Best Lakes Near Albany, NY
50 lakes within 50 miles of Albany, ranked on agency water-quality readings.
50 lakes within 50 miles of Albany have nutrient and algae readings on record. Card Pond in Berkshire County leads the set on measured water quality. 8 of the 50 have a recorded public access point.
Within reasonable driving distance of Albany sit 50 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.
The lakes below are sorted on measured water quality. If you have a specific activity in mind, swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing, the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.
| Lake | Distance | County | Clarity | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Pond | 29.9 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Lake Paran | 32.7 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Ashley Lake | 35.6 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Big Pond | 38.6 mi | Bennington | 7.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Hallockville Pond | 42 mi | Franklin | — | - | 0 |
| West Branch Walker Brook Lake | 44.9 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Benton Pond | 48.7 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Damon Pond | 49.8 mi | Hampshire | — | - | 0 |
| Lake Raponda | 49.9 mi | Windham | 11.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Stamford Pond | 37 mi | Bennington | 9.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Little Pond | 39.8 mi | Bennington | 7.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Haystack Pond | 46.3 mi | Windham | 9.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Grout Pond | 49.3 mi | Windham | 8.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Windsor Lake | 33.8 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Buckley-Dunton Lake | 39.5 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Branch Pond | 47.6 mi | Bennington | 7.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Bourn Pond | 49.4 mi | Bennington | 5.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Lower Spectacle Pond | 47 mi | Berkshire | — | - | 0 |
| Buckingham Lake | 2.7 mi | Albany | 2.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Vosburg Pond | 9.9 mi | Rensselaer | 4.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Burden Lake | 10.4 mi | Rensselaer | 14.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Big Bowman Pond | 13.6 mi | Rensselaer | 7.4 ft | - | 0 |
| Kinderhook Lake | 14.8 mi | Columbia | 6.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Forest Lake | 16 mi | Rensselaer | 8.4 ft | - | 0 |
| Round Pond | 16.3 mi | Rensselaer | 7.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Spring Lake | 17 mi | Rensselaer | 9.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Taconic Pond | 18.3 mi | Rensselaer | 12.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Duane Lake | 19.3 mi | Schenectady | 3.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Ballston Lake | 20.5 mi | Saratoga | 5.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Queechy Lake | 24.3 mi | Columbia | 18.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Sleepy Hollow Lake | 24.9 mi | Greene | 5.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Saratoga Lake | 25.2 mi | Saratoga | 11.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Barber Lake | 30.3 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Galway Lake | 30.7 mi | Saratoga | 10.7 ft | - | 0 |
| South Stream Pond | 31.3 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Robinson Pond | 38.3 mi | Columbia | 10.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Shaftsbury Lake | 38.7 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Adams Reservoir | 39.9 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Howe Pond Outlet | 40.4 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Lower Rhoda Pond | 40.5 mi | Columbia | 11.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Long Pond | 41.2 mi | Columbia | 10.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Cossayuna Lake | 41.8 mi | Washington | 8.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Sherman Reservoir | 42.5 mi | Franklin | — | - | 0 |
| Hunt Lake | 42.6 mi | Saratoga | 12.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Jenny Lake | 43.2 mi | Saratoga | 12.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Harriman Reservoir | 44.2 mi | Windham | — | - | 0 |
| Searsburg Reservoir | 44.3 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Beebe Pond | 45.9 mi | Bennington | — | - | 0 |
| Binney Brook Lake | 46 mi | Windham | — | - | 0 |
| Peck Lake | 46.1 mi | Fulton | 11.9 ft | - | 0 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Albany?
There are 50 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of Albany, New York. 8 of them have a recorded public access point and 30 have a clarity reading.
What are the best lakes near Albany for fishing?
0 lakes near Albany have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 0 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Where to stay near Albany
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Albany — book a place close to the cleanest lakes in the area.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.