Posted in New York Lakes, Nature July 26, 2018 by

Why The Largest Natural Lake In The Adirondacks Belongs On Your Bucket List

The local stores may be putting out school supplies and shoving fall-themed candles and decorations in our face, but that doesn’t mean we’re quite ready to let go over summer just yet. Especially between the months of June and September, you can find plenty of our residents hanging out by the water and enjoying New York’s scenery. With 3,000 lakes and ponds tucked inside the Adirondack Park, we all have our favorite body of water to visit in this region. But as a New Yorker, can you say that you know which one is actually the largest natural lake in the park?

With 99-miles of shoreline, New York's Raquette Lake is the largest natural lake in the Adirondack Mountains.
Matt Champlain/Google
Surrounded by the wilderness and undeveloped forests, you'll find handfuls of little islands scattered across the lake - making for beautiful scenery in the mountains.
Doug Letterman/Flickr
If you're looking to get out on the water and explore one of the Adirondack's more peaceful bodies of water, then look no further.
pelcinary/Flickr
Around the southern shores of the lake, you'll find that things are more developed, with places to eat and stay available to you near Route 28.
pelcinary/Flickr
To truly soak in all that Raquette Lake has to offer, you can go camping at one of the amazing campgrounds around the lake like Golden Beach Campground off of Route 28 where there are nearly 200 campsites - many of which are right along the water.
vignesh subramanian/Google
If you want even more seclusion away from the rest of New York, you can camp at Tioga Point Campground - a boat-access-only campground that's made up of 15 lean-to's that will give you a beautiful off-the-grid experience.
Marlin Weaver/Google
If you're not interested in roughing it out and camping by the water, then places like Risleys Rush Point Cottages make for a great alternative.
Risleys Rush Pt Cottages/Facebook
Or you can book a magical stay at other places like the Cabins at Raquette Lake that are right on the waterfront and leave Adirondack adventures right at your finger tips.
Cabins at Raquette Lake/Facebook
But one of our favorite ways to enjoy this body of water is to book a cruise with the Raquette Lake Navigation Company.
Raquette Lake Navigation/Facebook
Throughout the year Raquette Lake Navigation features special cruises like their Saranac Beer Tasting cruise, Moonlight cruise, and their delicious BBQ picnic cruises that all make for amazing ways to see the lake.
Raquette Lake Navigation/Facebook
And if your summer schedule is already booked up then don't worry, because Raquette Lake wears the upcoming season quite beautifully as well.
Raquette Lake Navigation/Facebook
From waterfront cottages and campgrounds to cruises and boat launches where you can get out onto the water, there are so many ways to enjoy the largest natural lake in the Adirondacks!

Have you ever been up to (or out on) Raquette Lake? To check out more beautiful lakes in other areas of our state, read about how The Clearest Lake In New York Is Almost Too Beautiful To Be Real!