Best Lakes Near Albany, NY
50 lakes within 50 miles of Albany ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Albany sit 50 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is B.
The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. 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 | Grade | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Pond | 29.9 mi | Berkshire | A | - | 0 |
| Lake Paran | 32.7 mi | Bennington | A | - | 0 |
| Ashley Lake | 35.6 mi | Berkshire | A | - | 0 |
| Big Pond | 38.6 mi | Bennington | A | - | 0 |
| Hallockville Pond | 42 mi | Franklin | A | - | 0 |
| West Branch Walker Brook Lake | 44.9 mi | Berkshire | A | - | 0 |
| Benton Pond | 48.7 mi | Berkshire | A | - | 0 |
| Damon Pond | 49.8 mi | Hampshire | A | - | 0 |
| Lake Raponda | 49.9 mi | Windham | A | - | 0 |
| Stamford Pond | 37 mi | Bennington | B | - | 0 |
| Little Pond | 39.8 mi | Bennington | B | - | 0 |
| Haystack Pond | 46.3 mi | Windham | B | - | 0 |
| Grout Pond | 49.3 mi | Windham | B | - | 0 |
| Windsor Lake | 33.8 mi | Berkshire | C | - | 0 |
| Buckley-Dunton Lake | 39.5 mi | Berkshire | C | - | 0 |
| Howe Pond | 40.1 mi | Bennington | C | - | 0 |
| Branch Pond | 47.6 mi | Bennington | C | - | 0 |
| Bourn Pond | 49.4 mi | Bennington | C | - | 0 |
| Lower Spectacle Pond | 47 mi | Berkshire | D | - | 0 |
| Buckingham Lake | 2.7 mi | Albany | NR | - | 0 |
| Vosburg Pond | 9.9 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Burden Lake | 10.4 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Big Bowman Pond | 13.6 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Kinderhook Lake | 14.8 mi | Columbia | NR | - | 0 |
| Forest Lake | 16 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Round Pond | 16.3 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Spring Lake | 17 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Taconic Pond | 18.3 mi | Rensselaer | NR | - | 0 |
| Duane Lake | 19.3 mi | Schenectady | NR | - | 0 |
| Ballston Lake | 20.5 mi | Saratoga | NR | - | 0 |
| Queechy Lake | 24.3 mi | Columbia | NR | - | 0 |
| Sleepy Hollow Lake | 24.9 mi | Greene | NR | - | 0 |
| Saratoga Lake | 25.2 mi | Saratoga | NR | - | 0 |
| Barber Lake | 30.3 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Galway Lake | 30.7 mi | Saratoga | NR | - | 0 |
| South Stream Pond | 31.3 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Robinson Pond | 38.3 mi | Columbia | NR | - | 0 |
| Shaftsbury Lake | 38.7 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Adams Reservoir | 39.9 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Howe Pond Outlet | 40.4 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Lower Rhoda Pond | 40.5 mi | Columbia | NR | - | 0 |
| Long Pond | 41.2 mi | Columbia | NR | - | 0 |
| Cossayuna Lake | 41.8 mi | Washington | NR | - | 0 |
| Sherman Reservoir | 42.5 mi | Franklin | NR | - | 0 |
| Hunt Lake | 42.6 mi | Saratoga | NR | - | 0 |
| Jenny Lake | 43.2 mi | Saratoga | NR | - | 0 |
| Harriman Reservoir | 44.2 mi | Windham | NR | - | 0 |
| Searsburg Reservoir | 44.3 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Beebe Pond | 45.9 mi | Bennington | NR | - | 0 |
| Binney Brook Lake | 46 mi | Windham | NR | - | 0 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Albany?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Albany, New York. 9 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Albany for fishing?
0 lakes near Albany have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades 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 best-rated lakes in the area.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.