US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 52845583).
The red circle marks Thompsons Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline.
Official NYSDEC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
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.
Fish species listed by NYSDEC for this recommended fishing water: Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Smallmouth bass, Largemouth bass, Sunfish, Yellow perch, Crappie, Chain pickerel.
Stocked by the state: Brook trout, Brown trout, Rainbow trout (2011–2025, 15 years; 85,830 fish in all, fry included)
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 Thompsons Lake (Albany County). NYSDEC page.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 52845583), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 0.4 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Thompsons Lake shoreline, mostly along the north shore.
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Thompsons Lake, 1 of them within 5 miles. 1 is right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome · