Every named pond in the Adirondack Park — quiet waters, lean-to destinations, swimming holes. Browse by region or jump to a name.
Cascade Pond sits in the Blue Mountain Lake township — a 36-acre water in the central Adirondacks without the recreation traffic of its High Peaks namesake. No fish species on record with DEC, which usually means it's either marginal habitat or simply under-surveyed; local anglers would know. The pond's positioning in this part of the park puts it within the broader Blue Mountain Lake corridor — less vertical relief than the eastern ranges, more wetland and conifer bog in the watershed. Access details aren't widely documented, which often signals either private land complications or a simple absence of maintained trail infrastructure.
Twin Ponds sits in the quiet western corner of the Saranac Lake region — 36 acres split into two connected basins that read as a single water from most shoreline angles. No formal fish stocking records and no maintained trail system means this one stays off the weekend circuit, attracting the occasional paddler willing to scout access and the few who know it from older maps. The ponds drain north toward the Saranac Lakes chain but sit far enough from the main water routes to hold their distance from the paddling crowds. Bring a compass and expect to share the shoreline with beaver workings and the kind of silence that comes from being two turns off the last marked road.
Third Pond sits north of Long Lake village — 36 acres with no formal access or maintained trail, which in the central Adirondacks usually means it's either private-bordered or approached by bushwhack. The name suggests it's part of a numbered chain (First, Second, Third), a naming pattern common in working-forest and old logging territory where ponds were mapped but not always settled. No fish stocking records and no DEC lean-tos tied to it in the database. If you know the pond, you likely know it through a camp lease or a local put-in — this one doesn't show up on the tourist trail.
East Pond is a 36-acre water in the Old Forge corridor — small enough to stay off the resort-lake circuit, big enough to paddle without feeling hemmed in. No public fish stocking records, which typically means brookies if anything, or it fishes as a quiet-water destination without the angling focus. The Old Forge region runs dense with ponds and connector trails, so East Pond likely serves as a secondary paddle or a bushwhack objective for locals working through the area's less-trafficked waters. Check with the Old Forge visitor center or local outfitters for current access and whether a carry-in launch exists.
Smith Pond is a 35-acre water in the Lake George region — small enough to feel remote, large enough to paddle without running out of shoreline in twenty minutes. No fish species data on record, which typically means either unstocked or unmaintained by DEC — not uncommon for ponds in this zone that sit between the Wild Forest classifications and private holdings. The Lake George Wild Forest trail system weaves through this area, but without documented access points or maintained campsites, Smith Pond reads more like a local-knowledge spot than a marked destination. Worth checking the DEC unit management plan if you're trying to reach it on foot.
Austin Pond sits a few miles west of Brant Lake village — a 35-acre private water tucked into the foothills, not a destination for through-hikers or public access seekers. The pond belongs to the cluster of small, residential waters that define this corner of Warren County: shoreline camps, a quiet surface, no DEC signage or trailhead parking. No fish species data on file, which usually means either private stocking or unstocked holdover brookies from decades past. If you're not a landowner or a guest, this one stays on the map as a name only.
Muskrat Pond sits on 35 acres in the Tupper Lake region — a small, quiet water without much written record and no fish stocking data in the DEC files. The name suggests beaver activity at some point, though whether that's historical or ongoing depends on which decade you visited. Ponds this size in the Tupper Lake wild often hold brookies or perch that never made it into official surveys, but you're rolling the dice. Best guess for access: check the DEC Tupper Lake Unit map for forestland boundaries and old logging roads — most waters this remote are walk-ins, not drive-ups.
Potter Pond sits in the Tupper Lake region as a 35-acre water with no public fish stocking records and limited documentation in the broader trail networks — one of those ponds that exists more on the tax maps than in the hiking guides. Without marked access or DEC inventory data, it's either private, landlocked by private parcels, or simply never developed as a public resource in the way nearby Five Ponds Wilderness waters were. If you're poking around Tupper Lake and see Potter Pond on a map, assume it's a local's spot unless you've confirmed access with a landowner or spotted a posted trailhead.
The Flow is a 35-acre pond in the Saranac Lake region — a small, low-profile water that sits off the main recreation corridors and outside the High Peaks bustle. No fish species on record, no trailhead parking lots, no lean-tos in the DEC inventory — which tells you most of what you need to know about its character. This is backwater Adirondack: quiet, unmanaged, the kind of pond that shows up on a topo map but not in a guidebook. If you're looking for it, you already know why.
