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.
Lake Champlain forms the entire eastern boundary of the Adirondack Park — 120 miles of shoreline from Whitehall north to the Canadian border, with the bulk of the named bays, boat launches, and state campgrounds concentrated in the broader basin north of Ticonderoga. The lake holds every species you'd expect in a massive, deep, cold-water system: landlocked salmon, lake trout, bass, pike, walleye, and a seasonal run of steelhead in the Boquet and Saranac tributaries. Most Adirondack access is via the string of DEC launch sites and campgrounds along NY-9N and NY-22 — Crown Point, Westport, Willsboro Bay, and Point au Roche among them. On a clear day from the High Peaks, Champlain is the blue line on the eastern horizon; from the lake itself, the peaks are a fifty-mile wall of granite running south from Whiteface.
Lake Champlain's north basin spans open water toward the Canadian border, where walleye, smallmouth bass, and northern pike hold in depths that can exceed 300 feet. Weather shifts fast here—calm mornings turn to whitecaps by afternoon—so plan launches around forecast windows and carry charts for navigation.
Lake Champlain's southern basin is a tournament-class bass fishery — both smallmouth and largemouth — with trophy northern pike, lake trout, and salmon in the mix. Public access is abundant, but the basin's scale rewards local knowledge over generic tactics.
Lake Clear spans 1,010 acres in the Saranac Lake region and reaches 99 feet at its deepest — cold water that holds lake trout, brook trout, and yellow perch. Public access; the fishery rewards patience and the clarity lives up to the name.
Lake Colden is a 35-acre backcountry lake ringed by Mount Colden, Algonquin, and the MacIntyre Range. Access requires a 6-mile hike from Adirondak Loj; the lake sits at the crossroads of High Peaks trails and anchors a cluster of lean-tos and tent sites managed by NYSDEC.
Lake Eaton is a 529-acre lake in the northern Adirondacks with a public beach, campground, and boat launch off Route 30. Warmwater fishing for bass and pike; motorboats permitted under 10 horsepower.
Lake Flower is a 175-acre impoundment in the center of Saranac Lake village with a public boat launch at the beach. The lake hosts in-village paddling, winter ice-fishing, and serves as the site for the Winter Carnival ice palace.
Lake George spans 28,000 acres and drops to 196 feet — the largest lake entirely within the Adirondack Park and home to its strongest lake trout fishery. Multiple public launches and marinas line the 32-mile shoreline; smallmouth bass, salmon, and northern pike also present.
Lake Kushaqua covers 375 acres north of Loon Lake, with a public launch on Route 3. Lake trout and smallmouth bass hold in relatively undeveloped water — most of the shoreline remains wooded, bordered by private camps and the old Stony Wold sanatorium property.
Lake Lauderdale is a 76-acre private lake tucked into the southeastern shoulder of the Lake George Wild Forest — visible from Antone Mountain Road but gated at the shoreline. It's one of several mid-sized lakes in this corner of Warren County that never made the transition to public access or state ownership, so there's no legal put-in and no DEC presence. The lake sits in a wooded basin with no named peaks in immediate view, more characteristic of the southern Adirondack foothills than the granite-and-ridge country to the north. Fish data isn't on file, and the surrounding parcels are private — this one stays off the paddling map.
Lake Lila is a 1,409-acre wilderness lake closed to motorboats — paddle access only via a half-mile carry from the gate. Brook and lake trout in undisturbed water; primitive camping along the shoreline by NYSDEC permit.
Lake Lonely sits just north of the Great Sacandaga Lake reservoir system in southern Saratoga County — a 145-acre residential lake with private shoreline development and no public boat launch or swimming access. The name dates to the 19th century, likely a reference to its position set back from the main travel corridors between Northville and Edinburg, though the lake itself is anything but remote today. Most of the perimeter is ringed by seasonal camps and year-round homes; paddlers occasionally launch from private access with permission, but this is not a public recreation destination. If you're looking for water access in the Great Sacandaga region, the main reservoir itself offers multiple DEC launches and several thousand acres of open paddling.
