Fish Creek Pond Campground and Day Use Area

• 

  Dates of Operation:

  • Opening Date: May 9
  • Closing Date: October 13
• Camping Fee: $22 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
• Address: 4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (directions below)
• County: Franklin
• GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 44 18 13.38980N, 074 21 29.77273W
• Campground Phone: (518) 891-4560
• Regional Office Phone: (518) 897-1309
• Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica
• Map: Fish Creek Pond Campground and Day Use Area Map (PDF) || DECinfo Locator

Firewood Restriction Map (PDF) shows the 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. Help prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases by following New York's firewood regulation.

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.

Amenities

355 campsites, accommodating all equipment from tents to 40' RVs, picnic area, beach, playground, hot showers (late May to Columbus Day), flush toilets, trailer dumping station, firewood sales, boat launch, hiking trails, recreation activities program (July - Labor Day), volleyball and basketball areas, boat and canoe rentals (available outside the campground).

Family Sites

Family sites are larger than typical campsites and can usually accommodate up to 12 people, four vehicles, four tents or two hard-wheeled equipment, or one hard-wheeled equipment and two tents. Maximum equipment size and site-specific limitations are listed with the site details. Sites also have up to two picnic tables and two fireplaces/fire rings. 

Accessible Features

In the day use area, wheelchair accessible features include the:

• Fishing/viewing platform;
• Picnic pavilion; and
• Restroom at beach

In the camping area, wheelchair accessible features include the:

• Eleven accessible campsites (Sites: 12, 13, 43, 44, 45, 47, 88, 91, 244, 275, 276)
• Restroom (near Campsite 223)

There is a wheelchair charging station available on a first come, first serve basis at the Restroom (near Campsite 223). 

See Maps, Directions, and Featured Activities sections on this page for more details on these features. Visit the DEC Accessible Recreation web page for additional accessible recreation opportunities including a full listing of Accessible Features at DEC Campgrounds and Day Use Areas.

Campsite Restoration Project

This campground has sites that have been selected for restoration. While undergoing restoration the chosen sites will be closed. For the list of sites and more information on the project visit the Campsite Restoration Project page.

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.

Get driving directions from Google Maps

Planning and Management

The Fish Creek Pond Final Unit Management Plan UMP (PDF) for the campground, guides the DEC's land management of this facility for a five-year period, although a number of goals and objectives in the plan focus on a much longer time period. The UMP addresses specific objectives and actions for public use at this facility.

For more information regarding the UMP for this facility, please contact the Bureau of Recreation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation by email: [email protected] of by calling (518) 457-2500.

Additional Information

Area Attractions

The Wild Center (the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks) is 11 miles to the southwest in Tupper Lake. 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.

Junior Naturalist Program

Our campgrounds become an outdoor classroom for young children (5-13) and their families. Enjoy games and activities to earn a beautiful embroidered patch.