Every named pond in the Adirondack Park — quiet waters, lean-to destinations, swimming holes. Browse by region or jump to a name.
Upper Beech Ridge Pond is a 16-acre pocket water in the Old Forge tract — small enough to miss on a map, large enough to hold your attention if you're the kind of paddler who prefers solitude over amenities. No fish data on file with DEC, no maintained trail marked on the standard-issue maps, and no nearby peaks to anchor a day hike — this is backcountry by virtue of isolation rather than terrain. Access likely involves old logging roads or beaver-flooded corridors; worth checking current USGS quads and asking at the Old Forge visitor center before committing to the bushwhack. Bring a compass and don't expect cell service.
Upper South Pond is a 15-acre water in the Old Forge township — one of dozens of small ponds scattered across the working forest and private land west of the main tourist corridor. No public fish stocking records on file, which usually means either private access or a pond that doesn't hold fish through summer draw-down and winter kill. The name suggests a companion water (South Pond proper) somewhere downstream, a common naming pattern in the southwestern Adirondacks where glacial kettles cluster in chains. If you're chasing this one down, confirm access and ownership before you go — Old Forge-area ponds live on a patchwork of state land, timber company holdings, and private clubs.