Swede Pond is a 35-acre pond in the Brant Lake region — part of the southeastern Adirondacks where the terrain softens into rolling lakeland rather than high peaks. The pond sits off the main touring routes, which means it holds onto quiet even in summer, and the smaller acreage makes for reliable warmwater habitat if you're willing to scout access. No fish species on record, but ponds in this drainage typically hold panfish — perch, sunfish, occasionally bass. Worth a look if you're already working the Brant Lake corridor and want a smaller, less-traveled option.
Long Pond sits just outside Tupper Lake village — a 35-acre shallow-water pond with no formal trail access and no DEC records on fish populations, which usually means either private shoreline or a local-knowledge put-in that doesn't make the official listings. The name is common enough (there are at least eight Long Ponds in the Park) that this one tends to stay off the radar unless you're poking around the back roads north of town. Worth a phone call to a local tackle shop or the DEC Ray Brook office if you're trying to pin down access or whether it holds anything worth casting to.
Crowfoot Pond is a 35-acre water tucked into the Paradox Lake region — the eastern Adirondacks where the terrain flattens out from the High Peaks and the ponds tend to be quieter, less trafficked, and harder to pin down in the guidebooks. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means either wild brookies that never made it into DEC surveys or a pond that doesn't hold fish through the winter. The name suggests either a shape best seen from above or an old trapper's reference long since forgotten. Worth checking the DEC Unit Management Plan for the area if you're planning a visit — access and allowed uses vary widely in this corner of the park.
Moose Mountain Pond is a 35-acre water tucked into the Paradox Lake region — quiet, lightly visited, and off the main recreational corridors that pull traffic toward the High Peaks or Lake George. The pond lacks the infrastructure (lean-tos, marked trails, stocked fish) that defines the DEC's higher-profile waters, which keeps it in that second tier of Adirondack ponds: known to locals, overlooked by most visitors, and worth the effort if you're already in the area. No fish species data on record, which usually means limited angling pressure or natural reproduction that hasn't warranted surveys. Access details are sparse — assume bushwhacking or unmaintained wood roads unless you're working from a local tip.
Grass Pond — 35 acres northwest of Saranac Lake village — is one of dozens of small named waters in the Saranac chain watershed that exist in the gap between backcountry destination and local fishing spot. No formal trail data or species records in the state system, which usually means either private shoreline access or a bushwhack approach through working forest. The name suggests shallow water and marshy margins — classic northern pike or panfish habitat if there's public put-in, but you'd want to confirm access and regs with the local DEC office before dragging a canoe in. Worth a phone call if you're already camped at Fish Creek or Rollins and looking for something off the standard rotation.
Panther Pond is a 34-acre water in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to feel remote, large enough to hold interest for a morning paddle. The pond sits in working forest country where the trails aren't always marked and the shoreline isn't always public, so local knowledge or a good topo map will serve you better than a trailhead kiosk. No fish species data on record, which likely means it's been off the stocking rotation for years — worth a speculative cast for wild brookies if you're already there, but not a destination fishery. Access details are sparse; if you're planning a visit, check with the local DEC office or a Tupper Lake outfitter for current conditions.
East Creek Pond is a 34-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — a name that places it in the low country east of Schroon Lake, where the Adirondack foothills flatten toward Lake Champlain and the ponds tend to be warm, weedy, and lightly visited. No fish data on record, which usually means either marginal habitat or simply that no one's bothered to document what's there. The area around Paradox Lake proper sees second-home development and summer camps, but smaller named waters like East Creek often sit back in the woods, accessible by unmarked logging roads or private land — worth a map check and a polite ask before assuming public access.
Hadley Pond is a 34-acre water in Keene — small enough to feel tucked away, large enough to hold quiet in the afternoon when the wind picks up off the valley floor. No fish data on record, which in the Adirondacks usually means either unstocked or unmaintained, the kind of pond that stays off the angler circuit and on the local-knowledge map. The water sits in working forest and private land, so access isn't guaranteed — worth checking with the town or local outfitters before planning a visit. If you're poking around Keene's back roads and find a pull-off, you've likely found it.
