Friends Lake is a 450-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Warren County, New York. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Warren County, Friends Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, New York DNR, last sampled 2021-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Friends Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.8 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 450 acres |
Where to stay near Friends Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Friends Lake in Warren County, New York — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Friends Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Friends Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Friends Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at New York’s top lakes →
Fishing Friends Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.68 m/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 9 lakes in Warren County
Nearby Lakes in Warren County
Explore Friends Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across New York
Fish species and best lakes in Warren County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Adirondacks area
Where to stay at New York's top lakes, each with its grade
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
New York's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More New York Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in New York
Oligotrophic Lakes in New York
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Friends Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Friends Lake Dam (completed 1954), built primarily for recreation on the TR-CHESTER CREEK; earth-type dam, 7 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 450 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,300 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.56 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- FRIENDS LAKE PROPERTY ASSOCIATION
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NY01514 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-10-05
Monitoring stations: 1