This quiet lake is seldom visited, making Balfour Lake a peaceful destination.

Getting there

From exit 28 in Schroon Lake follow I-87 north for one exit to the North Hudson exit, #29. From here follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue all the way to Newcomb and Route 28N. Take a left onto 28N and continue for around 8.5-miles to the lake access on the right.

Fishing

There is a limited amount of shoreline fishing that can be accessed by foot; only at the state access point is this capable. Limits to shoreline access limits the amount of decent shoreline fishing, but it is ok for smaller trout and bullhead. You can launch canoes and kayaks from the state launch which is the best way to fish for trout. You may even have a bit of luck with bullhead from a boat, but fish the deeper portions of the lake near the middle for the larger trout.   

Please respect private property where it exists. 

Always follow State fishing regulations and be sure to pick up a NYS Freshwater Fishing Guide at your local outfitters or regional NYSDEC office. 

Huntley Pond is a small body of water in the Hudson Gorge Wilderness Area that can be easily paddled.

Fishing

There are a few areas for shoreline fishing; along the Blue Ledges Trail and off Northwoods Club Road. Casting room is limited in many areas making this pond best fished from a canoe or kayak.  

Best fished from a canoe or kayak; motorboats not allowed in the wilderness area. The deepest part of the pond is right in the middle of the widest portion on the east end. While brook trout don’t prefer deeper waters it is much easier to cast from a small boat than from shore. The boat will also allow you to access the west end of the pond. The very west end of the pond is private property so please respect. 

Paddling

The launch is small and a slight carry down but not steep by any means. The eastern shore is private property so please respect. This would be an excellent pond for SUP’s or learning to paddle due to its usually calm features. On really bad weather days it can get choppy, but being so close to shore the entire time it’s of no real concern. Enjoy this pond during sunrise as the colors come streaming over the trees, or in fall as the colors pop from the mainly hardwood forests surrounding it.  

How to get there

From the intersection of Route 9 and Hoffman Road in Schroon Lake, follow Hoffman Road (CR24). Continue on CR24 which eventually turns into Irishtown Road. Take a right onto O’Neill Road in just over 11 miles from Route 9 and a left onto Longs Hill Road (CR24A). This will bring you to Route 28N in Minerva in roughly 2 miles. Take a right onto Route 28N for 2.5 miles to Northwoods Club Road on the left. Follow Northwoods Club Road for 6.5 miles to the Blue Ridge Trailhead parking on the right. A cartop boat launch is about 0.2 miles further up the road on the left with limited parking.

Bass Lake is located in the beautiful Hammond Pond Wild Forest. At 39 acres, it’s not a big lake but a typical backcountry pond. And you’ll find, like many other small lakes and ponds in the Adirondacks, it doesn’t have to be big to be special. Bass Lake is listed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a top fishing water for rainbow trout. Each year, the state adds about 400 more 8- to 9-inch rainbows. You’ll also find brook trout here, but the real draw for many anglers is the rainbows. Access is via a trail on the west shore off Highway 9.

Getting there

From Exit 29 off of Interstate 87, follow Blue Ridge Road toward North Hudson, take a left onto state Route 9 and follow it north. Continue for 2.5 miles and turn right on Caza Turn Road. Look for an obscure road into the woods just prior to the houses. This is the unmarked trailhead.

Fishing

Bass Lake has beautiful scenery with rocky cliffs. The 1.4 mile hike to the lake leads to a lovely rocky shoreline suitable for casting if a boat was not brought. Bass Lake also has the status of a "reclaimed trout pond" since 1994, which means the use of fish as bait is illegal.

The shortest access for Bass Lake is from the western trailhead outlined above. The trail along the southern shore gets close to several sections of the lake. Faint paths can also access other sections. Some areas of shore have dense vegetation.

The east end of the lake is the deepest part of the lake and can be casted to from the eastern shore.

Always follow New York state fishing regulations, and be sure to pick up a NYS Freshwater Fishing Guide at your local outfitters or regional NYSDEC office.

This tributary of the Hudson River gets its start at Cheney Pond in the town of Minerva. Here, you’ll find native brook trout. Farther down the river, however, the state regularly stocks brown trout each spring. Essex County usually adds larger rainbows and brook trout.

The Boreas empties into the Hudson River just south of the North Woods Club Road bridge. Access is available at several bridge locations.

Fishing

North Woods Club Road bridge

LAT: 43 (Degrees) 49' 0.68" N

LON: 74 (Degrees) 3' 38.88" W

Boreas (or Blue Ridge) Road (County Route 2)

LAT: 43(Degrees) 56' 35.87" N

LON: 73(Degrees)57' 15.08" W

Putnam Pond Campground is perfect for every camping need. It's location near a wilderness area is prime for exploration, but the maintained facilities take away some of the backcountry stress.