Crab Pond is a 34-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — quiet, low-traffic, and off the main recreational corridors that pull crowds toward the High Peaks or Lake George. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means wild brookies or nothing at all; locals who know it tend to keep it that way. Access details are scarce in the DEC's public records, suggesting either private land complications or a bushwhack-only approach — the kind of pond that rewards a topo map and a willingness to navigate by contour lines. If you're poking around Paradox Lake and looking for solitude instead of a boat launch, Crab Pond is the direction to point.
Black Pond sits in the Tupper Lake Wild Forest — 34 acres tucked into working forest country where state land meets private timber tracts and the paddling tends toward stillwater and beaver flowage rather than designated wilderness. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means native brookies if anything, or a pond that winters out. The absence of nearby trail infrastructure or formal access points suggests this is drive-by territory: visible from a logging road or private gate, fishable if you know the landowner, otherwise a dot on the DEC inventory rather than a destination. Worth a DeLorme check and a polite conversation before assuming public access.
Springhill Ponds is a 30-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — low-profile enough that specific access and fishery data remain scarce in the public record. The name suggests old settlement-era geography (spring-fed headwaters, likely), and the Paradox Lake corridor has long been a mix of private inholdings and state land where trail access can be inconsistent or unmarked. Without confirmed DEC stocking records or a documented trailhead, this is the kind of pond that rewards local knowledge more than a GPS pin. If you're chasing it, start with the town clerk in Schroon or a topo map — and expect to ask questions at the nearest year-round address.
Knob Pond is a 34-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — far enough off the main tourist loops to stay quiet, small enough that most paddlers never hear the name. No fish species on record, which either means the DEC hasn't surveyed it recently or the pond doesn't hold much beyond bait-sized brookies and transient bass. The lack of nearby peaks or formal trail infrastructure suggests this is more of a local access point than a destination hike — worth checking if you're already in the area and curious, not worth the drive from Lake George. Confirm access before you go; many smaller ponds in this region sit on mixed ownership with limited or seasonal entry.
Twin Lakes sits in the Tupper Lake town complex — a 34-acre water that reads more residential than backcountry, with private shoreline and seasonal camps defining the character. The name suggests a paired system, though one body dominates the acreage and the public footprint here is minimal compared to the state-managed ponds farther into the park. No fish species data on file with DEC, which typically signals either unstocked water or limited angling pressure worth recording. For paddlers passing through Tupper Lake proper, this is a neighborhood water — visible from the road, but not a destination unless you're staying on it.
Otter Pond is a 33-acre water in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to stay off most radar, large enough to hold a canoe route worth paddling. No fish species on record, which likely means it's either unstocked brookies or none at all; worth a cast if you're already there, not worth the drive if trout are the mission. The pond sits in working forest country where access details tend to shift with timber operations and seasonal road conditions — check locally before committing to a put-in. If you're staying in Tupper Lake and want a quiet paddle that isn't one of the main event ponds, this is the kind of water that rewards low expectations and delivers solitude.
Chandler Pond is a 33-acre water in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to stay off most touring itineraries, large enough to hold fish if they're there (the state has no species on record, but that means unstocked, not necessarily fishless). The pond sits in working forest country where access typically means either a gated logging road or a shoreline easement that changes with timber company ownership — worth a call to the local DEC office before you drive out. Waters this size in this part of the park tend to be shallow, weedy by mid-summer, and better for a canoe than a hike-in. If you're already in Tupper Lake with a boat on the roof and you want to avoid the weekend traffic on Raquette or Tupper, Chandler is the kind of pond that rewards low expectations.
Long Pond sits northwest of Saranac Lake village — a 33-acre pond in a region dense with named waters but light on public information. No fish stocking records on file, no marked trails in the DEC inventory, and no nearby lean-tos or campsites in the usual registers. The pond likely sees local access and informal use, but without documented put-ins or maintained paths, it falls into that quiet category of Adirondack waters that exist on the map more than in the guidebooks. If you're planning a visit, start with the local DEC office or a Saranac Lake outfitter for current access intel.
