Lake Colby

Right in town and totally beautiful: that's Lake Colby. The lake is dense with plant growth in some areas, which is fun to explore if you are interested in water plants like water lilies and grasses. Lake Colby offers several places to picnic and swim, including a nice public beach.

How to get there

From downtown Saranac Lake, follow Route 86 toward Paul Smiths. There is public access at the DEC boat launch across from the Adirondack Medical Center.

Paddling

There is a motor restriction on Lake Colby, so you won't have to worry about large wakes here! (All motorized boats are limited to 10hp or less.) Put-in at the boat launch and explore the lake. There are two campsites on the western shore that offer great opportunities for picnics and swimming if unoccupied. The northernmost campsite is tucked away in a bay. The southwestern site, which is closer to the railroad tracks, has a nice rock face to hang out on and soak in the sun. There is the option to portage over the railroad tracks to Little Colby Pond. Even though this lake is right in town, there is plenty of wildlife, including Common Loons and Bald Eagles. Both species nest here and are a delight to see while paddling.