Camping

Large, well-forested campsites with lots of privacy. This is a key start-off point for hiking in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area.

Choose from interior site camping, which requires a boat for access, or the developed area where visitors can rent a canoe or rowboat.

Day users can pay a small fee to use the facilities even if not camping.

Paddling

There are rowboats and canoes available for rent for paddling on Putnam Pond only. Kayaks and canoes are allowed on the ponds in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area, though they must be portaged at least 0.5 miles to access any of the other ponds.

Boating

Putnam Pond is a popular pond for boating because of its spectacular scenery. The only point of public access to the pond is located at the campground. Motor boats are allowed on Putnam Pond.

Fishing

Fish species in area ponds are smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and northern pike.

Birding

This campground is in an especially lush environment for water birds. Putnam Pond flows into North Pond, is surrounded by Rock and Clear ponds to the west, and Haymeadow Pond and Cranberry Marsh to the east. Expect to see such wetland birds as tanagers, warblers, vireos, and woodpeckers, and perhaps even the elusive American Bittern.

A New York state-designated “recreational river,” the Schroon River is a 68-mile long tributary of the Hudson. It starts near the North Hudson hamlet of Underwood and flows into the Hudson near Warrensburg, New York.

Fishing

For fishermen, the Schroon River offers a variety of species, including trout (rainbow, brook, brown), largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike and perch. Access is good along both sides of the river just above the town of Schroon Lake through the Alder Meadow Road state access point.

While this portion of the river, to where it empties into Schroon Lake, has many twists and turns and is lined with trees and brush, it’s easily accessed. DEC stocks the river annually with brown trout; special fishing regulations allow fishing for trout, lake trout and landlocked salmon year-round.

Access

A DEC access point is located at Alder Meadow Road: LAT: 43°51’48.15"N, LON: 73°45’9.32"W

The only access for canoe or kayak is the concrete state boat launch off Route 8. There is ample parking here, but during busy weekends it can get a bit cramped. Aside from the launch area the entire shore of Brant Lake is private property so please respect the private land owners.  

Once on the water it actually is a very attractive lake. Head right downstream through the narrows for an interesting look at the community. Head to the far northern end of the lake and enter the wetland area and paddle through the marsh for some stellar views of the mountains towering above.  

• Approximate Shoreline Length: 16.0 miles
• Type of launch: Concrete
• Portage/Carry Details: Less than 100 feet
• Type of water: While long and narrow it can get a bit choppy out there especially in the widest potions of the lake. Motorboats are allowed so be cautious.  

Getting there

From Schroon Lake get on I-87 and head south to Exit 25 and take a left and head east on Route 8 toward Brant Lake. Continue for just under 4-miles to the state access boat launch on the left.  

Fishing

There is a small bit of shore fishing available at the state launch site. The remaining portion of the shoreline is private. While limited in this area, it’s not a bad place to cast a line. The weeds do tend to house some bass than can be caught from the dock.  

Horseshoe Pond is easy access and not far from the road, making it a great destination for little fishermen and women!

Getting there

Shoreline fishing is accessible off Horseshoe Pond Road.

Fishing

It's not a far walk from your vehicle, which is nice for youngsters fishing from shore. Yellow perch and pumpkinseed are the "big catches" here.

Oliver Pond is a quiet body of water where the fish are plentiful and the wildlife is abundant.

How to get there

South of Schroon Lake on Route 9, turn right onto Hoffman Road (County Road 24). Follow this for 8 miles to parking on the right.

Paddling

There is a short carry to the water, but once there, you'll find perfect flatwater for paddling. It's only 44.5 acres, so get ready for small pond paddling and solitude. There are also two primitive campsites accessible via a short paddle.

Fishing

Fishing from a canoe or kayak is the best option here. The pond contains brook trout. Use or possession of baitfish is prohibited.

Loons, mink, pine marten, otter, moose, beaver, deer, and red fox are just some of the wildlife that you may encounter at the lake. Lake Harris and Rich Lake is beautiful gems in the Adirondack Hub!

How to get there

To get to Lake Harris launch from Overlook Park in Newcomb, head west on Route 28N toward Long Lake. After 2.5 miles, turn right onto Beach Road and the launch is on the right.

Paddling

Lake Harris does have motorboats, but it's an absolutely beautiful lake to paddle. Connecting to Lake Harris is Rich Lake, on Adirondack Interpretive Center property. Belden Lake separates Lake Harris and Rich Lake. Paddling from one lake to the other requires portages, but all are less than 300 yards. Along the way you'll see many historical landmarks!

Fishing

Popular fish species here are: smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, brown bullhead, and pumpkinseed.

Ice Fishing

Lake Harris now supports a self-sustaining population of walleye after being experimentally stocked from 2004 until 2008. Also known for its quality panfishing.

Species: Northern pike, yellow perch, walleye.