You really can’t get any more “away from it all” than staying at Indian Lake Islands. The Adirondack Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This is my favorite place to escape from modern life and find my center again. My family loves how close to nature we get and don’t even get me started about the night sky. Finding this gem was like discovering Atlantis.
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Camping
There are 55 campsites located on distant shorelines as well as various islands in the lake. All campsites at Indian Lake Islands are only accessible by boat. The camping, while extremely rustic, is also incredibly peaceful. The sites are very private. We had a whole beach all to ourselves. These campsites are really out of this world. We didn’t have a lot of problems with bugs, but it is always best to be prepared.
There seems to be a definite difference in water levels of the lake between spring and fall. I saw pictures of our beach from the spring, and the water had receded significantly, giving us a lot more beach. On the positive side, it offered us the opportunity to have a fire on the beach, which was very cool!
The only downside, in my opinion, the campsites only have pit toilets, which are basically outhouses. That was really the one and only drawback we experience at our site. I could smell it in certain parts of our campsite or when the wind blew in a particular direction. Not to mention my daughter was less than thrilled with the outhouse situation.
This is something you really need to be prepared for. You have to bring everything with you, in your boat to the campsite. If you forget anything, it is a lot more difficult than just jumping in your car and heading to the store (which is also a ways away.)
Boating
Indian Lake is over 7 miles long and has several branches off of it. As previously mentioned, these campsites are only accessible by boat, which can be launched from the boat launch located on Route 30, just up the street from the entrance to Lewey Lake. Rowboats, powerboats, kayaks, and canoes are all welcome on Indian Lake. However, you can rent canoes at the boat launch. The boat ramp is quite large and can accommodate more than one boat at a time.
The DEC runs Indian Lake. Even canoes and kayaks. It is important that you make sure that you have all your safety equipment in your boat, such as life jackets. The DEC has been known to stop boats and check for equipment. If you are in violation, they will write tickets.
Fishing
Indian Lake offers excellent fishing. There are numerous fish species in the lake, such as lake trout, rock bass, rainbow trout, smelt, brown bullheads, smallmouth bass, brown trout, yellow perch, common sunfish, white sucker, lake whitefish, northern pike, and landlocked salmon. Make sure you get your fishing license before you come because they are not sold at this park. You can get your fishing license online here. As this is a DEC run park, I highly recommend you follow all rules and make sure you have your fishing license. They will stop you and issue tickets for violations.
Hiking
The Adirondacks are known for the excellent hiking opportunities there. There are all sorts of hiking trails located in and around this park. Indian Lake Islands has hiking trails located along the far shore that can be reached by boat.
Address
State Route 30 Sabael, NY 12864
Google Map Link
Other Places to Visit in the Area
The Wild Center
The Wild Center has quickly become one of the most popular attractions in the Adirondacks and the world. One of the especially cool features of this museum is The Wild Walk. Visitors can walk through the canopy and experience the forest from a new perspective. The walk has so many fun and interactive activities.
Adirondack Scenic Railroad
Hop aboard this train that brings visitors through the majestic scenery of the Adirondacks for an unforgettable adventure all year round.
Moose River
Moose River is one of the most gorgeous rivers that I have found. We accidentally stumbled upon this splendid river because we decided to follow the road of the same name. Enormous rocks fill this river and make it a fun place to explore. My kids loved climbing on the rocks and getting to the giant islands located here and there throughout the river.
Have you camped at Indian Lake Islands before? Did we miss anything? What did you think of the experience? Does this sound like something you would want to try? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.