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.
Weller Pond is a remote backcountry water north of Indian Lake, reached by unmarked woods routes or winter ice travel. No maintained trail; locals fish it for brook trout when access conditions allow.
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.
Fourth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain — 4.5 miles long, stretching from Inlet to Eagle Bay. Motor access, public beaches, and a mix of private camps make it the busiest of the eight, but the shoreline still holds quiet coves for paddlers willing to work around powerboat wakes.
Witchopple Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, reachable only by trail — no road access. The lake holds brook trout and offers primitive shoreline camping for those willing to carry gear several miles in.
Upper Sister Lake is a remote backcountry lake in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by bushwhack or unmarked herd paths. Brook trout water; no motorized access — pack light and know your route.
Echo Lake is a 13-acre pond in the Panther Mountain Wild Forest, reached by a 1.2-mile trail from US Route 9. The water is clear and shallow, circled by hardwoods — a quiet swim spot with no outlet.
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.
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.
Friends Lake is a 187-acre lake in the southeastern Adirondacks, open to non-motorized and electric-motor boats under 10 horsepower. Brook trout and largemouth bass; public access via a NYSDEC boat launch on the eastern shore.
Rice Lake is a remote 45-acre pond in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 4.5-mile hike from the Cranberry Lake trailhead. Brook trout and lean-to camping make it a solid overnight destination; the water stays quiet even in summer.
Sucker Lake is a remote body of water in the Adirondack backcountry, accessible by bushwhack or unmarked routes. Depth and acreage records are sparse — a destination for anglers and paddlers willing to navigate without trail markers.
Trout Lake is a 152-acre water body in the St. Regis Canoe Area, reachable only by paddling a chain of lakes from a Fish Hatchery Road put-in. No motors; primitive camping on designated sites; known for brook trout and quiet water.
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.
Round Lake is a 437-acre body of water in the northern Saranac region with both motorboat access and a state-maintained launch off Route 3. The lake holds smallmouth bass and northern pike; several primitive campsites ring the shoreline for paddlers seeking an overnight.
Ferris Lake is a 1,136-acre wilderness lake in the West Canada Lake Wilderness, accessible only by trail or float plane. No motors, no road — it's a remote paddle with lean-tos on the shoreline and a reputation for brook trout.
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.
Sherman Lake is a 122-acre body of water in the northern Adirondack foothills, accessed via a roughly 1-mile bushwhack from the nearest maintained trail. The lake holds brook trout and sees minimal pressure — no official campsites, true backcountry conditions.
Nicks Lake is a 1,080-acre body of water in the town of Webb, open to motorboats and stocked with warmwater species including bass and northern pike. A state campground sits on the north shore—267 sites with direct lake access for swimming and fishing.
Hamilton Lake is a 214-acre lake in the southern Adirondacks, accessible by a 2.2-mile trail from Route 10. The water holds smallmouth bass and yellow perch; primitive campsites line the northern shore under Forest Preserve rules.
Sagamore Lake is a 1,163-acre body of water in the central Adirondacks, historically part of the Sagamore Great Camp estate. Access is via Sagamore Road — the lake sees moderate boat traffic and holds smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish.
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.
Wilcox Lake is a remote 350-acre body of water in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 4.5-mile hike from the Puffer Pond trailhead. Brook trout fishing and primitive camping at designated sites; the approach is moderate but the lake sees light traffic compared to nearby destinations.
Francis Lake is a remote 120-acre body of water in the St. Regis Canoe Area, accessible only by paddle — roughly 2.5 miles from the Fish Hatchery put-in. No motors, light traffic, and several lean-tos on the shoreline make it a reliable overnight destination for paddlers seeking quiet.
Lyon Lake is a remote body of water in the northern Adirondacks, accessible primarily by bushwhack or winter ice travel. No maintained trails lead to its shore—plan for navigation skills and leave no trace.
Highlands Forge Lake is a small, undeveloped water body in the southeastern Adirondacks. Access details are limited — check with the local ranger district before planning a visit.
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.
Amber Lake is a remote pond in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, reached by bushwhack or an unmarked path from Thirteenth Lake. The water holds native brook trout, but access requires navigation skills—no maintained trail reaches the shore.
Spy Lake is a 44-acre remote water in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 3.2-mile hike from the Thirteenth Lake trailhead. Brook trout hold in its cool depths; primitive camping on the north shore draws overnight anglers and canoeists willing to carry gear.
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.
Independence Lake is a 650-acre body of water in the northwestern Adirondacks, open to non-motorized boats only. The Nature Conservancy manages access — public launch available, with hiking trails circling the shoreline through mixed hardwood forest.
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.
Duck Lake is a remote body of water accessible by trail or bushwhack, depending on which Duck Lake you mean — the park contains several. Most are small, lightly visited, and suited to anglers or paddlers seeking solitude over amenities.