Lake of the Pines is a 33-acre private lake in the Old Forge area — part of the dense constellation of smaller waters that fill the corridor between the Fulton Chain and the western edge of the core Adirondack wilderness. Access and fishing data are not publicly documented, which typically means the lake is held by a private association or camp ownership. The name suggests mid-20th-century subdivision development, common to this stretch of Herkimer County where lakefront parcels were carved out in the postwar boom. If you're researching public access in the Old Forge region, the Fulton Chain, Limekiln Lake, and the Moose River Plains are the reliable bets.
Lake Placid covers 2,173 acres and drops to 150 feet — deep enough to hold lake trout in summer and salmon year-round, with smallmouth bass along the rock edges. Public launch at hand; the Brewster Park pier puts shore anglers over fishable depth.
Lake Pleasant is a 1,559-acre lake in the Speculator region that produced New York's state-record lake trout and still holds trophy lakers along with smallmouth bass and yellow perch. At 68 feet deep, it spreads fishing pressure across enough water to avoid the crowds common on smaller Adirondack lakes.
Lake Serene is a 96-acre backcountry lake in the High Peaks Wilderness, reachable by a 2.3-mile trail from the Adirondack Loj Road. Brook trout hold in the deeper water; primitive campsites dot the eastern shore — quiet, but the trail sees steady traffic in summer.
Lake Tear of the Clouds sits at 4,292 feet on the southwest slope of Mount Marcy — the highest lake in New York and the source of the Hudson River. Reached by a steep, unmarked spur from the Feldspar Brook trail; often visited as a side trip during Marcy ascents.
Lens Lake is a small, remote water body in the central Adirondacks accessible only by bushwhack or unmarked footpath. The lake holds brook trout and offers primitive camping for paddlers willing to carry in and navigate without trail signs.
Lewey Lake stretches across 116 acres in the southwestern Adirondacks off NY-30 between Speculator and Indian Lake — part of the Cedar River Flow drainage and one of the quieter options in a corridor better known for Lake Pleasant and the Cedar River Road backcountry. The DEC-run Lewey Lake Campground anchors the eastern shore with 200+ sites, boat launch, and beach access — a family basecamp for exploring the flatwater chain that connects south to Indian Lake via the Cedar River. The lake itself fishes but lacks the aggressive stocking programs of nearby waters; most anglers here are canoe-camping through or chasing bass in the weed beds along the northern coves. Motorboats are common but the 10 mph limit keeps it manageable for paddlers working toward the Cedar River or Miami River tributaries.
Lily Lake is a 21-acre pond in the Great Sacandaga basin — small enough to slip past notice in a region better known for the reservoir's sprawling shoreline and seasonal camps. No fish species on record, no maintained trail network, no DEC lean-tos — which likely means it's either private, shallow and seasonal, or tucked into a working forest where public access hasn't been formalized. If you know the lake, you probably came by invitation or local knowledge; if you're hunting it on a map, confirm access and ownership before you go.
Lily Lake is a 22-acre pond in the Old Forge township — small enough to canoe in an hour, set in the mixed hardwood and hemlock terrain typical of the southwestern Adirondacks. No fish stocking records on file, which either means it winters out or it's been off the DEC radar long enough that whatever swims there now is incidental. The lake sits in the working-forest belt where camp roads and timber access blend together, so local knowledge matters more than trail signs. Worth confirming access and ownership before you put a boat in.
Limekiln Lake covers 460 acres and runs to 70 feet deep—cold water that holds lake trout, brook trout, and landlocked salmon. A state campground and launch on the shore; quieter than the Fulton Chain but still minutes from Old Forge.
Little Chub Lake is a two-acre pond in the Speculator region — small enough that "lake" feels generous, but it holds the name. No fish species data on file, which usually means either no recent survey work or marginal habitat for trout stocking. The lake sits in working timber country rather than designated Wilderness, so access likely follows old logging roads or private easements rather than marked DEC trails. If you're headed this way, confirm access and ownership before you go — these smaller Speculator waters often sit on the blurry line between state forest and private hold.
Little Crooked Lake is an 18-acre water in the Raquette Lake township — small enough that it likely sees pressure only from locals who know the access and paddlers willing to portage in from nearby chain routes. The name suggests it's part of the broader Crooked Lake system or sits adjacent to it, though the specific connection (if any) and the put-in aren't widely documented. No fish species data on record, which in this region usually means either unstocked brookies that didn't take or a pond that's been overlooked by DEC surveys. Worth a look if you're already in the area with a canoe and a tolerance for bushwhacking.
Little Deer Lake is a four-acre pocket water in the Old Forge township — small enough that it doesn't appear on most recreational lake lists, and remote enough that access details are scarce in the DEC's published records. No fish stocking data on file, which usually means wild brookies if anything, or catch-and-release pressure from anglers working the Fulton Chain corridor who know where to bushwhack. The lake sits in mixed second-growth hardwoods typical of the southwestern park — logging country that grew back dense after the early 1900s. If you're hunting for it, bring a compass and the Old Forge quad; this one rewards the orienteering effort more than the fishing report.
Little Deer Lake is a five-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area — small enough that it rarely appears on recreational maps and quiet enough that it stays that way. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means it's either too shallow to hold trout through summer or it's simply off the DEC's rotation; either way, it's more likely a paddling destination than a fishing one. The Old Forge lake country is dense with named ponds and unmaintained connectors, and Little Deer fits the pattern: local knowledge required, no obvious public access marked on the state's standard tourism materials. If you're staying nearby and have a canoe, it's worth asking at the town office or a local outfitter for current put-in conditions.
Little Forked Lake is a 369-acre lake in the Whitney Wilderness, accessible only by paddling 4.5 miles from Raquette Lake through a chain of connecting waterways. No motorboats; the route's remoteness keeps traffic low, and NYSDEC maintains primitive campsites along the shore.
Little Holmes Lake is an 8-acre pocket water in the Great Sacandaga basin — small enough that it rarely registers on regional fishing or paddling itineraries, but large enough to hold a canoe for an hour of quiet exploration. No public access data on file and no stocking records in the DEC database, which typically means private shoreline or limited road access from local residential roads. Waters this size in the Sacandaga corridor often connect to the lake's broader flowage system during high water, or sit as isolated kettle remnants from the original pre-dam valley. If you're nearby and can confirm access, it's worth a look — but call ahead or check town records before you assume a put-in.
Little Jordan Lake is a 15-acre pocket water in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to feel remote, big enough to paddle without circling back every ten minutes. No fish data on record, which either means it hasn't been surveyed in decades or it winters out too shallow to hold trout; either way, it's more of a canoe destination than a fishing one. The lake sits in working forestland west of the core Tupper system, accessible via logging roads that shift status depending on the season and the landowner's posting. Best confirmed locally before committing to the drive.
Little Lake sits two acres wide in the Tupper Lake region — small enough that it doesn't register on most paddling itineraries, but labeled and named nonetheless. No fish stocking records, no maintained access points in the state database, and no nearby peaks to anchor a description: this is a backwater in the truest sense, the kind of named water that exists more as a cartographic footnote than a destination. If you're poking around the logging roads or private land corridors west of Tupper Lake proper and you stumble onto it, you've found it — otherwise, it stays off the list.
Little Lake sits in the Great Sacandaga basin — seven acres tucked into the reservoir's broader shoreline geography, where the boundary between named water and cove gets negotiable depending on lake level and season. No fish data on file, which usually means either private access or a put-in too marginal to draw regular pressure. The Sacandaga system runs deep into the southern Adirondacks; Little Lake is one of dozens of small named waters in the drainage, most of them accessible only if you know the local road grid or own property on the right turn. If you're heading this way, confirm access before you load the boat.
Little Lake is a three-acre pocket tucked into the broader Great Sacandaga watershed — the kind of name that shows up on USGS quads but not on most paddlers' lists. Waters this small in the Sacandaga drainage typically sit on private land or dead-end into seasonal wetlands, so public access is the first question to answer before making the drive. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means either the pond doesn't hold fish year-round or it's been off the DEC's radar for decades. If you can confirm shore access, it's a float tube or canoe situation — not a destination, but a quiet hour if you're already in the area.
Little Metcalf Lake is an 8-acre pocket in the Speculator township — small enough that it rarely appears on regional recreation lists, quiet enough that it holds appeal for exactly that reason. No fish stocking records on file, no established trail system radiating out from the shoreline, no lean-to or campsite in the DEC inventory — this is either private-access water or a bushwhack destination depending on which parcel lines you're reading. If you're looking for solitude over infrastructure, and you've sorted out the access question, the size suggests a paddle that takes twenty minutes to circle and an afternoon that doesn't require a plan.
Little Moose Lake is a 377-acre body of water in the western Adirondacks, accessible by a short portage from the Stillwater Reservoir area. Remote and motor-restricted, it draws paddlers for multi-day trips and brook trout fishing in quiet water.
Little Moose Lake is a 327-acre body of water in the West-Central Adirondacks, accessed via state land off Uncas Road. The lake holds landlocked salmon and lake trout; launch from the state boat access or paddle in from nearby Fourth Lake.
Little Otter Lake sits in the Old Forge area — a 44-acre water without the fanfare of the bigger chains but worth knowing if you're mapping the quieter pockets of the western Adirondacks. No fish species data on record, which typically means it's been overlooked by survey crews or it's a marginal fishery — either way, this is not a destination for anglers chasing stocked brookies or lakers. Access details are sparse, and the lake doesn't appear on the standard paddling loops that pull traffic toward the Fulton Chain or further into the Five Ponds Wilderness. Check with local outfitters in Old Forge for current access options and whether a carry-in is feasible.
Little Oxbarn Lake is a 7-acre pond in the Great Sacandaga basin — small enough that most maps skip it, but it exists in the DEC inventory and presumably holds water year-round. No fish data on file, which either means it hasn't been surveyed in decades or it winters out and doesn't support a trout population. The name suggests old farmstead or logging-era infrastructure nearby, though the specific oxbarn in question is lost to time. Worth confirming access and ownership before bushwhacking in — much of the Great Sacandaga periphery is private or posted.
Little Pine Lake is a small backcountry water in the Saint Regis Canoe Area, reached by a short portage from the main paddling route. Quiet, undeveloped shoreline; brook trout; used mostly as a layover stop between larger lakes.
Little Pine Lake is a 14-acre pocket water in the Speculator area — small enough that it holds no official fish survey data and quiet enough that it stays off most weekend itineraries. The lake sits in mixed hardwood and softwood forest typical of the southern Adirondacks, where the terrain mellows out and the paddling season stretches longer than it does in the High Peaks. Access and ownership details vary widely for waters this size in the region — some are state land with informal put-ins, others are private or association-controlled — so confirm current status before planning a trip.
Little Rock Lake is a nine-acre pond in the Speculator region — small enough that it rarely shows up on conversation lists but large enough to hold its own quiet if you know where to look. No fish species data on record, which usually means it's either stocked inconsistently, fished rarely, or both. Access and trail details are sparse in the public record, so confirm current conditions with the local DEC office or outfitters in Speculator before you drive out. If you're looking for a small water with low traffic and you're willing to do the recon work, this is the kind of spot that rewards patience.
Little Safford Lake is a small, backcountry lake in the central Adirondacks reached by unmarked routes—local knowledge or strong navigation skills required. Quiet water, minimal traffic, and a remote feel for paddlers willing to work for it.
Little Salmon Lake is a 33-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge working forest — one of the smaller named waters in a region better known for the Fulton Chain and its string of lake towns. No public launch, no DEC signage, no fish stocking records on file — this is private-access territory, likely hemmed in by club property or timberland parcels that predate the Forest Preserve. If you're paddling the Fulton Chain or poking around the back roads between Old Forge and Inlet, it's on the map but not on the itinerary. Worth noting only if you're counting waters or chasing property-line curiosities in the southwestern park.
Little Salmon Lake is a 26-acre water in the Raquette Lake township — small enough that it doesn't anchor its own recreation scene, but large enough to hold interest if you're already in the area. The lake sits in the working patchwork of private land, state forest, and seasonal camps that defines much of the Raquette Lake region, which means access and use patterns vary year to year depending on easements and local arrangements. No fish data on file with DEC, which usually signals either limited public access or a pond that doesn't get surveyed often enough to justify stocking. Worth confirming access status locally before planning a trip.
Little Silver Dawn Lake is a ten-acre pocket tucked into the Old Forge backcountry — small enough that most paddlers pass it by in favor of the bigger, better-known chains. No fish data on record, which likely means it's either never been formally surveyed or it's been surveyed and found fishless; either way, it's not the reason you'd go. Access details are scarce in the public record, suggesting either private holdings around the shoreline or a bushwhack-only approach from one of the larger Fulton Chain corridors. If you know where it is, you probably already know why you're headed there.
Little Trout Lake sits in the working forest west of Speculator — an 11-acre pond typical of the small, wood-lined waters that dot the private timber tracts and state land patchwork in this corner of Hamilton County. No fish data on file, which usually means either unstocked or brook trout that haven't been surveyed in years; access depends on whether the shoreline is state land or gated timber company road. The name suggests it was once a trout fishery — possibly still is if there's cold inlet water and enough depth to hold oxygen through winter. Worth a call to the Region 5 DEC office in Ray Brook if you're planning a trip in.
Little Tupper Lake spans 2,300 acres in the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area — the largest lake in New York entirely within a wilderness classification. Access requires a 2.5-mile paddle or portage from the Sabattis Circle trailhead; motors prohibited, camping by permit only.
Little Woodhull Lake sits in the western Old Forge backcountry — 72 acres of remote water in a region better known for bigger names like Woodhull and Sand Lake. Access typically means a longer walk from nearby forest roads, which keeps the pressure light and the shoreline quiet. No species data on file, but these western watershed lakes tend to hold brook trout or splake if they've been managed at all. Worth knowing: this is working forest country, so trail conditions and access can shift with logging operations — check current routes before you go.
Livingston Lake is a 27-acre pond in the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest, accessed by a short bushwhack from the Saranac Lake-Lake Clear Road. Small-mouth bass and panfish; undeveloped shoreline with one primitive camping spot on the eastern bank.
Long Lake — the 53-acre one in the Speculator region, not the 14-mile-long namesake to the north — sits in the rolling forested country west of NY-30, where the southern Adirondacks flatten out into second-growth mixed hardwood and the named peaks give way to low ridges and swamp drainages. No fish data on record, which typically means either unmaintained stocking or shallow warm-water habitat that doesn't support trout through summer. Access details are sparse; most smaller lakes in this corridor are either walk-in via unmarked logging roads or limited to shoreline owners, and without a DEC boat launch or marked trailhead this one likely falls into that category. Worth a call to the Speculator town office or local outfitters if you're planning a paddle — they'll know which gates are open and which aren't.
Long Lake stretches 14 miles through the central Adirondacks — one of the longest natural lakes in the park. The hamlet at its north end offers boat launches, a public beach, and canoe access to the Raquette River system.
Long Lake — not to be confused with the much larger Long Lake in the central Adirondacks — is a 12-acre pocket water in the Old Forge area, tucked into the working landscape of the western park. No fish stocking records and no formal trail listings, which suggests either private holdings or unmaintained local access; worth a call to the Town of Webb office or a conversation at the Old Forge Hardware before you plan a trip. The name shows up on older USGS quads but not in the DEC's stocked-waters database — a reminder that not every named water in the park comes with a parking lot and a put-in. If you do find access, expect a quiet afternoon and bring a thermometer; small forest ponds in this drainage can push 75°F by mid-July.
Long Lake — the 23-acre one in the Old Forge corridor, not the town or the 14-mile reservoir up north — sits in working forestland south of the Moose River Plains, accessible by seasonal dirt roads that turn from firm to rough depending on spring runoff and logging activity. No formal DEC access or designated campsites, and the fisheries data suggests it's been off the stocking rotation long enough that whatever swims here now is incidental. It's the kind of water that shows up on the topo but not in the guidebooks — worth a visit if you're already back there with a canoe strapped to the roof rack, but not a destination lake on its own. Confirm road conditions and landowner status before planning a trip.
Long Lake — the 35-acre version in the Old Forge region, not the 14-mile monster up north — sits in the working forest west of Fourth Lake, tucked into a drainage that sees more snowmobile traffic in winter than paddlers in summer. No formal launch, no trail register, no lean-tos on record — this is a put-in-where-you-can water that rewards locals and anyone willing to study a topo and bushwhack or paddle upstream from a tributary connection. The Old Forge corridor has dozens of these small named lakes scattered through the private timber tracts and state easement parcels; Long Lake is one more in the mix, quiet by virtue of obscurity rather than designation. If you're launching here, you already know how you got the access.
Long Lake — not to be confused with the 14-mile Long Lake up in Hamilton County — is a 19-acre water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region, where the naming conventions favor simplicity over poetry. The lake sits in the southern Adirondacks, outside the Blue Line's wilder corridors, in country shaped more by logging roads and seasonal camps than trailheads and lean-tos. No fish species data on file, which usually means either unstocked private water or a pond that doesn't pull enough angler attention to warrant DEC surveys. For context: you're closer to Northville than Lake Placid, closer to the Sacandaga's reservoir shoreline than any named peak.
Long Lake — the town, the lake, the Route 30 corridor — is one of the longest bodies of water in the Adirondacks, stretching fourteen miles from the inlet at the north end down to the hamlet at the south. The lake defines the geography here: the town offices, marinas, and lodges all face the water, and NY-30 shadows the eastern shore for most of its length. It's a boat lake — deep enough for serious fishing, wide enough that afternoon winds can turn crossing the main body into a decision, and remote enough that the upper sections feel like backcountry even from a kayak. The hamlet itself sits at the southern outlet, where the Raquette River begins its long run north toward Tupper Lake and eventually the St. Lawrence.
Long Lake runs fourteen miles through the central Adirondacks — 4,077 acres with depths to 60 feet. Smallmouth bass throughout, lake trout in the deeper pockets, and northern pike; a long paddle rewards those who work past the southern access.
Long Pond is a 342-acre lake in the St. Regis Canoe Area, accessible only by paddle — no motors allowed. Clear water, primitive campsites on the shoreline, and a put-in from the Floodwood Road trailhead make it a quiet backcountry option.
Loon Lake is a 323-acre lake in the Franklin Falls Pond Wild Forest with a state-maintained boat launch off Route 99. The lake holds smallmouth bass and yellow perch; motorboats are permitted, and primitive campsites dot the eastern shore.
Loon Lake is a 315-acre lake in the northern Adirondacks with public access via a DEC boat launch off Route 99. The lake holds smallmouth bass and northern pike; motorboats are permitted, and a handful of primitive campsites dot the shoreline.
Loon Lake is a 19-acre water in the Saranac Lake region — small enough to paddle in an afternoon, large enough to feel private once you're on it. The lack of fish stocking records suggests it's either holding wild brook trout or fishless, which in the Adirondacks usually means the latter — shallow basin, possible winterkill, or marginal pH. Access details aren't widely documented, which often signals private shoreline or a rough unmaintained approach; if you're headed there, confirm access locally before you load the canoe. Worth noting: "Loon Lake" appears multiple times on Adirondack maps, so double-check coordinates if you're navigating by name alone.