Lake Francis is a 33-acre pond in the Indian Lake township — deep enough in the southern Adirondacks that it sits outside the usual tourist circuits and sees pressure mainly from locals and seasonal residents. No fish stocking records and no official access data in the DEC files, which typically means private shoreline or legacy camp ownership; if you're not connected to a camp on the water, this one stays off the list. The name shows up on USGS quads and older trail maps, but it's not a destination pond — it's the kind of water you pass on a backroad or hear about third-hand at a town meeting. Worth confirming access and regs with the Indian Lake town office before planning a trip.
Pitchfork Pond is a 33-acre backcountry water in the Tupper Lake wild — remote enough that most paddlers and anglers stick to the better-known ponds in the area, but big enough to feel less like a puddle and more like a destination once you're standing at the shoreline. No formal fish stocking records on file, which often means brook trout if the pond has cold inlet water and depth, or nothing if it's shallow and warm — worth a cast if you're already out there. The name suggests old logging-era geography or a forked shoreline feature, typical of the working-forest nomenclature that still dots the northwestern park. Access details and current trail conditions are worth confirming with the regional DEC office before you go.
North Pond sits in the Keene township — a 33-acre water with no published fish survey and limited trail infrastructure, which means it stays quiet even in peak season. The pond falls into that category of named Adirondack waters that appear on the DEC map but don't show up in guidebooks — accessible to locals who know the old logging routes, largely off the radar for visitors working the standard lake loops. No designated campsites, no formal trailhead signage. If you're looking for solitude and you know how to read a contour map, North Pond delivers — but expect to bushwhack the last quarter-mile.
Twin Pond sits in the Old Forge backcountry — 32 acres of quiet water that draws almost no attention compared to the chain lakes and the Fulton Chain corridor just south. No fish stocking records, no named trails that make this a destination, and no lean-tos or designated campsites that would register it on the casual paddler's map. It's the kind of water that shows up on a topo map when you're looking for something else — a side pond you might reach by bushwhack or unmarked portage if you're already deep in the territory. If you fish it, you're doing it on spec.
Spring Pond is a 32-acre pond in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to fade into the forest inventory but named, mapped, and part of the public record. No fish stocking data on file, no known trail register, no lean-to or campsite in the DEC database — which usually means either walk-in-only access through private land or a wetland margin that discourages overnights. Worth a call to the local DEC office in Ray Brook if you're chasing unmapped put-ins or curious about historical stocking; Spring Pond shows up in older survey maps, so someone fished it once.
Sucker Brook sits in the Tupper Lake region — a 32-acre pond with minimal public documentation and no fish survey data on file with DEC. The name suggests brook trout habitat, but without stocking records or angler reports it's speculative; worth a scouting trip if you're already working the ponds north of Tupper and have a topo map. Access details are scarce — likely old logging roads or unmarked approaches through private timber company land, which means a call to the local DEC office in Ray Brook before you commit to the drive. If you fish it, report what you find.
Cranberry Pond is a 32-acre water tucked in the Lake Placid region — one of dozens of mid-sized ponds in the northern Adirondacks that sit just outside the High Peaks spotlight. No fish species on record, which typically means either limited access, shallow bottom conditions that don't hold trout, or a history of winterkill that never got restocked. The name suggests the pond edges hold sphagnum mat and the kind of boggy shoreline that makes bushwhacking tough and keeps most paddlers looking elsewhere. Worth checking DEC maps for trail access if you're local and curious — but this isn't a destination pond for anglers or campers passing through.
West Pool is a 32-acre pond in the Old Forge corridor — part of the Fulton Chain watershed but set back from the main tourist traffic on Fourth Lake and the Moose River Recreation Area loop. No fish species data on record, which typically means either unstocked or surveyed long enough ago that DEC records haven't been digitized. The pond sits in working forest land, so access depends on current easements and logging-road conditions — check with the Old Forge Visitor Center or local outfitters for current put-in intel. If you're launching anything, assume it's a carry.
Alder Pond is a 32-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — low-profile, no documented fishery, and far enough off the main corridors that it doesn't show up in the usual rotation of family camping destinations or trailhead parking lots. The name suggests wetland margins and beaver activity, which typically means shallow water, emergent vegetation, and the kind of paddling that rewards patience more than distance. Without established trail access or lean-to infrastructure in the public record, this is a pond that belongs to locals with land access or paddlers willing to scout the shoreline for put-in options. Check DEC land records and topo maps before committing to a visit.
