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.
Mad Tom Lake is a two-acre pocket water in the Old Forge township — small enough that it might be more accurately called a pond, though the name stuck. The size suggests private shoreline or limited public access, typical of the smaller named waters scattered through the working forest and seasonal camps west of the Fulton Chain. No fish species on record, which either means it hasn't been surveyed or it doesn't hold a sustainable population — common for waters this size in the central Adirondacks. If you're tracking it down, confirm access and ownership before you bushwhack.
Maple Lake is an 18-acre pond in the Old Forge township — small enough to canoe in an hour, large enough to feel private once you're on the water. No public fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all; local anglers would know. The lake sits in the working forest west of the main Old Forge corridor, part of the patchwork of private timberland, club property, and state easements that defines this stretch of the southwestern Park — access and use rights vary by parcel, so confirm before launching.
Mason Lake is a remote 133-acre body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reachable by a 6.5-mile hike from the Cranberry Lake trailhead. Brook trout and solitude; primitive camping permitted under NYSDEC backcountry rules.
Massawepie Lake is a 1,015-acre body of water in the northern Adirondacks, primarily within a Boy Scouts of America camp. Public access is limited; paddlers can launch from state land on the northeast shore, but most of the shoreline remains restricted.
Mayfield Lake sits in the southern Adirondack foothills near the western arm of Great Sacandaga Lake — a 141-acre impoundment that reads more like a wide spot in a tributary system than a standalone destination. The shoreline is largely private, with residential development defining most of the perimeter, though local access exists for small craft and shoreline fishing. No fish stocking records or species surveys on file with DEC, which typically signals a warmwater fishery left to its own devices — likely panfish, bass, and whatever migrates up from the Sacandaga drainage. Best treated as a local paddle or a quiet morning with a canoe if you're already in the area.
McDougall Lake sits in the Lake George region as a 39-acre body of water — modest by Adirondack standards, but sized right for a quieter paddle away from the Lake George main stem. No fish species data on record, which usually means either stocked brookies that don't hold or a warm-water fishery that hasn't been surveyed in recent memory. The lake's positioning in the southern Adirondacks puts it outside the High Peaks corridor — flatter terrain, less dramatic relief, more private shoreline. Access and launch details require local knowledge or a phone call to the nearest town office.
McRorie Lake is a remote backcountry water in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 5-mile hike from the Stillwater Reservoir trailhead. Brook trout fishing and primitive shoreline camping; no motorized access.
Meacham Lake is a 1,200-acre state-operated campground lake in the northern Adirondacks with a boat launch, swimming beach, and stocked warmwater fishery. Open to motorboats; the campground runs late May through Labor Day with 224 sites.
Meco Lake is a 14-acre pocket water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that it doesn't pull the boating traffic or second-home development that clusters around the reservoir itself. The lake sits in private-land country south of the Blue Line, where access typically means knowing someone or owning a parcel, and the fishing pressure stays light as a result. No DEC stocking records or survey data on file, which usually means warmwater holdovers — bass, perch, maybe panfish — or nothing at all. If you're passing through on NY-30 or NY-29A, it's a name on the map, not a destination.
Merriam Lake is a 21-acre water tucked into the Raquette Lake town network — small enough to feel removed, large enough to hold interest for a morning paddle. The lake sits in mixed hardwood cover typical of the central Adirondacks, away from the High Peaks foot traffic and the Old Forge resort corridor. No fish species data on file, which usually means light angling pressure or unstocked water — bring a rod if you're curious, but treat it as a paddling destination first. Access details aren't widely published; local knowledge or a DEC regional contact in Northville is the reliable starting point.
Metcalf Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, reachable by a multi-mile bushwhack or paddle route from Sand Lake. No maintained trail access — navigation skills required; primitive camping available under wilderness regulations.
Middle Branch Lake is a remote 92-acre body of water accessible only by canoe via the Raquette River or a 3.5-mile portage from Coreys Road. No motorboats; primitive campsites by permit; known for brook trout and absolute quiet.
Middle Lake is a 38-acre water tucked into the Great Sacandaga Lake watershed — more residential shoreline than backcountry, with seasonal camps and private access dominating the perimeter. No public launch or DEC trailhead, which keeps it off the standard touring circuit but familiar to locals who've spent summers here since the reservoir system reshaped the region in the 1930s. The lake sits in the southern Adirondacks' transitional zone — past the High Peaks drama, before the blue-line bleeds into Mohawk Valley suburbs. Fish data on file is thin, but waters in this basin typically hold warmwater species: bass, perch, occasional pickerel.
Middle Saranac Lake covers 1,376 acres and reaches 53 feet deep — the middle link in the three-lake Saranac chain. A public launch and calmer water than Upper Saranac make it a practical start for families; smallmouth bass, northern pike, and yellow perch under standard NYSDEC limits.
Middle Settlement Lake is a 633-acre body of water in the northern Adirondacks, accessible by boat launch off Route 30 near Paul Smiths. Open to motorboats and known for smallmouth bass and northern pike; shoreline largely undeveloped with paddling routes into connecting wetlands.
Military Lake is a 19-acre water tucked into the Long Lake township — quiet, off the main corridors, and largely outside the standard hiking circuit. No fish records on file with DEC, which usually means either the lake doesn't hold trout or it's simply not stocked and not sampled. Access details are sparse: this is one of those waters that exists in the gaps between the trailhead system, likely reached by bushwhack or private road if at all. If you're mapping backcountry routes in the Long Lake area and come across it, expect solitude — and low odds of a established campsite or maintained path.
Mill Creek Lake is a 51-acre water tucked into the Old Forge area — a region dense with small lakes and ponds that tend to get overshadowed by the bigger destinations like the Fulton Chain. No fish survey data on record, which usually means either light stocking pressure or none at all, though small Adirondack lakes in this zone often hold resident brookies or perch populations that don't show up in DEC records. Access and launch details are elusive — check with local marinas or the Town of Webb office for current conditions. This is classic Old Forge territory: forested shoreline, likely private camps mixed with undeveloped stretches, and the kind of quiet water that pays off if you're willing to do the legwork.
Miner Lake is a 115-acre water in the Lake Placid region — sizable enough to be worth knowing about, but without the public access infrastructure or fishery data that would put it on most paddlers' or anglers' short lists. The lake sits in private or limited-access territory, which explains the absence of trail mileage, launch sites, or stocking records in the usual channels. If you're looking at Miner Lake on a map and wondering how to get there, the answer is probably a conversation with a local landowner or a closer look at current easement maps. For a similar-sized paddle with clear public access, Lake Placid itself is ten minutes away with multiple launches and full amenities.
Minerva Lake is a 1,293-acre remote water in the central Adirondacks, reached by a 4-mile paddle up the Cedar River from the state boat launch. Landlocked salmon and lake trout; primitive camping on the western shore by permit only.
Mink Lake is a 13-acre pond tucked into the Old Forge backcountry — small enough that you won't find it on most touring maps, but named and mapped by DEC, which means there's legal public water here if you know where to look. No recorded fishery data, which typically signals either marginal habitat or a pond that doesn't get stocked and doesn't get surveyed — sometimes both. Old Forge has a lattice of old logging roads, snowmobile trails, and unmarked footpaths that connect dozens of these smaller ponds; Mink is likely accessed via one of those routes rather than a marked trailhead. Worth a look if you're already working a loop in the area and have a topo map that shows the surrounding wetlands.
Mirror Lake lies in the center of Lake Placid village—122 acres and 60 feet deep, steps from Main Street. Motor-free water stocked with rainbow and brown trout; easy launch access makes it a practical first paddle or a quick cast between errands.
Mirror Lake is an 11-acre water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — not to be confused with the larger, more famous Mirror Lake in Lake Placid. No fish species data on record, which usually means either private ownership, limited access, or simply a pond that doesn't pull stocking or survey attention from DEC. The name suggests the usual: a sheltered basin, still water, tree-reflected surface on a windless morning. Without public access intel or a clear trailhead reference, this one lives in the "local knowledge only" category — worth a knock on a nearby door if you're curious, but not a destination you can count on from the road.
Mohegan Lake is a 136-acre water body in the southern Adirondacks, accessible by trail from the Speculator area. The lake holds brook trout and supports backcountry camping — a quiet alternative to the busier lakes north.
Mohegan Lake is a 93-acre water body in the southern Adirondacks, accessible via a short trail from Route 8 near Speculator. It holds brook trout and sees light use — a quiet paddle or a quick fishing trip.
Monument Lake is a small 15-acre water in the Old Forge corridor — quiet, tucked away from the heavier summer traffic on the Fulton Chain, and the kind of pond that gets fished by locals who know where the access is and don't advertise it. No stocking records and no species data on file, which typically means wild brookies if anything, or it's been written off by DEC. The name suggests some marker or boundary stone from the old surveying days, but the history isn't documented in accessible records. If you're poking around Old Forge backcountry and find the put-in, it's worth a paddle — but don't expect a trailhead sign or a boat launch.
Moon Lake is a 12-acre pond in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to paddle in an afternoon, large enough to feel like its own destination. No fish data on file with DEC, which usually means unmaintained access and light fishing pressure, or it means the pond holds brookies that nobody's bothered to survey. The name suggests old logging-camp or surveyor's nomenclature, common in the working forests west of the High Peaks where ponds were named for function or whimsy rather than geography. If you're headed this way, confirm access and ownership with the local ranger — many small waters in this zone sit on mixed public-private parcels with seasonal or gated roads.
Moreau Lake is a 29-acre pocket of water in the southern Adirondacks, close enough to Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls that it functions as a transitional zone between the park proper and the Capital District's backyard recreation corridor. The lake sits within Moreau Lake State Park — a modest state facility with beach access, picnic grounds, and a network of hiking trails that thread through second-growth forest and old logging roads. No fish data on file, which usually means either stocking records fell through the cracks or the lake's been off the management radar for decades. It's a neighborhood lake in state-park clothing: families, weekenders, and locals who want Adirondack proximity without the two-hour drive north.
Morehouse Lake is a 621-acre reservoir in the southern Adirondacks, formed by a dam on the South Branch of the West Canada Creek. Access via state boat launch off NY-8; motorboats allowed, and the lake holds smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and northern pike.
Moss Lake is a 92-acre body of water in the central Adirondacks, accessed via the Big Moose Road corridor. The lake supports warm-water fish species and sees light recreational use — a quieter alternative to neighboring Eagle and Big Moose lakes.
Mount Arab Lake is a 103-acre water body in the northwestern Adirondacks, named for the adjacent fire-tower peak. The lake offers brook trout fishing and primitive shoreline camping; access via a short carry from the trailhead on Conifer Road.
Mountain Lake is a 43-acre water in the Great Sacandaga region — the southern Adirondacks where the Park boundary meets the reservoir's northern tributaries and the terrain softens into rolling forest rather than high peaks. No fish species on record, which often signals either private access or a pond that doesn't get stocked or sampled by DEC surveys. The name is common enough (there are at least four "Mountain Lakes" in the Park) that this one lives in relative obscurity, tucked into the wooded corridors west of the Sacandaga's main basin. If you're looking for it, start with the town clerk in Northville or Wells — access intel in this region tends to be hyperlocal.
Mountain Lake is a 14-acre water tucked into the Old Forge area — small enough to hold intimacy, big enough to paddle without feeling boxed in. No fish species data on file, which likely means it's either unstocked and wild (brookies possible in the inlet/outlet if there are any), lightly fished, or simply off the DEC stocking rotation. Old Forge waters tend to break into two camps: the heavily trafficked Fulton Chain corridor and the back-pocket ponds that require local knowledge or a willingness to bushwhack. Worth a call to the Old Forge Visitor Center or a local fly shop for current intel on access and what's actually in there.
Mountain Spring Lake is a 54-acre private lake tucked into the wooded hills north of Brant Lake — part of the loose constellation of smaller waters between the western High Peaks and Lake George. The lake sits in a residential area with limited public access, which keeps it off the radar for most paddlers and anglers working the better-known chains to the south. No fish stocking data on record, and no formal DEC access point, so this one lives in the "locals and property owners" category. If you're looking for public water in the Brant Lake region, head instead to Brant Lake itself (1,500+ acres, NYS boat launch) or the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness lakes to the east.
Mountain View Lake is a small body of water in the Adirondack Park — its exact acreage and depth are not widely documented. Access and current conditions should be verified locally before planning a visit.
Mounts Creek Lake is a 15-acre pond in the Speculator area — small enough that it rarely shows up on regional recreation lists, quiet enough that it stays that way. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all; local anglers would know. The lake sits in working forest land where access depends on current timber company policy and whatever woods roads happen to be passable — check with the town or local outfitters before assuming you can drive in. Worth a look if you're already in the area and mapping smaller water, but not a destination on its own.
Mud Lake sits in the Lake Pleasant / Speculator township — a 21-acre pond with no public fish stocking records and no formal trail infrastructure in the DEC inventory. The name suggests either shallow muck-bottom habitat or a seasonal draw-down pattern that leaves exposed shoreline; both are common in the lower-elevation ponds west of the main High Peaks corridor. Without designated access or lean-to sites, this is likely private-land bordered or otherwise undeveloped — worth checking the current DEC Unit Management Plan for the area if you're looking for a paddle-in option. For stocked trout lakes in the region, Elm Lake and Lake Pleasant are the reliable bets.
Mud Lake is an 8-acre pocket water in the Speculator region — the kind of small, unassuming water that keeps locals quiet and sends destination anglers back to the main-road ponds. No fish records on file, which could mean unstocked, under-reported, or simply overlooked; the DEC inventory doesn't capture every beaver-dammed corner of the park. Access details are sparse, likely a carry-in affair or bushwhack scenario — not every named water in the Adirondacks comes with a trailhead sign and a lean-to. Worth confirming access and current conditions with the local DEC office before committing to the haul.
Mud Lake sits in the Speculator township — a 21-acre patch of water that carries the kind of name that tells you what you're getting. No fish data on file with DEC, no established trail infrastructure, and no nearby peaks to anchor a day's itinerary; this is either a bushwhack destination for someone with a USGS quad and a compass, or it's a local access point known primarily to seasonal camps and year-round residents. The name suggests shallow water, organic bottom, and the kind of pond that warms early in spring — more pickerel and panfish habitat than trout water, though without stocking records or survey data that's educated guesswork. For the 95% of paddlers and anglers working off the standard DEC access lists, Mud Lake stays off the map.
Mud Lake — eight acres in the Speculator tract — is the kind of small, unassuming water that appears on the topo but rarely in the guidebooks. No fish data on file, no trails blazed to the shore, no lean-tos or designated sites — just a name on the map and the kind of bushwhack proposition that appeals to anglers who'd rather explore than follow a trail register. If you're staying in Speculator and looking for water you won't share, Mud Lake fits the brief. Bring a compass and don't expect a dock.
Mud Lake sits just outside Speculator — a 25-acre backcountry pond with no formal trail access and no fish stocking records, which puts it in the category of waters that see more moose than anglers. The name tells the story: shallow, marshy shoreline, likely tannic water, and the kind of soft bottom that makes wading an experiment. These small, off-grid ponds are common in the southern Adirondacks — less dramatic than the High Peaks waters, but worth knowing if you're hunting solitude or studying wetland ecology. Expect beaver work, and don't expect a beach.
Mud Lake is an 18-acre water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that it likely sees more pressure from local anglers than passing hikers, but remote enough that no fish survey data has made it into the DEC records. The name suggests a shallow, marshy basin, which in this part of the southern Adirondacks often means warm-water species (perch, pickerel, bullhead) rather than trout, though without stocking or survey history that's educated guesswork. Access details are sparse, which usually means either private shoreline or a seasonal woods road that doesn't show up on the standard trail maps. If you're planning a trip, confirm access and ownership locally before heading in.
Mud Lake sits in the Great Sacandaga Lake watershed — 21 acres tucked into the second-growth forest that was drowned and re-drowned by the original Sacandaga Reservoir (1930) and later fluctuations. The name tells you what to expect: shallow, weedy margins, soft bottom, the kind of pond that warms early and holds pickerel even if the state hasn't surveyed it recently. Access details are sparse — likely private or bushwhack-only — which keeps it off the weekend circuit. If you're poking around the region by boat or exploring old logging roads south of the main reservoir, Mud Lake is the kind of water you stumble into, not the kind you plan a trip around.
Mud Lake is a three-acre pond in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that it likely warms faster than the deeper waters nearby, and typical of the sub-five-acre ponds that dot the southern Adirondacks without drawing much attention. No fish data on record suggests it's either unstocked or too shallow to hold trout through summer, though panfish populations in these small lakes can surprise. The name tells you what to expect at the shoreline: soft bottom, lily pads by midsummer, and the kind of water that canoeists either avoid or seek out depending on whether they're chasing bass or solitude. Worth checking DEC access maps — many ponds this size in the region are landlocked or road-adjacent with limited public approach.
Mud Lake is a three-acre pocket water in the Great Sacandaga Lake region — small enough that most paddlers pass it by, which is exactly the point if you're looking for a quiet morning with a canoe and a thermos. No fish data on record, no marked trails, no lean-tos — this is marginal water in a landscape defined by the massive Sacandaga reservoir to the south and the string of private camps that dot the surrounding backcountry. Access details are sparse, and the lake lives up to its name: soft bottom, shallow margins, the kind of place that rewards early-season exploration before the weeds take over. If you find it, you'll likely have it to yourself.
Mud Lake sits in the Old Forge chain-of-lakes district — a 27-acre backwater that lives up to its name. No public fish stocking records on file, and no maintained trail system on the maps, which tells you most of what you need to know: this is the kind of shallow, weedy pond that paddlers pass on their way to deeper water. The Old Forge area is thick with better-known destinations — Fourth Lake, the Fulton Chain, the Moose River — so Mud Lake stays quiet by default. If you're looking for solitude and don't mind a soft bottom, you'll find it here.
Mud Lake is a shallow pond in the central Adirondacks, accessible by bushwhack or seasonal logging roads depending on which Mud Lake you mean — the name appears on at least four separate water bodies across the park. Most hold warmwater species; none are maintained for public access.
Mud Pond is a small backcountry water reached by unmarked routes or bushwhack — check local trail resources for current access. The pond holds native brook trout and sees light fishing pressure due to its remoteness.
Murphy Lake sits in the Great Sacandaga corridor — a 34-acre water in the broader network of ponds and lakes shaped by the reservoir's creation in the 1930s. The lake holds a quiet, working-landscape character typical of the southern Adirondacks: less dramatic relief than the High Peaks, more old camp roads and seasonal camps tucked into the shoreline. No fish survey data on file, which usually means either marginal habitat or limited public pressure to document it. Worth a look if you're mapping the area's quieter backcountry — but bring a topo and modest expectations.
Muskrat Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness — access requires a multi-mile bushwhack or paddle from nearby trailheads. The lake holds native brook trout and sees minimal pressure due to its isolation.
