Printer-friendlyFish Creek Pond
Address:4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Campground Phone: (518)891-4560
Regional Office Phone: (518)897-1309
Camping Fee: $20
Campground Map PDF File (267 KB)
Make a reservation for this campground with ReserveAmerica.
Fish Creek Pond Campground offers a natural sand shoreline and water access for most campsites. Campers are provided with pristine rivers and ponds accessible to both motorized and non-motorized boats. Square Pond and Fish Creek Pond (the two bodies of water around which the campground is situated) are open to motor boat usage. Also, motorboat operator's can enjoy miles of open water on the Upper Saranac Lake. A trailered boat launch with a small temporary parking area nearby receive steady usage throughout the camping season. Campers seeking non motorized boating opportunities are usually referred by the campground staff to the ponds in the Rollins Pond Campground area or the nearby St. Regis Canoe Area (approx. 3 miles north of the campground). It is considered by many, the finest and most attractive of all the Adirondack campgrounds. Camping equipment from tents to 40' RVs can be accommodated. The campground offers a variety of other recreational opportunities including: Interpreter Activity Program, canoeing and boating, fishing, hiking, and bicycling.
Hours of Operation: The campground is open from mid-April through Fall foliage season, closing in mid-October.
Directions: From the Northway (I-87) northbound: Exit 30 Route 9 north to Rte. 73 north to Lake Placid. Route 86 north through Saranac Lake to Rte. 186 west to Rte. 30 south. 9 miles to Fish Creek Pond.
From the Northway (I-87) southbound: Exit 38, Rte. 374 west to Rte. 3 west to Saranac Lake. From Saranac Lake follow directions above.
From I-81: Exit 48, Rte. 342 east to Rte. 3 & 30, then Rte. 30 north to Fish Creek Pond.
Amenities: 355 campsites, accommodating all equipment from tents to 40' RVs, picnic area, beach, playground, hot showers coin operated (late May to Columbus Day), flush toilets, trailer dumping station, boat launch, hiking trails, recreation activities program (July - Labor Day), volleyball and basketball areas, boat and canoe rentals.
Nature Recreation Program: From the end of June to Labor Day an organized recreation activity program is offered daily at the Amphitheater. This includes nature hikes, crafts, games and live entertainment. An activity listing, the "Wilderness Times", is posted and includes complete information on daily events. * Please take note that at facilities that offer the Nature Recreation Program, there may be days when Environmental Educators are unavailable, and no programs will be offered. In addition the length of this program may vary by campground due to staffing issues. For additional information, please contact the Recreation Staff at the Amphitheater.
Boating: Motor boats, rowboats, and canoes are allowed. Rowboat and canoe rentals available. Various canoe routes and boating opportunities exist. The waters are popular parts of the Adirondack canoe routes. There is a hard surface boat launch ramp within the campground.
Fishing: Major species in Fish Creek, Square and Rollins Ponds are: black bass, northern pike, and pan fish. Upper Saranac Lake offers these species plus: lake trout and landlocked salmon. Black and Whey Ponds have: brook and rainbow trout.
Hiking: Many miles of trails begin right from the campground, with an abundance of other hiking possibilities nearby. Two of the most popular are the Otter Hollow Loop and Floodwood Loop.
Day Use Facilities: A picnic area and a swimming beach are available. There are also volleyball and basketball areas. * Please take note that at facilities that offer swimming beaches, there are days which lifeguards are unavailable. For the safety of our customers, these beaches will not be open and swimming will be prohibited.
Area Attractions: The Adirondack Park Visitors Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths is 18 miles north on NYS Route 30. Lake Placid and the Olympic venues are located 25 miles to the southeast. The Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake is 50 miles south.
Historic Interest: In 1920 the Conservation Commission began to establish camping sites throughout the Adirondacks. An open camp (lean-to) and 2 or 3 fireplaces were developed at Fish Creek Pond. By 1924, it was realized that proper sanitary facilities and drinking water were required for those using these roadside camp sites. Therefore, an effort was begun to concentrate campsites at certain locations. In the early summer of 1926 twenty sites, sanitary facilities and a well were constructed at Fish Creek Pond "...thereby one of our most attractive public campsites in the entire Adirondacks was created." The next year the Conservation Department doubled the size of the camping area and doubled it again in 1928. Although continually expanding, it was impossible to keep up with the demand for sites. From 1933 to 1935 the campground was again expanded through the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps due to increasing demand.