Fifth Lake is one of the eight Fulton Chain Lakes, connected by carries and short channels — a popular paddle route through the central Adirondacks. Motor access is permitted; state launch off Route 28.
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.
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.
Utowana Lake is a 220-acre body of water in the central Adirondacks, accessible by a short carry from Utowana Road. The lake holds smallmouth bass and yellow perch; primitive campsites ring the shore under NYSDEC management.
Otter Lake is a 285-acre body of water in the western Adirondacks, accessible by boat launch off Route 28. The lake allows motorboats and supports smallmouth bass and northern pike fishing year-round.
Lost Lake sits in the Saint Regis Canoe Area — a 5.1-mile paddle route from the nearest launch at Little Clear Pond. No motors, no development; a wilderness overnight accessible only by boat.
Horseshoe Lake is a 117-acre body of water in the St. Regis Canoe Area, accessible only by paddle. The lake's horseshoe shape shelters lean-tos on both arms — a quiet overnight for canoeists willing to portage in.
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.
Round Lake is a remote backcountry water accessible by trail or paddle — no road puts you on the shore. The lake holds native brook trout and offers primitive camping; most visitors reach it via the Saranac Lakes chain or bushwhack routes from nearby trailheads.
Whitney Lake is a remote body of water in the central Adirondacks, reachable by bushwhack or unmaintained routes — no marked trail leads to its shore. The lake holds native brook trout and sees minimal pressure; plan for navigation skills and a full day.
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.
Crooked Lake is a 387-acre lake in the Saranac Lake Wild Forest, accessible by a 1.2-mile trail from NY Route 3. The lake holds brook trout and smallmouth bass; primitive camping is allowed along the shore by NYSDEC permit.
Grampus Lake is a remote 133-acre body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 6-mile hike from the Inlet trailhead. The lake holds brook trout and offers primitive camping along its shores—a destination for hikers willing to earn their solitude.
Catlin Lake is a remote pond in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 3.2-mile hike from the Eleventh Mountain trailhead. The water holds brook trout and sees light pressure — a quiet alternative to busier High Peaks destinations.
Fern Lake is a 115-acre body of water in the northern Adirondacks, accessible by a 1.3-mile trail from Fern Lake Road. The lake holds brook trout and offers quiet paddling with a primitive campsite on the eastern shore.
Nelson Lake is a remote 381-acre body of water in the West-Central Adirondacks, reached by a 3.5-mile trail from the Nelson Lake trailhead off Route 28N. No motors, primitive shoreline camping, and brook trout fishing in water that sees fewer visitors than the High Peaks lakes.
Shadow Pond is a small backcountry water tucked between Ampersand Mountain and Saranac Lake village — typically accessed via the Ampersand Mountain trailhead. The pond sees light use; no formal trail leads to its shore, making it a quiet detour for hikers willing to bushwhack the final stretch.
Jerseyfield Lake is a remote 272-acre lake in the West Canada Lakes Wilderness, reached by a 6.5-mile trail from the Powley-Piseco Road trailhead. The lake holds brook trout and permits primitive camping — plan for backcountry conditions and no cell service.
Piseco Lake spans 2,919 acres in the southern Adirondacks, open to motorboats and ringed by public access points and a state campground. Brook trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon hold in deeper water; launch from the village of Piseco for easy access to the full shoreline.
Copper Lake is a remote 87-acre pond in the Pigeon Lake Wilderness, accessible only by paddling across Sargent Ponds and portaging 0.3 miles. No fish stocking records; visitors come for solitude and backcountry camping on designated sites along the north shore.
Tenant Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, reached by a roughly 5-mile bushwhack or unmaintained path from the nearest trailhead. Brook trout present; plan for primitive conditions and strong navigation skills.
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.
Trout Pond is a 129-acre backcountry lake in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, reached by a 2.3-mile trail from Crane Pond Road. The pond holds native brook trout and permits primitive camping at designated sites along its shore.
Negro Lake is a small backcountry water body in the central Adirondacks, accessed by unmarked paths and local knowledge. Remote and lightly visited, it holds brook trout and offers primitive shoreline camping for those willing to navigate in.
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.
Oxbow Lake is a small, secluded water body formed by the meandering path of the Oswegatchie River in the western Adirondacks. Accessible by a moderate bushwhack or via the river itself, it holds brook trout and sees minimal pressure — a true backcountry paddle destination.
Chain Lake is a remote body of water in the northern Adirondacks accessible primarily by bushwhack or extended paddling routes. The lake holds native brook trout and sees minimal traffic — plan for primitive conditions and no maintained trail access.
Raven Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, reachable by unmarked bushwhack or canoe carry from the Oswegatchie River. Solitude is the draw — no maintained trail, no development, just open water and shoreline spruce.
