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Lower Saranac Lake

Harrietstown, New York — Franklin County.

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2,151Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 150563206).

Location & fast facts

Where Lower Saranac Lake is in New York

The red circle marks Lower Saranac Lake.

Fast facts

About Lower Saranac Lake

  • County: Franklin
  • Town: Harrietstown
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 116 mi from Albany and 131 mi from Syracuse, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.

Fishing in New York

Official NYSDEC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Fishing. Northern pike, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch and Sunfish
  • Camping. 19 campgrounds within 15 mi, 8 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil, Variable-leaf watermilfoil and Curly-leaf pondweed recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • Cold water. Water stays cold well into late spring and turns cold again in fall. Wear a life jacket when paddling in the shoulder seasons.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Official fishing data (NYSDEC)

Fish species listed by NYSDEC for this recommended fishing water: Smallmouth bass, Sunfish, Yellow perch, Northern pike.

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: Recommended Fishing Lakes and Ponds and Fish Stocking Lists (2011 on) on data.ny.gov, records for Lower Saranac Lake (Franklin County). NYSDEC page.

Lake map

Lower Saranac Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Green Island (campground)Halfway Island (campground)Bluff Island (campground)Duck Island (campground)Eagle Island (campground)Fern Island (campground)Martin Island (campground)Sable Island (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)11 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Harrietstown

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 150563206), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lower Saranac Lake

We found 19 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lower Saranac Lake, 9 of them within 5 miles. 8 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

13 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in New York

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.3021, -74.1829). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lower Saranac Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lower Saranac Lake

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat rampHarrietstown—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.3117, -74.1633

    NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lower Saranac Lake

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lower Saranac Lake

    How big is Lower Saranac Lake?

    Lower Saranac Lake covers about 2,151 acres in Harrietstown, New York (Franklin County).

    What fish are in Lower Saranac Lake?

    NYSDEC fishing and stocking data lists Northern pike, Smallmouth bass, Yellow perch and Sunfish.

    Is there a public boat launch on Lower Saranac Lake?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lower Saranac Lake?

    Yes. We list 19 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 9 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lower Saranac Lake?

    Lower Saranac Lake touches Harrietstown in Franklin County, New York.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lower Saranac Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New York lakes & ponds · All waters in Harrietstown