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.
Cage Lake is a 48-acre water tucked into the Old Forge township — one of the smaller named lakes in a region better known for the Fulton Chain and its reservoir system. No public access data on file with DEC, and no angling records to speak of, which typically means private shoreline or landlocked by camps. The lake sits in the working forest zone where most waters are either Adirondack League Club territory or legacy club holdings — worth a property map check if you're chasing it down. If you're in Old Forge proper and looking for accessible water, the North Branch of the Moose River and the public launch at Fourth Lake are the better bets.
Cary Lake is a 20-acre water tucked into the Old Forge township — small enough to stay off the standard touring circuit, large enough to hold a canoe or kayak for an hour of quiet paddling. The lake sits in working Adirondack country, where camp roads and forest access blend into one another and local knowledge still matters more than trailhead kiosks. No fish species data on file with DEC, which usually means either wild brookies that nobody bothers reporting or a pond that winterkills and gets restocked inconsistently. Access details are lean; ask at the Old Forge Visitor Center or check the latest DEC launch inventory if you're planning a paddle.
Caswell Lake is an 11-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it rarely shows up on regional recreation maps, but part of the dense lattice of ponds and wetlands that defines the western Adirondacks. No formal fish stocking records on file, which usually means either wild brookies in low numbers or a pond that winters out every few years. Access details are sparse, and the lake doesn't appear on standard trail networks — likely private shoreline or a bushwhack destination for locals who know the approach. Worth a call to the Old Forge Visitor Center if you're chasing unmapped water in the Fulton Chain backcountry.
Chambers Lake sits east of Old Forge in the Moose River Plains — a 27-acre pond in the low-relief timber country where the western Adirondacks flatten out into long gravel roads and dispersed campsites. The lake is part of the Old Forge / Inlet system of ponds and wetlands that feed the Moose River, more working forest than High Peaks drama. Access details and fishery records are sparse, but the pond fits the profile of the region: quiet water, soft shoreline, and the kind of solitude that comes from being off the main corridors. If you're looking for a named water to paddle or explore by truck and canoe in the Moose River country, Chambers is on the map.
Chase Lake holds 109 acres in the Old Forge township — part of the working forest south of the main tourist corridor, where access patterns follow private logging roads and historical camp leases rather than marked DEC trails. The lake sits in mixed hardwood and conifer cover typical of the southwestern Adirondacks, where loons nest in May and the shoreline stays quiet outside of deer season. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all — worth a reconnaissance trip with a canoe and a fly rod. Old Forge proper is fifteen minutes north for resupply and the Fulton Chain launch sites.
Chase Upper Lake is a 21-acre water in the Old Forge area — one of several small lakes in the Fulton Chain corridor that sits outside the main boat-launch-and-campground circuit. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means it's either privately held, marginally accessible, or both; many of the smaller Old Forge-area lakes are ringed by camps and accessible only by bushwhack or private easement. The name suggests a multi-lake system (Chase Upper / Chase Lower), common in this part of the Park where nineteenth-century surveying carved contiguous waters into separately named parcels. Check local shop talk in Old Forge or Inlet for current access intel — this one doesn't show up on the standard paddling maps.
Cleveland Lake is a ten-acre water tucked into the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't show up on most tourist maps, which keeps it quiet. No DEC fish stocking records on file, and no maintained trail system to speak of — this is either private-access or a bushwhack depending on which shoreline you're approaching from. The lake sits in the working landscape west of the Fulton Chain, where property lines and old logging roads dictate more than trailhead signs. If you're looking for it, confirm access with the town or a local outfitter before you set out.
Combs Lake is a ten-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge township — small enough that it doesn't pull much traffic, but legitimate water with shoreline and depth. No fish species on the DEC survey record, which likely means it hasn't been stocked or sampled in recent memory, though that doesn't rule out resident brookies or informal populations. Access details are sparse in the public record — worth checking local trail registers or the town office if you're planning a visit. Old Forge waters tend to be either roadside resort ponds or backcountry walk-ins; Combs sits somewhere in that middle distance.
Cotton Lake is a 10-acre pond in the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't show up on most recreational radar, tucked into the dense patchwork of private holdings and public easements that define the western Adirondacks. No fish stocking records, no marked trailheads, no DEC campsites — this is either a bushwhack-access water or a private inholding depending on which parcel line you're standing on. If you're exploring the Old Forge backcountry by canoe or on foot, Cotton Lake is the kind of water you stumble onto, not the kind you plan a weekend around.
Crooked Lake sits in the Old Forge corridor at 46 acres — small enough to feel contained, large enough to paddle for an hour without retracing your wake. The name likely comes from an irregular shoreline or a bend that distinguishes it from the dozens of rounder ponds in the western Adirondacks, though the lake doesn't appear on many standard recreation lists and fish survey data hasn't surfaced in DEC records. It's the kind of water that gets overlooked in a region dense with bigger destinations — Stillwater Reservoir, the Fulton Chain, Raquette Lake — but that's often the trade-off for solitude. Check local access points in Old Forge; many smaller lakes in this area are private or require permission.
Crystal Lake sits tucked in the Old Forge township — a 15-acre pond small enough to slip past most regional guides but large enough to hold its shape on a map. No fish species data on record, which typically signals either neglected stocking history or limited access keeping angler pressure low. The name "Crystal" appears on four different Adirondack waters, so cross-reference coordinates if you're planning a visit; this one holds the Old Forge ZIP code. Worth a scout if you're working through the lesser-known ponds in the Fulton Chain corridor.
Crystal Lake sits on the eastern edge of Old Forge village — 84 acres of open water bordered by NY-28 and dotted with seasonal camps along the northern shoreline. The lake gets moderate powerboat traffic in summer (public launch off South Shore Road) and transitions to snowmobile and ice-fishing traffic once the ice sets in January. No fish stocking records or angler surveys on file with DEC, which usually means either legacy brook trout populations or bass/panfish that came in decades ago and never warranted management attention. The lake drains north into the Moose River; paddlers sometimes use it as a warm-up before committing to the longer flatwater runs upstream toward Limekiln or down toward McKeever.
Curtis Lake is a 13-acre water tucked into the Old Forge lake district — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreation lists, which means it stays quiet even in high summer. No public data on fish species, and access details aren't well documented; local knowledge or a DEC call will clarify whether there's a carry-in launch or if it's landlocked by private holdings. The lake sits in the working forest west of the Fulton Chain, part of the patchwork of small ponds and private timberland that defines the Old Forge backcountry. If you're paddling the area, it's worth a phone call to the regional DEC office before you load the canoe.
