These small lakes, hidden away from the world, offer peaceful kayaking/canoeing, incredible fishing, or just a place to get away from it all.
One of the great parts about living in New York is all the water. There are tons of lakes, rivers, creeks, ponds, and of course, the Erie Canal. We literally could canoe or kayak a new body of water every single weekend. During our adventures, we found lots of beautiful lakes. You can easily visit each of these lakes, get a lay of the land and enjoy some gorgeous scenery.
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Duck Lake
Duck Lake is located about 15 miles north of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. This is a beautiful lake with crystal clear water. This lake is excellent for fishing; it is stocked annually. Fishermen will find Largemouth bass, tiger musky, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch, common carp, and brown bullhead. This 2.8-mile lake is fairly shallow with a maximum depth of 20 feet, making this lake ideal for kayaking and canoeing, as no motors are allowed on the lake.
The public access (boat launch) is located at Duck Lack Campground (11040 Duck Lake Road). There is a $5 fee to launch. This is also a public campground that offers camping and cabins. The cabins are right on the lake and have an incredible view.
Also in the Area:
Otter Lake
Otter Lake, located in the town of Meridan, is as close to a quiet retreat as you can get. The lake is 14 feet at its maximum depth. Although motors are allowed on the lake, the maximum speed is 5 miles per hour. There are 3.6 miles of shoreline, and the lake is 1.5 miles long. This isn’t a big lake, but it is perfect for relaxing kayaking or canoe trip. Bring a finishing pole, and you just might snag yourself one of the many species of fish in this lake, such as Largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, green sunfish, white sucker, brown bullhead, common carp, yellow perch, golden shiner, and bowfin.
There is a public boat launch at the Leisure Acre Trailer Park on Bonta Bridge Rd. There is a $5 fee to launch.
Lake Como
Lake Como, in Summerhill, is a kayaker’s dream. The Dorothy Mcllroy Bird Sanctuary is part of the Finger Lakes Land Trust and covers 259 acres, and kayakers can reach it via the lake outlet. The lake is tiny (70 acres with 1.7 miles of shoreline), but the water is so clear, you can see the many varieties of fish that inhabit the lake. The lake is annually stocked with tiger musky. Still, there is also plenty of largemouth bass, chain pickerel, walleye, black crappie, rock bass, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, and brown bullhead. This lake is also popular for ice fishing. There is also a lot of animal life around this lake and as well as evidence of wildlife, such as the numerous beaver dams.
There is a free boat launch at the Como Lake Inn located at 1307 Lake Rd.
Almond Lake
This lovely lake is actually a reservoir created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1930s. A trip to this lake comes with the opportunity to camp alongside the lake at Kanakadea Park. Although swimming is not permitted in this 480-acre lake, there is a boat launch where guests can launch small cartop crafts such as canoes and kayaks. This is also a popular fishing destination.
Piseco Lake
Piseco Lake, located in the southern Adirondacks, is 4.4 square miles with 21.3 miles of shoreline. This lake is popular with fishermen since its a great place to catch landlocked salmon and lake trout. There are two DEC-run campgrounds on Piseco Lake, Little Sand Point, and Point Comfort, that offer excellent lakeside camping and beaches to enjoy the crystal blue waters. Poplar Point is a no-fee park and boat launch.
Cinnamon Lake
This 50-acre lake is a hidden gem, hiding in one of New York’s State Forests. There is a small parking area with a trail that leads down to the shore. While the path isn’t long, it is wide, making it almost impossible to carry anything other than a kayak down to the water. When we visited, we were told by a local that this lake is full of turtles.
1500 Hornby Rd., Beaver Dams, NY
Loon Lake
Loon Lake, located outside of Wayland, is an almost completely private lake with only one boat launch for those not living on the lake. The only public boat launch happens to be situated next to the Laf-A-Lot Restaurant, which has the oldest liquor license in New York State. This lake, although small, is immaculate and lovely. This lake is a peaceful place to relax and enjoy the peacefulness of this quaint little lake community. You can hike the Loon Lake Wetlands Preserve down to the shore if you get a close-up look at the lake.
Waneta Lake
This 780-acre lake has a mean depth of 15 and a maximum of 29 feet and 6.5 miles of shoreline. This lake is often mentioned along with Lamoke Lake as a short canal links them in the Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area. There is a public boat launch located on County Road 23 in Tyrone, NY. During the summer months, the water level can drop dramatically near the boat launch.
Lamoka Lake
Lamoka lake (connected to Mill Pond) has one of the most important archaic period dig sites in North America, The Lamoka Site. This archaeological dig site provided concrete evidence of some of the earliest hunter and gather cultures in North America. Prehistoric tools were found from 4500 years ago. This lake shares a boat launch with Waneta Lake, and it is an excellent place to canoe and kayak.
Lake Eaton
This lake is 558 acres of Adirondack beauty surrounded by mountains and forests, making Lake Eaton a fantastic getaway from the hectic world. Lake Eaton Campground has exquisite lakeside campsites perched right on the water. This lake is brimming with wildlife. It was a magical experience hearing the loons call throughout the night.
