Saranac Lake Islands Campground - Campsite #44, Saranac Lake, NY

Introduction / Overview

For New York residents looking to truly disconnect and immerse themselves in the state’s natural beauty, the Saranac Lake Islands Campground presents an unparalleled opportunity. Unlike typical drive-up campgrounds, this is a distinctive state-run facility located in the heart of the Adirondack Park, offering a pristine, boat-access-only camping experience across the islands and shores of Lower and Middle Saranac Lakes. This is a destination reserved for those who embrace primitive camping and value the profound sense of privacy that comes with a water-locked campsite.

Campsite #44, specifically, is a piece of this wilderness paradise. As with all sites in the Saranac Lake Islands Preserve, it is accessible only by watercraft, ensuring a buffer between you and the outside world. This is not glamping; it’s a return to nature where the sounds of the lake replace traffic noise, and the stars are your only streetlights. Campers here are treated to a spacious, well-separated site complete with a fire pit, a picnic table, and an outhouse. The overall atmosphere is highly praised by veterans of the New York camping scene for its tranquility and the unforgettable experience of having your own shoreline and views of the surrounding Adirondack wilderness.

Location and Accessibility

The Saranac Lake Islands Campground is situated within the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest in the vast Adirondack Park, placing it squarely in the Tri-Lakes Region, close to the villages of Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Its unique location at the heart of the Saranac Chain of Lakes—which includes Lower Saranac, Middle Saranac, and Upper Saranac Lakes—is its greatest feature and its primary requirement: accessibility is strictly by boat.

The general coordinates for the area are 7QVF+59, Saranac Lake, NY 12945. The administrative heart of the campground, where check-in for all sites (including Campsite #44) occurs, is the Second Pond State Boat Launch, located off Route 3, a short drive from the Village of Saranac Lake. Campers must launch their own motorboat, canoe, or kayak from this location or similar state launches nearby to navigate to their reserved island or shoreline site. The journey to Campsite #44 becomes an integral part of the adventure, offering stunning views and a gradual transition into true wilderness isolation. Given the limited parking at the boat launches during peak season, campers should be prepared for potential overflow parking in designated municipal lots in the Village of Saranac Lake, underscoring the remoteness of the actual campsite.

Services Offered

Camping at the Saranac Lake Islands is designed to be a primitive, self-sufficient experience, focusing on essential facilities and the "carry-in, carry-out" principle common in New York's preserved wilderness areas.

Boat Access Only: All 87 campsites, including Campsite #44, are accessible exclusively by watercraft. Campers must bring or rent their own boat, kayak, or canoe.
Primitive Facilities: Each campsite is equipped with a designated fire pit (fireplace), a picnic table, and a dedicated outhouse (pit or composting toilet).
No Potable Water: There is no running or potable water available at the campsites. Campers must pack in all drinking water or bring appropriate filtration/treatment equipment for lake water.
Refuse Management: The campground operates under a strict "carry-in, carry-out" policy for all trash. A recycling center is available for refuse disposal at other nearby DEC campgrounds when a valid camping permit is presented.
Firewood: Only dead and downed wood may be collected for use in the provided fire pits. Firewood can often be purchased at nearby facilities before launching.
Reservation System: Campsites are highly sought after and must be reserved in advance through the New York State online reservation system. Same-day reservations are occasionally allowed until 5 PM.
Boat Launch and Parking: Public boat launches, like the one at Second Pond, are available for launching and parking vehicles and trailers (fees and restrictions apply).

Features / Highlights

The appeal of Campsite #44 at Saranac Lake Islands lies in its unique environmental and recreational features, making it a dream destination for experienced New York outdoorsmen and families.

Ultimate Privacy: Being boat-access-only, the site offers a level of seclusion and waterfront privacy that is unmatched by drive-up campgrounds, allowing for a deep connection with nature.
Direct Water Access: The site is waterfront, providing an immediate landing area for your boat and direct access to the water for swimming, fishing, and paddling right from your campsite.
Saranac Chain of Lakes Connectivity: Campers can navigate from Lower Saranac Lake through a historic set of locks to Middle Saranac and beyond, offering miles of paddling and boating adventure.
Abundant Water Recreation: The area is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, power boating, sailing, and excellent freshwater fishing (largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike). Motorized craft are permitted on the lakes.
Adirondack Park Hiking: The location serves as a perfect basecamp for exploring the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest and the nearby High Peaks Wilderness Area, offering extensive hiking and mountain biking opportunities.
Rustic Wilderness Experience: The primitive nature of the site, with no electricity or running water, delivers an authentic, restorative wilderness experience, far removed from modern distractions.
Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the remote location provides spectacular, unobstructed views of the Adirondack night sky.

Contact Information

For inquiries and reservations regarding Campsite #44 and the Saranac Lake Islands Campground, contact the managing New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) facility.

Address (General Area/Mailing): 7QVF+59, Saranac Lake, NY 12945, USA (Approximate GPS location)

Campground Phone (Second Pond Check-In/Information): (518) 891-2841

Regional Office Phone (DEC): (518) 897-1309

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For New York locals, especially those residing in the downstate metropolitan area, the Saranac Lake Islands Campground represents the pinnacle of an authentic, accessible wilderness vacation without leaving the state. It fulfills the deep desire of many New Yorkers to escape the high-paced city and suburban life for a genuine retreat into nature.

This campground is perfect because it requires a specific skillset—paddling, boating, and primitive camping—that rewards preparation with total solitude. It offers a unique combination of extreme privacy with the convenience of being part of a regulated State DEC campground. The ease of driving to the Adirondacks and launching your boat, knowing that you will soon be completely isolated on your own piece of waterfront paradise, is an invaluable experience. It's a place where families can teach survival skills, paddlers can explore endless waterways, and anyone can reconnect with the New York wilderness—a truly incomparable and unforgettable Adirondack adventure that is well worth the drive for any resident of the Empire State.