Long Pond sits in the Brant Lake region — a 32-acre water with no DEC fish stocking records and no developed public access points on file, which typically means private shoreline or walk-in-only entry via unmarked woods roads. Waters like this often hold wild brook trout or yellow perch that never see a creel census, but without confirmed access it's a local-knowledge spot at best. The Brant Lake area skews toward private camps and seasonal cottages, so if you're not tied to a camp lease or a landowner handshake, Long Pond stays off the list. Worth a knock on a door if you're in the area and committed to exploring every named water in the region.
Sutton Pond is a 32-acre water off the Long Lake corridor — small enough to feel tucked away, large enough to hold interest for an afternoon paddle. No fish records on file, which usually means light pressure and quiet shoreline (or challenging access that keeps most anglers elsewhere). The pond sits in the working-forest zone west of Long Lake village, where private timber land and conservation easements make access context-dependent — check current DEC maps or ask locally before you load the canoe. Worth scouting if you're based in Long Lake and looking for alternative water when Raquette Lake or Long Lake itself is wind-chopped or crowded.
Palmer Pond holds 32 acres in the Paradox Lake region — a working landscape where private shoreline and limited public access keep most paddlers moving toward the bigger named waters nearby. No fish species on DEC record, which usually means either intermittent stocking that didn't take or a pond that's simply off the management rotation. The Paradox Lake corridor runs quiet compared to the Lake George or Schroon zones to the south, and ponds like Palmer tend to stay that way: local knowledge, not signposted recreation. If you're poking around this area, confirm access before you launch — much of the shoreline here is private, and respect for posted land keeps these roads open.
Loomis Pond is a 32-acre water tucked in the Speculator region — small enough to feel isolated, big enough to paddle without looping back on yourself every ten minutes. No fish data on record, which typically means either unstocked or overlooked by DEC surveys; either way, it's not drawing fishing pressure. The pond sits outside the High Peaks corridor where most trail infrastructure and visitation concentrates, so expect quieter shorelines and less formal access — useful if you're looking to lose the weekend crowds without driving to the Western Adirondacks. Check local Forest Preserve maps for the nearest trailhead or bushwhack route.
Warner Pond sits in the Brant Lake area — 32 acres, wooded shoreline, low enough elevation that it holds its ice later into spring than the ponds up near Paradox Lake or Schroon. No fish data on file with DEC, which usually means limited angling pressure and limited access; if there's a trail in, it's local knowledge or an unmarked woods route from a nearby road. The pond sits outside the High Peaks and the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness, meaning it's part of the quieter, less-trafficked fabric of southern Warren County water — the kind of place you hear about from a neighbor, not a guidebook. Worth confirming access and ownership before heading in.
Hardigan Pond is a 31-acre water in the Raquette Lake township — part of the sprawling network of ponds and wetlands west of the main lake itself. No fish stocking records on file, which typically means either native brook trout in low numbers or a pond that doesn't hold fish through winter drawdown. Access details are sparse in the standard trail databases, suggesting either private inholdings along the shore or a bushwhack approach through state land — worth confirming ownership and access with the local DEC ranger before planning a trip. If you're poking around this drainage, bring a map: the Raquette Lake quad is dense with unmarked ponds and old logging roads that don't always appear on phone screens.
Blackfoot Pond is a 31-acre water in the Old Forge area without much published data — no fish species on record, no trailhead chatter, no obvious presence in the standard guidebooks. That absence says something: it's either private, landlocked by posted timber company land, or it's simply been passed over by the DEC stocking program and the paddling crowd in favor of the bigger, more accessible waters that define the Fulton Chain corridor. If you know how to reach it, it's likely quiet. If you don't, assume it's not meant for casual access until you confirm otherwise with a local outfitter or the nearest DEC ranger.
Palmer Pond is a 31-acre water in the Brant Lake region — small enough to canoe in an afternoon, large enough to feel separate from the road noise. No fish species on state record, which likely means it's been surveyed and came up empty, or it's holding brookies too small or too few to warrant stocking attention. Access details are scarce in the public datasets, suggesting either private shoreline or a local-knowledge put-in that hasn't made it onto the DEC's formal access roster. If you're in the area and see a trail or a launch, assume you're looking at either posted land or a town-managed site — check signage before you unload the boat.
