Adirondacks
Lake-dotted mountain country inside the six-million-acre Adirondack Park, the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. Roughly 3,000 lakes and ponds — including Lake George, Lake Placid, and the Saranac chain — occupy basins scoured from ancient anorthosite and gneiss bedrock. Paddling, canoe camping, and trout and landlocked-salmon fishing are the main draws.
| Lake | County | Clarity | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Queneska Island Lake | Essex | 17.4 ft | - | 0 |
| South Lake | Herkimer | - | - | 0 |
| West Pond | Herkimer | - | - | 0 |
| Squash Pond | Herkimer | - | - | 0 |
| Willys Lake | Herkimer | - | - | 0 |
| Windfall Pond | Herkimer | - | - | 0 |
| Loon Hollows Pond | Herkimer | - | - | 0 |
| Carry Pond | Hamilton | - | - | 0 |
| Jockeybush Lake | Hamilton | - | - | 0 |
| Willis Lake | Hamilton | - | - | 0 |
| Sochia Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| Sunday Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| Isle la Motte Lake | Clinton | 15.4 ft | - | 0 |
| Isle la Motte Lake | Clinton | 12.5 ft | - | 0 |
| Main Section Lake | Essex | 15.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Main Section Lake | Clinton | 14.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Little Clear Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| Hope Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| Grass Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| Little Hope Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| Southern Section Lake | Essex | 2.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Little Echo Pond | Franklin | - | - | 0 |
| E Caroga Lake | Fulton | 9.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Blue Mountain Lake | Hamilton | 21 ft | - | 0 |
| Friends Lake | Warren | 13.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Brant Lake | Warren | 16.4 ft | - | 0 |
| W Caroga Lake | Fulton | 11.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake George | Warren | 26.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Schroon Lake | Essex | 14.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Placid | Essex | 23.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Eagle Pond | Franklin | 5.2 ft | - | 0 |
| East Caroga Lake | Fulton | 13.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Friends Lake | Warren | 16.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Eagle Lake | Essex | 24.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Glen Lake | Warren | 16 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Sunnyside | Warren | 17.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Lincoln Pond | Essex | 15.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Canada Lake | Fulton | 13.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Deer River Flow Lake | Franklin | 3.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Mirror Lake | Essex | 22.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Forest | Warren | 8.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Luzerne | Warren | 17.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Fulton Chain Lakes | Herkimer | 10.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Brant Lake | Warren | 16.4 ft | - | 0 |
| Peck Lake | Fulton | 11.9 ft | - | 0 |
| West Caroga Lake | Fulton | 12.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Silver Lake | St. Lawrence | 15.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Pleasant Lake | Fulton | 13.4 ft | - | 0 |
| Raquette Lake | Hamilton | 11.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Pleasant | Hamilton | 13.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Augur Lake | Essex | 8 ft | - | 0 |
Ways to pick a Adirondacks lake
Cleanest water
- Queneska Island Lake — 17.4 ft clarity
- South Lake — Herkimer County
- West Pond — Herkimer County
- Squash Pond — Herkimer County
Cleanest Lakes in Adirondacks
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Adirondacks area has 51 lakes with water-quality records from state and federal monitoring. 35 of them have a clarity reading and 0 have documented fish species.
Cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Adirondacks are on the map below with live availability. A lake with low nutrient and algae readings is the better swim and cabin pick when water quality is part of the trip.
The lakes with the lowest nutrient and algae readings lead the table above. Each lake page shows its own phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity readings beside the EPA condition class; none of it is a same-day swim clearance.
Where to stay near Adirondacks
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Adirondacks — then explore the interactive map to find a place to stay close to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Adirondacks
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.