake is a 16-acre pond in the Old Forge township — small enough to canoe in an afternoon, large enough to feel private once you're on the water. The lake sits in the working landscape south of the main Old Forge corridor, where private camps and seasonal cottages mix with undeveloped shoreline and second-growth hardwoods. No public launch or DEC campsite data on record, which typically means private or association access — confirm before you load the boat. If you're looking for put-in options in the Old Forge area, the Fulton Chain and the neighboring ponds off South Shore Road are the reliable public plays.
Brant Lake spans 1,525 acres in the eastern Adirondacks with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Smallmouth bass fishing draws repeat anglers; lake trout and yellow perch fill out the catch, and public access keeps it open to beginners.
Brantingham Lake sits at 311 acres in the western foothills near Old Forge — a private community lake ringed by seasonal camps and year-round homes, with no public launch or DEC access. The water is deep enough for motorboats and clear enough that locals talk about it in the same breath as the bigger Tug Hill lakes to the west, but unless you know someone with a dock key, you're looking at it from NY-294. The Lake Association maintains the shoreline and enforces a strict no-trespassing perimeter; this is one of those Adirondack Park waters that exists on the map but lives behind camp gates. If you're after public water in the area, head east toward the Fulton Chain or north to Stillwater Reservoir.
Brewer Lake sits off the Old Forge grid — a 21-acre pond tucked into the working forest south of the Fulton Chain, away from the main lake-to-lake canoe routes and the summer rental traffic. No public boat launch, no marked state trail on the standard maps; access here is either by permission through private land or by locals who know the old logging roads. The lake doesn't appear on the DEC stocked-water lists, and if there are fish, they're likely holdover brookies or perch that came in decades ago and stayed quiet. This is Old Forge backcountry in the real sense — stands of second-growth hardwood, the occasional hunting camp, and water that gets fished maybe twice a season.
Brooktrout Lake is a 214-acre backcountry water in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 5.2-mile trail from the Stillwater trailhead. The lake holds native brook trout and allows primitive camping—most sites sit on the north shore, away from the trail approach.
Broomstick Lake is a 13-acre pocket in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that it likely holds more interest as a name on the map than as a paddling destination, though that's often where the quiet is. The lake sits in mixed private and state land south of the main reservoir, part of the patchwork of smaller waters that predate the Sacandaga's 1930 impoundment. No fish species data on file, which usually means limited public access or minimal stocking history. If you're hunting it down, expect to confirm access and ownership before you launch — this isn't marked trail country.
Brown Lake is a 13-acre pocket water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that it doesn't appear on most road maps, but named and documented in the DEC inventory. No fish species on record, which usually means marginal depth, winter kill risk, or limited reproduction habitat. The lake sits in the southern Adirondacks where the Park boundary gets fragmented by private land and the watershed transitions from High Peaks granite to the lower-elevation mix of second-growth hardwoods and old resort parcels. Access and ownership details require ground-truthing; if you're planning a visit, confirm status with the nearest DEC office or town clerk.
Browns Pond is a 46-acre water in the Lake George region — off the main lake corridor and away from the high-traffic shoreline, the kind of pond that doesn't announce itself from a highway pull-off. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all; if you're fishing it, you're exploring, not executing a plan. The surrounding topography is low and wooded — no named peaks in the immediate view — which makes it feel more like a Fulton Chain water than a Lake George satellite. Worth checking local access status before you drive; many smaller ponds in this zone are bounded by private land or require permission.
Bubb Lake sits in the Old Forge region at 51 acres — part of the Fulton Chain watershed but quieter than the main lakes, tucked into second-growth forest that grew back after the logging era. Access typically involves paddling or a woods road approach, and the lake sees less pressure than the bigger tourist draws to the west. No fish species data on record, which means either stocked brookies that didn't take or a pond that's been off the management rotation for years. The name — one of those blunt, functional Adirondack labels — tells you nothing, but the size suggests a manageable paddle and enough shoreline to find solitude if you time it right.
Buck Lake is a 41-acre water tucked in the Old Forge network — small enough to feel removed from the larger chains, big enough to support a shoreline community and a few private camps. No public fish stocking data on file, which usually means unstocked warmwater species or minimal angling pressure, though the DEC occasionally surveys these mid-size lakes for baseline population work. Access details aren't well-documented in state registers, suggesting this is primarily a private or limited-access lake rather than a launch-and-paddle destination. If you're passing through Old Forge and see the name on a local map, assume it's a residential water unless you confirm otherwise.
Buckhorn Lake is a 145-acre remote body of water in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 3.5-mile hike from the Puffer Pond trailhead. Brook trout in clear water; primitive camping available at designated sites along the eastern shore.
Bug Lake is a remote backcountry pond in the Five Ponds Wilderness, accessible by unmarked routes and requiring navigation skill. No maintained trails lead in — this is true bushwhack territory with minimal visitor traffic.
Burp Lake is a nine-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreational maps and remote enough that it holds its anonymity. No formal fish stocking records and no marked trail access means this is local knowledge territory, the kind of spot that shows up in a conversation about quiet paddles or brook trout prospecting but rarely in a guidebook. The name alone suggests old surveyor humor or a camp nickname that stuck. If you're looking for it, start by asking at an Old Forge outfitter or checking older USGS quads — it's out there, but it's not waiting for you at a trailhead.
Butler Lake is a 48-acre body of water in the central Adirondacks, accessible by a 1.2-mile carry from the Moose River Plains Wild Forest parking area. The lake holds brook trout and supports primitive shoreline camping under NYSDEC permit.
