Open
Open for the 2026 season from May 15 through September 7. Reservations are available through ReserveAmerica up to 9 months in advance. Maximum stay is 14 cumulative nights between July 1 and Labor Day.
About
Buck Pond Campground sits on the western shore of its namesake 130-acre pond in the northern Adirondack Mountains, roughly 12 miles north of Saranac Lake. The 116 sites range from waterfront locations to secluded wooded loops, with two island sites (R01, R02) accessible only by boat. The campground accommodates everything from tents to RVs up to 30 feet, though there are no hookups.
Facilities are well-developed for a DEC campground: flush toilets, hot showers, a trailer dump station, and potable water spigots. Each site includes a picnic table and fireplace. A sand beach with a bathhouse provides guarded swimming, while two boat launches serve Lake Kushaqua and Buck Pond. Canoe, kayak, rowboat, and paddleboard rentals are available.
The area excels for quiet paddling and easy hiking. An old railroad bed converted to a walking/biking path stretches for miles through the surrounding forest. Fishing targets largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, and panfish. The nearby Saranac Lake Wild Forest adds backcountry options for those wanting more remote terrain.
Directions
From Adirondack Northway (I-87) Northbound: Take Exit 30, then Route 73 north to Lake Placid. Take Route 86 through Lake Placid and Saranac Lake to Gabriels. In Gabriels, take Franklin County Road 60 for 6 miles to Buck Pond. From I-87 Southbound: Take Exit 38, then Route 374 west to Route 3. Turn right on Route 3, then right on Franklin County Road 60 for 5.5 miles.