Mason Lake
Mason Lake isn’t a big lake, only 104 acres. However, the way woods and mountain peaks surround it, it is the quintessential Adirondack lake. This lake is a perfect destination for kayaking, camping, and enjoying the nature and wildlife prolific to the Adirondacks. Primitive campsites dot 2.4 miles of shoreline. There are scenic vista areas where visitors can pull in and capture beautiful photos by taking a leaf-peeping autumn drive through the Adirondacks.
Located on Route 30 near the Town of Lake Pleasant
Beaver Lake
Beaver Lake is at the heart of an extraordinary nature center. This is an excellent destination for families who can engage in numerous fun activities such as kayaking, hiking, and wildlife watching. There is a nature center that educates visitors on the local wildlife. Guests can rent canoes and kayaks from the Nature Center, and in the winter, snowshoes are also available for rental.
8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville, NY
Blue Mountain Lake
Of the lakes on this list, Blue Mountain Lake is one of the biggest at 1220 acres, and it is the center of an Adirondack resort town of the same name. Visitors come from all over to enjoy all sorts of outdoor recreation, such as hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. Blue Mountian Lake is also the home of the Adirondack Experience, a fun museum that focuses on the region’s history while encouraging visitors to help preserve its future. While you are in the area, get a fantastic view of this lake from above by hiking Castle Rock.
Limekiln Lake
Limekiln Lake is one of the best places to camp in the Adirondacks, and the lake of the same name offers guests endless amounts of recreation, such as kayaking, swimming, and fishing. This lake is special among the numerous Adirondack lakes because it is well stocked with splake, a hybrid created by cross-breeding a female lake trout and a male brook trout. Paddlers love Limekiln Lake for its curving shoreline and beautiful outlet. There are canoes and rowboats available for rent and a boat launch that can accommodate small boats, such as small motorboats. Incidentally, this lake is known for being one of the best places to see a moose.
Limekiln Lake Road, Inlet, NY
Lewey Lake & Indian Lake
Lewey Lake is an unbelievable destination in the Adirondacks. The lake is crystal clear and nestled in the surrounding mountains. What makes this lake even more fantastic is that Lewey Lake happens to be connected to another gorgeous Adirondack lake, Indian Lake. Both lakes have fabulous campsites located along the shoreline where campers can launch their own canoe or kayak right from their campsite. There are numerous Islands in Indian Lake where campers can have a true primitive camping experience. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at both lakes, and there is a public boat launch located on Indian Lake.
Sanford Lake
Sanford lake is a tiny 30.6-acre DEC-owned inside the Birdseye Hollow State Forest. Not only is this a great kayaking lake, but guests can camp for free here. While not many of these sites are directly on the lake, there are a few, and they are spectacular. This lake is perfect for nature lovers and bird watchers. Fishermen will find numerous fish species in this lake: banded killifish, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, chain pickerel, common shiner, golden shiner, largemouth bass pumpkinseed, and yellow perch.
Durand Lake & Eastman Lake
These small lakes are located within Durand Eastman Park, a beautiful county park with lots of hiking trails and spectacular views. This park is especially breathtaking in the autumn when the water reflects the colorful leaves. These are popular fishing lakes, and in the winter, you can see ice fishermen’s tents all across the frozen water. There is an urban legend involving this park, The White Lady, who walks the hills and valleys of this park forever, seeking those who killed her daughter.
Harwood Lake
Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area is a splendid natural habitat with tons of activities for nature lovers. There is something uncommonly peaceful about this area. Harwood Lake is a man-made lake and was created in 1965 by both the State and Federal government soil conservation services. This lake is part of the Ischua Creek Small Watershed Protection Plan. Visitors to the Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area are likely to see various birds and wildlife. Mammals that are frequently spotted at Harwood Lake are white-tail deer, raccoons, minks, muskrats, and beavers. Birdwatching is a popular activity here as well.
Located on Route 98 in the town of Franklinville.
Cross Lake
Although Cross Lake is called a lake, it is really just a widened section of the Seneca River. There are two islands at the southern end of the lake that are part of the Cross Lake Island Wildlife Management Area. According to traditional folklore, this lake was Hiawatha’s boyhood home, the co-founder of the Iroquois confederation. Fishermen have been known to pull exceptionally large northern pike from Cross Lake.
Lime Lake
Lime Lake was created by damming three natural, spring-fed ponds. This 159-acre lake isn’t huge, but it is a great fishing lake with fish species such as largemouth bass, tiger muskellunge, walleye, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, yellow perch, rock bass, brown bullhead, carp. The only public access to this lake is a DEC car-top boat launch. Known for its excellent paddling, Lime Lake can get pretty busy with boating traffic on the weekends.
Need a place to escape the rat race? These lakes are as peaceful as it gets. Whether you just want to enjoy a scenic drive, a day of paddling, or try your hand at landing some tiger muskies, these lakes are the perfect getaway.