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.
Fourth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain, spanning 1,417 acres in the central Adirondacks near Inlet. Motorboats allowed; public launch off Route 28, plus scattered lean-tos and campsites accessible by water.
Second Lake is the middle body in the Fulton Chain of Lakes, a 464-acre water open to motorboats and paddlers. Access from Old Forge or Inlet; popular for fishing smallmouth bass and northern pike in season.
Indian Lake is a 12-mile-long lake in the central Adirondacks, fed by the Indian River and known for landlocked salmon and lake trout. The hamlet of Indian Lake sits at the south end; boat launches and camping access make it a base for multi-day fishing and paddling trips.
Pine Lake is a 198-acre lake in the St. Regis Canoe Area, accessible only by paddling from other connected waters — no road access. The lake holds brook trout and offers primitive campsites on its shores; motorboats are prohibited throughout the canoe area.
Sand Lake is a 115-acre body of water in the southern Adirondacks, accessible by a short portage from Sand Lake Road. Stocked with brook trout and open to non-motorized craft, it offers a quiet paddle with primitive shoreline camping by permit.
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.
Ragged Lake is a remote body of water in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, reachable only by multi-mile paddle or bushwhack. No maintained trail access — this is backcountry navigation territory for experienced paddlers and anglers seeking solitude.
Dexter Lake is a remote body of water in the northern Adirondacks, reached by bushwhack or unmaintained paths. No facilities, minimal traffic — bring a map and expect to navigate on your own.
Fawn Lake is a small backcountry pond in the St. Regis Canoe Area, reached by a short carry from Little Clear Pond. Brook trout hold in its quiet water; no motors, minimal crowds — a side trip for paddlers working the area's chain.
Upper Ausable Lake lies at 2,000 feet beneath the cliffs of Gothics and Sawteeth — 1.5 miles long, remote, and reached by foot via the Ausable Lake Trail from the AMR trailhead. The lake feeds Ausable Falls and sits within the High Peaks Wilderness; camping is limited to AMR designated sites with advance reservations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First Lake is the easternmost and smallest of the eight Fulton Chain Lakes, accessible by boat from Old Forge or via a short portage. A quiet paddle spot with scenic views toward the higher peaks to the north.
G Lake is a remote backcountry pond in the Five Ponds Wilderness, reached by a multi-mile bushwhack or winter ski approach. No marked trail — navigation skills required; the reward is solitude and untracked shoreline.
Lower Sister Lake is a 32-acre pond in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, reached by a 2.5-mile hike from the Thirteenth Lake trailhead. Brook trout present; primitive camping allowed under NYSDEC dispersed rules.
Indian Lake stretches 12 miles through the central Adirondacks, one of the largest lakes entirely within the park. Motorboat access, public launch, and a mix of developed shoreline and wild coves — season runs ice-out (late April) through October.
Sand Lake is a 103-acre body of water in the central Adirondacks, accessible by a 1.2-mile trail from Piseco-Powley Road. The lake holds brook trout and offers primitive shoreline camping — quiet water, minimal traffic.
Chazy Lake is a 690-acre lake in the northeastern Adirondacks, straddling Clinton and Franklin Counties. Public access via DEC boat launch on the north shore; known for smallmouth bass and northern pike.
Oseetah Lake is a 586-acre waterbody in the Saranac Lakes chain, directly accessible from the village of Saranac Lake. Year-round public boat launch on Route 86; known for bass and northern pike, with paddling routes linking to neighboring Middle and Lower Saranac.
Eighth Lake is the largest of the Fulton Chain Lakes at 1,200 acres, with state-launch access off Route 28 in Inlet. Motorboats permitted; the lake draws summer boaters and anglers for landlocked salmon and lake trout.
Cheney Pond is a 35-acre backcountry water in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, reached by a 2.4-mile hike from Pharaoh Lake. Brook trout, lean-to camping, and solitude — fewer visitors push past Pharaoh to get here.
Twitchell Lake is a 289-acre lake in the northwestern Adirondacks, open to motorboats and known for smallmouth bass and northern pike. Public access via NYSDEC launch on Route 10; several shoreline camps, but plenty of open water for fishing and cruising.
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.
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.
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.
Thirteenth Lake is a 2.5-mile-long wilderness lake in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, accessed by a 4.2-mile trail from the Beach Road trailhead. Brook trout fishing and lean-to camping on the north shore — the water stays cold through summer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Goodnow Flow is a 230-acre impoundment on the Raquette River, formed by a concrete dam built in 1927. Paddlers launch from NY Route 28N near Newcomb; the shoreline holds mixed forest and a handful of primitive campsites accessible by canoe.
Indian Lake is a 4,255-acre reservoir in the central Adirondacks, created by damming the Indian River in 1898. The lake supports year-round fishing for lake trout, landlocked salmon, and bass — boat launches at multiple access points make it a hub for multi-day paddling and motorboat use.
Big Otter Lake is a 367-acre lake in the southern Adirondacks, accessible by car via Big Otter Lake Road. Warmwater fishing for bass and panfish; public boat launch on the north shore.
Eagle Crag Lake is a remote body of water reached by bushwhack or unmarked paths — no maintained trail leads directly to it. Clear water, quiet shoreline, and isolation for paddlers willing to navigate off-trail.
Upper Saint Regis Lake is a 743-acre spring-fed lake in the Saint Regis Canoe Area, accessible only by paddling a quarter-mile carry from a public launch. No motors allowed — known for brook trout, lean-tos along the shore, and connections to the wider chain of wilderness ponds.
Blue Mountain Lake spans 1,555 acres in the central Adirondacks, with public boat launch access and a mix of shoreline camps and conserved forest. Known for lake trout and landlocked salmon; the Adirondack Museum overlooks the water from its western shore.
Woodhull Lake is a 330-acre remote water in the southwestern Adirondacks, reachable by a 2.3-mile trail from the Woodhull Road trailhead. No motors allowed — paddle only, with primitive camping along the shore and brook trout in clear water.
Rainbow Lake spans 856 acres in the northern Adirondacks near the hamlet of the same name. Public boat launch on Route 30; known for northern pike and largemouth bass, with motorboats allowed and seasonal camps along the wooded shore.
Honnedaga Lake is a 1,700-acre remote water in the southwestern Adirondacks, accessed by a 5-mile paddle and portage from the Moose River Plains. Brook trout and lake trout; limited primitive camping; no motors above 10 horsepower.
Upper Lake Chateaugay is a 640-acre lake in the northern Adirondacks, part of the Chateaugay Lakes chain. Public access via state launch on NY-374; bass, pike, and perch fishing; quieter than Lower Chateaugay but still allows motorboats.
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.
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.
Paradox Lake is a 840-acre lake in the Schroon Lake region, named for its unusual drainage pattern that reverses with seasonal water levels. State boat launch on the north shore; known for smallmouth bass and northern pike, with several Adirondack lean-tos along the eastern shoreline.
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.
Sacandaga Lake is a 29-mile reservoir formed in 1930 by the Conklingville Dam — the largest body of water in the Adirondacks by surface area. Marinas and public launches ring the shore; motorboats permitted, and summer draws heavy recreational traffic.
