Looking for a backcountry pond that doesn't require a lot of work to get to? If so, Cheney Pond is perfect for you! It's all peaceful wild forest and beautiful scenery. Visitors in any season can enjoy a variety of activities, including: hiking, fishing, paddling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and camping.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 1 mile round trip
• Elevation gain: 150 feet 
• Hike includes trail junctions

Hiking to Cheney Pond

Follow the old access road turned into an easy trail to a camping, picnic, and launch area at the pond. The hike is quite easy and all downhill to the pond. You will pass by an intersection with the trail to Lester Dam at 0.4 miles. Turn left here and the pond is 500 feet away. There is a designated primitive tent site at the initial spot you meet up with at the pond, as well as a lean-to that is paddle access across the pond.

Cheney pond in the winter

Since it is not that long of a trail, this makes for a great snowshoe for beginners or even an excellent place to stretch your legs before a more rigorous adventure. It is also a great cross-country ski, but might be a bit too fast for beginners. Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing over a frozen body of water is a winter past time; it can access you to areas not seen by most in the summer. With that being said, it can be a dangerous activity to cross frozen waterbodies and should be done with care and respect for your environment. Know the ice conditions and be prepared for anything, including heavy winds, snow drifts, whiteouts, slushy conditions, and thin ice. 

Find more trails in the Adirondack Hub

Looking for another hike? With the Adirondack Hub being at the center of so many trails, we’re sure to find another adventurous hike for you!

Fishing

Trout can be easily fished from shore and the bullheads tend to bite all day. There is a shallow bay on the north side of the pond, which is a nice location for panfish and floating a bobber for brookies. Fish species include: brook trout, bullhead, panfish, brown trout, and smallmouth bass. There are plenty of grassy areas where bass are said to hide.

Paddling

This lovely little pond is part of the Lester Flow. This is a hand launch only. Canoes and kayaks will likely need to be wheeled or carried the half mile to the pond.

The lean-to is a great choice for those looking to try winter camping, but only when ice is thick enough.

How to get there

To get here, follow Blue Ridge Road (County Road 84) toward Newcomb from Exit 29 off I-87. It is 13.4 mile to the trailhead parking area on the left. The "trail" to Cheney Pond follows an old access road, and while travel is permitted, it is not recommended. At first, the access road appears to be a fine gravel road, but soon deteriorates with washouts, ruts, and extremely muddy sections. No worries though; it's only about a half mile walk to the pond with minimal elevation change.

Take a pleasant hike through Hammond Pond Wild Forest to reach Trout Pond. If you choose, continue on to Round Pond.

How to get there

Trout Pond Trailhead: On Ensign Pond Road (County Rt. 4) between North Hudson and Moriah. Marked by a large DEC sign, it is 6.2 miles east of Rt. 9 N of North Hudson on the left side of the road. One can also continue 1.3 miles to Round Pond.

Key statistics

• Distance: 2.5 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 250 feet
• Based on visiting both ponds

Hiking

A pleasant hike through Hammond Pond Wild Forest, with a trail following the Trout Pond's west shoreline. Continue on the trail to reach Round Pond's southern end.

Snowshoeing

The shoreline trail makes this showshoe trek easy to follow even with a fresh snow.

Fishing

Brook trout, which also means the use or possession of bait fish is prohibited. Unwanted introductions of minnows/bait fish are a primary factor in the decline of brook trout fisheries.

An easy trail leads back to the beautiful Goose Pond in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area. At 66-acres, Goose Pond isn't large, but it's deep waters offer anglers a chance to catch some fish.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 3 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 290 feet
• Hike includes trail junctions and a road walk

Hiking Goose Pond

Start walking along Crane Pond Road, which is not drivable past the parking area. After 0.9 miles you will come to the Goose Pond Trail on the right. Now, it's a 0.6 mile hike along a foot trail, with minimal elevation change.

Goose Pond in the winter

This section of trail is often cross-country skied in the winter. The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area is a vast wilderness, be prepared for all winter conditions, even if the hike may not seem difficult or long.

Find more trails in the Adirondack Hub

Looking for another hike? With the Adirondack Hub being at the center of so many trails, we’re sure to find another adventurous hike for you!

Fishing

There are paths around part of the pond that can be used to access different fishing locations. The pond is around 100 feet deep in the middle and the best way to reach those depths, other than by canoe, is to cast from a southern peninsula, where the shelf drops off dramatically. It is possible to carry a canoe or kayak back to the pond, but no motors are allowed. Anglers will be pleased to find brook trout and rainbow trout here.