Lilypad Pond is a 31-acre water in the Long Lake township — small enough to be out of the spotlight, large enough to hold a few quiet hours in a canoe or kayak. The name telegraphs the obvious: expect a soft-edged pond with vegetation working its way in from the margins, the kind of place that fishes better early season before the pads thicken. No fish species data on record, which in the Long Lake region often means unstocked and undersampled rather than fishless — worth a cast with a streamer or a popper if you're already here. Access details aren't widely documented, so confirm put-in options locally before making the drive.
Siamese Ponds sits in the southern Adirondacks near Indian Lake — a 31-acre water that shares its name with the better-known Siamese Ponds Wilderness to the east, but occupies quieter, less-trafficked country. The pond is part of a modest cluster of backcountry waters in the region, the kind of place where solitude is more reliable than the fishing reports. Access details are sparse in the state's online records, which usually means either private inholdings or an unsigned, local-knowledge approach — worth a stop at the Indian Lake town office or the Hamilton County tourism desk before you commit to the drive. No fish species on file, no nearby peaks flagged in the DEC database.
Rat Pond is a 31-acre water in the Saranac Lake region — the kind of small, name-on-a-map pond that doesn't show up in guidebooks but holds local knowledge about access and use. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means either wild brookies or nothing at all; the DEC doesn't survey every small water in the Park. Without maintained trails or nearby trailheads in the database, access is likely bushwhack or private-land permission — worth a stop at a local outfitter or the regional DEC office before making the trip. These off-grid ponds are where you earn your solitude.
Trout Pond is a 31-acre water tucked in the Keene township — not to be confused with the dozen other Trout Ponds scattered across the Park, each claiming the name for the same predictable reason. The pond sits outside the High Peaks corridor but still in the gravitational pull of Keene Valley, which makes it less of a weekender magnet than the roadside pull-offs on NY-73. No fish species data on file with DEC, though the name suggests brook trout at some point in its stocking history — or just wishful thinking by an optimistic surveyor. Access and trail details aren't widely documented, which usually means either private land complications or a bushwhack situation; call the Keene town office or stop by the Mountaineer in town for local beta.
Little Pond — 31 acres, tucked somewhere in the Lake George region — is one of those named waters that exists more on the survey map than in the collective hiking memory. No fish stocking records, no trailhead chatter, no lean-to or campsite in the DEC inventory. It may be landlocked by private holdings, or it may simply sit in a drainage with better options nearby; either way, it's off the short list. If you know where it is and how to reach it legally, you're working from local knowledge or older property lines — not from a marked trail or a blue DEC disc.
Rock Pond is a 31-acre water in the Blue Mountain Lake town — not to be confused with the other Rock Ponds scattered across the Park, this one sits in the central Adirondacks where the landscape opens up between the big lakes and the forested interior. No fish species data on record, which typically means either limited angling pressure or a pond that doesn't hold viable populations — worth confirming with DEC before you haul a rod in. The name suggests the obvious: expect rocky shoreline and structure, likely some ledge drop-offs if you're paddling or swimming. Check local access at Blue Mountain Lake village or the visitor center — many smaller ponds in this township require either private permission or unmarked approaches through working forestland.
McCavanaugh Pond is a 30-acre water in the Tupper Lake region — small enough to fly under most paddlers' radar, quiet enough to keep it that way. No stocking records and no public access data in the DEC files, which usually means either private shoreline or a put-in that requires local knowledge and a willingness to bushwhack. The Tupper Lake area holds dozens of ponds like this one: tucked into working forest land, visible from a logging road or a high point, reachable if you know where to look. If you're determined to fish it, start with the town assessor's parcel map and a conversation at a local tackle shop.
Diana Pond is a 30-acre water in the Old Forge area — small enough to feel tucked away, large enough to paddle without circling every ten minutes. No fish stocking records on file, which usually means it's either too shallow for trout or it's holding populations nobody's bothered to survey and report. The pond sits in the working recreation zone west of the High Peaks, where the landscape opens up into bigger stretches of softwood lowland and the access questions tend to sort themselves by vehicle clearance and local knowledge. If you're headed that direction, confirm access and parking with the local ranger station or a nearby outfitter — Old Forge waters can be deceptively private or deceptively easy depending on which turn you take.
