Every named pond in the Adirondack Park — quiet waters, lean-to destinations, swimming holes. Browse by region or jump to a name.
Panther Pond is a three-acre pocket water in the Speculator region — small enough that it likely holds more interest as a bushwhack objective or a corner-of-the-map curiosity than as a destination for fishing or paddling. No fish species data on record, which for a pond this size often means seasonal oxygen depletion or intermittent winterkill. The name suggests old wildcatter history or a trapper's reference, but without maintained trail access or lean-to infrastructure, this one stays off most recreational itineraries. If you're poking around the backroads south or west of Speculator with a topo map and time to spare, it's there — but expect shallow water and dense shoreline.
Pine Lakes sits in the backcountry west of Speculator — a small, unassuming water that holds the plural name despite its 13-acre footprint. Access details are sparse in the official record, which usually means old logging roads, informal paths, or a put-in that requires local knowledge and a willingness to bushwhack. No fish stocking data on file, no designated campsites in the DEC inventory — this is the kind of water that shows up on the map but stays off the weekend rotation. If you're headed in, confirm access and conditions with the Region 5 DEC office in Ray Brook before committing to the drive.
Pine Lakes — eight acres tucked in the Speculator region — sits far enough off the main corridor that it doesn't show up in the standard loop-trail conversation. No fish stocking data on record, no trailhead signs pointing you there by name, no lean-tos advertised in the DEC inventory. What it offers is the same thing a hundred small Adirondack ponds offer: a put-in for a canoe, a afternoon of quiet water, and the reasonable expectation that you won't be sharing the shoreline with a dozen other parties. If you're headed that way, confirm access and ownership status locally before you go.
Potter Pond is a small 13-acre water in the Speculator region — one of those named ponds that appears on the map but rarely makes it into conversation. No fish stocking records on file, no marked trail infrastructure, no nearby summit objectives to anchor a trip itinerary. It's the kind of place that matters most to the people who already know how to find it: a navigational landmark, a bushwhack waypoint, or a quiet paddle destination for someone camping nearby who wants an hour of solitude before dinner.
