Top 7 Lakes around Long Lake

For family-friendly fun, Lake Durant is an excellent choice, known for its fishing opportunities including bass and yellow perch. Long Lake itself is also very family-friendly, offering swimming at sandy beaches, paddling, and boating. Pontoon boat rentals are available for exploring its 14-mile stretch.

Yes, there are numerous hiking opportunities. The Northville Placid Trail runs along Tirrel Pond, providing access to shelters and small river beaches. For more options, you can explore various trails like the Blue Mountain Trail or Catlin Bay via Northville-Placid Trail. Find detailed routes in the Hiking around Long Lake guide.

The Adirondack Park, where these lakes are located, is rich in wildlife. While specific sightings vary, the undeveloped shorelines, especially around the northern end of Long Lake, offer a true wilderness experience. You might spot various bird species, deer, and other forest animals. The lakes themselves are home to diverse fish populations like bass, trout, perch, and northern pike.

Long Lake is a hub for water activities. Visitors can enjoy swimming at its public sandy beaches, paddling in canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddleboards, and boating. Fishing is excellent year-round, with the lake being home to bass, trout, perch, and northern pike. Ice fishing is also popular in winter.

While Long Lake is popular, the broader Adirondack Park offers quieter alternatives. Forked Lake, connected to Long Lake, is described as quiet and scenic, ideal for a full-day escape for fishing or paddling. Lakes like Little Tupper Lake, Lows Lake, and the area around Lake McRorie and Mud Pond (Cedarlands Scout Camp) can offer a more secluded experience.

The Long Lake region is a year-round destination. Summer is ideal for swimming, paddling, and boating. Fall offers picturesque views with changing foliage. Winter transforms the area into a haven for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing.

Various camping options are available, including established campgrounds, primitive sites, and classic Adirondack lean-tos. Golden Beach campsite, for example, offers 205 sites, a cartop boat launch, and a large swimming area on Long Lake.

Absolutely. Fishing is a popular activity year-round. Lake Durant is particularly known for bass, tiger muskellunge, brown bullhead, and yellow perch. Long Lake also offers excellent fishing for bass, trout, perch, and northern pike, with ice fishing being popular in winter.

Beyond ground-level exploration, seaplane tours provide a unique bird's-eye view of the Adirondacks and its numerous lakes. This offers a spectacular perspective of the vast forests and waterways.

The area offers a variety of running trails. You can find routes like the Tirrell Pond Trail, Owls Head Mountain Trail, or the Cascade Pond and Northville-Placid Trail Loop. For more detailed running routes, check out the Running Trails around Long Lake guide.

Tirrel Pond is a scenic lake featuring forest and river elements. It's particularly notable because the Northville Placid Trail runs along its edge, offering access to shelters and small river beaches, making it ideal for a stop during a hike.

Long Lake features two public beaches and a state boat launch, providing easy access for swimming, launching boats, and enjoying the water. Over half of its shoreline is part of the New York State Forest Preserve, ensuring much of it remains undeveloped.