Insider tips

• The bays seem to produce and hold the best trout. The western bay in particular is fairly wide but very deep.
• There is also a deep rock shelf on the south side of the pond at the end of a wide peninsula, which is great for reaching deep waters with minimal cast.

How to get there

To get there from Schroon Lake's downtown, take U.S. 9 north for 1.7 miles. Turn right onto Alder Meadow Road for 2.1 miles. Continue straight onto Crane Pond Road for 1.4 miles, to the large parking area at the end of the road.

Due to the shallow nature of this water, top water is the best type of lure or using a bobber to float a worm. There is no official boat access, but one can be carried to the pond.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 1.8 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 260 feet
• Hike includes unmarked trail

Hiking to Vanderwhacker Pond

Once you have located the primitive parking spot you can locate the path on the left. The trail is not marked either; it is a fisherman’s path to access the pond. The path is very mellow and not steep. You will follow along Vanderwhacker Brook which is an attractive, mossy rock brook. You will reach the south end of the pond relatively quickly, where you can work your way around very easily for different vantage points. This trail is not recommended in the winter.

Find more trails in the Adirondack Hub

Does fishing at Vanderwhacker Pond sound amazing, but a little more than you want to tackle right now? With the Adirondack Hub being at the center of so many trails, we’re sure to find the best hike to a body of water for you!

Fishing

Maximum depth is only around 12 feet, but the fishing isn’t too bad from shore. The shore is very grassy near where the path ends, but you can work your way around the pond and it gets better. An old camping spot is located on the NE shore.

Fish species: brook trout, bullhead, brown trout

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

How to get 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 for 15.5 miles to a very small pull-off by trees on the right, located on a sharp corner just prior to where Vanderwhacker Brook runs beneath the road. There is room for no more than 2 cars. The parking lot and trail are not marked.

Gull Pond is a beautiful destination for someone looking for a quick hike to stretch their legs or for families. It is less than half a mile to the pond.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 1 mile round trip
• Elevation gain: 65 feet

Hiking

This marked foot trail might have some wet spots in low areas, but is otherwise on the easier side. (But don't worry, there are bridges.) Stick to the trail to avoid causing trail erosion. 

Camping

A side trail on the left a short distance from the pond leads to a designated tent site. There is no camping allowed at the rock outcrop overlooking the pond.

Fishing

It's well worth the added effort to have a pond all to yourself. Most of the shore can be used for fishing. Since there is a 0.5 mile hike to the pond, there is no boat access without a portage. That said, a canoe or kayak would be ideal to fish the deeper waters where trout tend to hang out during warmer months. A herd path may be visible around the pond, and that can be used to find different locations.

Fish species found here include: brook trout and bullhead.

How to get there

From Exit 28 on Interstate 87, take Route 9 toward Schroon Lake. In 0.6 miles, take a left onto Alder Meadow Road. Follow this for 3.8 miles to the Gull Pond Trail on the left. Park here.

This lake is on north of the town of Newcomb, with nice views of the Santanoni Range and Ermine Brook Slide. Because you have to park at the beginning of the road that leads to Camp Santanoni, the hike to Moose Pond is a long one! There are some designated primitive tent sites on Moose Pond that can allow you to extend your stay in this backcountry body of water.

Key statistics

• Distance: 14 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 1,450 feet

Hiking

The hike will take you on Newcomb Lake Road for 2.25 miles before you take a left onto Moose Pond Road, which is more of a hiking trail nowadays. Continue on this until you've hiked around 6.7 miles, where there will be a fork. Go left at the fork to reach tent sites with water access.

Fishing

• Size: 185 acres.
• Mean depth: 24 feet 
• Species: lake trout, brook trout

Twentyninth Pond is a beautiful Adirondack pond just a short distance from the road.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 0.7 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 125 feet
• Hike includes unmarked trail and trail junctions

Hiking to Twentyninth Pond

The trail climbs slightly from the trailhead to a high point and soon comes to a short, unmarked path on the right. There is a designated primitive tent site near the shore of the pond. Continuing straight will keep you on the Stony Pond trail.