Mountain Pond is a 30-acre water in the Lake Placid region with no public access data on file and no fish species formally recorded by DEC surveys — which usually means either private land or a pond tucked behind enough terrain that it doesn't pull fishing pressure. The name suggests elevation, but without trailhead or lean-to references in the state database, this is likely a backcountry water reached by bushwhack or a pond that straddles private/public boundaries. If you're chasing unmapped water, cross-reference the DEC Unit Management Plan for the subunit and check property lines; otherwise, this one stays off the list until access is confirmed.
Bear Pond covers 30 acres in the St. Regis Canoe Area — carry-in only from St. Regis or Bog Pond. Native brook trout and primitive sites, with light use even mid-summer.
Duck Hole is a 30-acre pond in the Cold River backcountry, reached only by multi-day backpack on the Northville-Placid Trail. The historic dam washed out in 2011; what remains is a smaller basin with lean-tos and full wilderness solitude.
Thurber Pond is a 30-acre water in the Lake George region — small enough to stay off the radar, large enough to feel like more than a roadside puddle. No fish species data on record, which usually means it's either too shallow for stocking programs or it holds native brook trout that nobody's bothered to survey. The name suggests old timber-era use (Thurber was a common surname among 19th-century logging foremen in Warren County), but beyond that the pond keeps its secrets. Best approach: check the DEC Lake George Wild Forest unit map for access routes — most ponds in this district connect to the trail system via unmarked woods roads or seasonal foot traffic.
Thirsty Pond is a 30-acre water in the Old Forge corridor — small enough to stay off most radar, large enough to hold a canoe route worth paddling. No fish data on record, which usually means it's either drawn down seasonally, shallow and weedy, or stocked so irregularly that DEC stopped tracking it — or all three. The name suggests it might dry to mudflats by late summer in drought years, a common pattern for ponds in this elevation band that depend on snowmelt and spring runoff more than groundwater. Worth a look in May or June if you're camping nearby and want an hour of quiet water before the Old Forge lake traffic picks up.
Twin Ponds sits in the Old Forge township — a pair of modest thirty-acre basins that carry the name but little of the traffic that follows the bigger fishing and paddling destinations in the Fulton Chain corridor. No formal fish stocking records on file, which usually means native brookies or nothing, and the access situation is unclear enough that most anglers and paddlers skip it for more obvious put-ins. The ponds likely see their heaviest use from snowmobilers in winter, when the Old Forge trail network opens up back-basin water that's otherwise hemmed in by private land. If you know how to reach it, you've already talked to someone local.
Deer Pond is a 30-acre water in the Tupper Lake region with no public fish stocking records and limited information on public access — one of those mid-sized ponds that shows up on the DEC map but hasn't developed a reputation among anglers or paddlers. The name suggests historical use (deer yarding area, hunting camp), and the acreage is large enough to paddle but small enough to feel remote if you can find your way in. Worth checking the DEC Unit Management Plan for the tract if you're in the area and curious — sometimes these quieter waters hold wild brookies or offer a put-in for exploratory paddling. Confirm access and parking before you drive; not every named water in the Park has a marked trailhead.
Lost Pond is a 30-acre water in the Paradox Lake region — quiet country east of I-87, where the ridgelines flatten and the paddling culture tilts toward canoes and family camps rather than trail miles. No fish data on file with DEC, which often signals limited access or marginal habitat, but ponds this size in the Paradox drainage tend to hold warmwater species if they're thermally suited. The name suggests either an old surveyor's note or the kind of local shorthand that sticks when a pond sits back from the road and doesn't make it onto the summer circuit. Worth checking county tax maps or the Paradox Lake Association for access intel if you're exploring the area.
John Pond is a 30-acre backcountry pond reached via the Kings Flow trail system, with a lean-to and the historic John Pond grave site on the approach. Brook trout water, lightly fished.
L Pond is a 30-acre water in the Tupper Lake region — one of those named ponds that exists more as a cartographic footnote than a destination. No fish survey data on file, no established access trail in the DEC inventory, no lean-to or campsite designations — which usually means either private shoreline, difficult bushwhack approach, or both. Worth checking the county tax maps and a current topo before assuming you can get there; in this part of the park, a blue line on the map doesn't guarantee public access to the water.
