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.
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.
Hadlock Pond sits in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, accessible via a 2.4-mile trail from the Putnam Pond Campground trailhead. The pond holds brook trout and offers primitive camping on its wooded shoreline — a quieter alternative to nearby Pharaoh Lake.
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.
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.
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.
Sixth Lake is a 502-acre Fulton Chain lake with public boat launch, shoreline campsites, and a mix of motorboat traffic and paddlers. Smallmouth bass and northern pike in open water; launch from Inlet or paddle the chain west from Fifth Lake.
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.
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.
Silver Lake is a 110-acre lake in the northern Adirondacks, accessible by a 2.7-mile trail from the Silver Lake Road trailhead. The water holds brook trout and sees light use — a quiet paddle-in destination with primitive camping on the west shore.
Gull Lake is a 97-acre body of water in the southern Adirondacks, accessed via a moderate 2.4-mile trail from NY Route 8. The lake holds native brook trout and sees light fishing pressure due to the hike-in requirement.
Eagle Lake is a remote body of water in the western High Peaks, reachable by a 5.6-mile trail from South Meadows Road. The lake sits in a glacial cirque below the cliffs of Mount Colden — catch brook trout or camp at the lean-to on the north shore.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sixth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain, covering 1,112 acres in the central Adirondacks. Motorboat access from the state launch on Route 28; summer camps line the shore, but the lake's size spreads traffic and the north bays hold quiet water.
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.
Seventh Lake is the largest lake in the Fulton Chain, stretching 935 acres in the central Adirondacks near Inlet. Accessible by NY Route 28 with public boat launch; landlocked salmon and lake trout, plus developed campgrounds on the north shore.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eagle Lake is a 436-acre body of water in the Blue Mountain Lake region, accessible by trail or boat. Brook trout, lake trout, and landlocked salmon; shoreline campsites available by permit.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Ochre Pond is a remote backcountry water in the Five Ponds Wilderness, named for the rust-colored iron deposits along its margins. Access requires a multi-mile paddle or bushwhack — no maintained trails lead directly to it.
First Lake is the westernmost body in the Fulton Chain of Lakes, spanning 613 acres near Old Forge. Open to motorboats and ringed by private camps, it sees steady traffic in summer but holds smallmouth bass and northern pike year-round.
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.
Queer Lake is a remote 165-acre body of water in the William C. Whitney Wilderness Area, reachable by a 4.2-mile trail from the Beaver River gate. No motorboats; the lake holds brook trout and offers primitive camping — expect solitude and rough conditions year-round.
Gull Lake is a remote 104-acre pond in the southern High Peaks, accessible by a 6-mile carry from the Elk Lake trailhead. No motors, light foot traffic — brook trout and lean-to camping make it a destination for paddlers willing to haul gear.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pine Lake is a 137-acre body of water in the St. Regis Canoe Area, accessible only by paddling from Little Clear Pond or Fish Pond. No motors, primitive campsites on the shore — good for brook trout and quiet overnights.
Eighth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain of Lakes at 1,196 acres, with a public boat launch and several lean-tos on state land along the north shore. Good for smallmouth bass and yellow perch; motorboats allowed, but no-wake zones enforce some quiet water near campsites.
West Lake is a remote body of water in the western Adirondacks, accessible primarily by bushwhack or unmarked paths. Fishermen target brook trout; expect solitude and navigational demands.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Pyramid Lake is a 103-acre backcountry lake in the High Peaks Wilderness, accessed via a 2.2-mile trail from Route 3. The lake holds brook trout and offers primitive camping on its shores — quiet water, minimal traffic, reliable solitude.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First Lake is the westernmost of the Fulton Chain Lakes, a motor-accessible body of water in the central Adirondacks. The lake feeds into Second Lake and anchors the quieter end of the chain — fewer crowds than Old Forge, with public boat launch access off Route 28.
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.
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.
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.
Second Lake is a 503-acre pond in the Fulton Chain, the second body of water along the eight-lake sequence west of Old Forge. Motorboats allowed; popular for bass and northern pike fishing, with access via launch at First Lake and passage through a narrow channel.