Twentyninth Pond in the winter

This is a designated snowmobile trail in the winter, but does see much use by snowmobilers. The trail is accessible in the winter by skiers and snowshoers, but don't expect the spur trail to Twentyninth Pond to be broken out. While a shorter hike, it's important to be prepared for all winter conditions. Be especially careful around frozen bodies of water, and don't go out on ice without knowing its thickness.

Find more trails in the Adirondack Hub

Looking for another hike? With the Adirondack Hub being at the center of so many trails, we’re sure to find another adventurous hike for you!

Fishing

Twentyninth Pond contains brook trout and there are faint fisherman paths along the shore to explore. Use or possession of baitfish is prohibited.

How to get there

Take Exit 29 off of Interstate 87 and follow Boreas Road west toward Newcomb. Continue to Route 28N, take a left and head toward Minerva. Continue for just under 10.5 miles to the Stony Pond trailhead on the left.

Views of the High Peaks dominate the scene from the shore of Boreas Ponds, the 320-acre waterbody for which this region is named. LaBier Flow, Boreas River, LeClaire Brook, Casey Brook, Slide Brook, and White Lily Brook can also be found on this tract. Boreas Ponds is one of the newer additions to the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve and the NYSDEC is in the process of adding new features, so keep up to date on the latest information.

Hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing

Gulf Brook Road is currently the main route to Boreas Ponds, and the only other "trails" in the area are overgrown and difficult to navigate.

Hikers can park at the first lot to walk the entire 6.7 mile Gulf Brook Road to reach Boreas Ponds, or they can park at one of the other three lots along the road to shorten the trip. The road travels through a dense, young forest for most of its length and doesn't really get scenic until it reaches LaBier Flow, a mile or so from Boreas Ponds. Shortly after that is a four-way intersection — take a right to pass another view of LaBier Flow before reaching the shore of Boreas Ponds. In the winter, you will have to ski or snowshoe the entire length of the road.

Paddling

In low water, the best option is to do the walk from Four Corners parking area to Boreas Ponds, instead of putting in at LaBier. Once on Boreas Ponds, you can make your way northeast through the main parts of the ponds and into the Boreas River, where depending on the water level it can be quite navigable and scenic.

Cycling

Bicycling is permitted along Gulf Brook Road, from Blue Ridge Road to Boreas Ponds Dam. Bikes are not allowed past the dam. The Handlebarley, an annually-organized social gravel bike ride, includes stopping at Boreas Ponds. 

Fishing, hunting, and trapping

Boreas Ponds is open to fishing, hunting, and trapping.

How to get there

Gulf Brook Road is the main route to Boreas Ponds. It's located off Blue Ridge Road, about 16.5 miles east of Newcomb and about 7 miles west of Exit 29 on I-87. Visitors are permitted to drive on Gulf Brook Road, and if paddling you'll want to park at the Four-Corners parking area, which is 500 feet beyond LaBier Flow access, and just under a mile walk to Boreas Ponds. 

Alder Pond may not be very deep but it's a beautiful spot in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area. Alder Pond is an easy hike for kids who want to shore fish, too.

Key takeaways

• Distance: 3.7 miles round trip
• Elevation gain: 330 feet
• Hike includes a road walk and trail junctions

Hiking to Alder Pond

The pond is accessed by a hike along Crane Pond Road. The hike is on the easy side, with minimal elevation change. You'll hike along Crane Pond Road (rutted and washed out) for 0.85 miles, then continue left (east), paralleling Alder Pond until you get to the old trailhead for Crane Pond at 1.85 miles.

Alder Pond in the winter

This section of trail is often cross-country skied in the winter. The Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area is a vast wilderness, be prepared for all winter conditions, even if the snowshoe/ski may not seem difficult or long. There is a sizable hill that starts at around 1 mile in.

Find more trails in the Adirondack Hub

Looking for another hike? With the Adirondack Hub being at the center of so many trails, we’re sure to find another adventurous hike for you!

Fishing

The shore fishing is okay, but the pond is super shallow and the fish are not all that big. This could be a fun fishing area for the kids to toss out a bobber and let it float. The west end of the trail is the deepest part of the lake. There is a short access trail leading to the west end of the long finger pond. Use weedless hooks or float a bobber. There is no boat access without a long portage.

Fish species: Bullhead, panfish, rock bass

How to get there

To get here from Schroon Lake's downtown, take U.S. 9 north for 1.7 miles. Turn right onto Alder Meadow Road for 2.1 miles. Continue straight onto Crane Pond Road for 1.4 miles, to the large parking area at the end of the road.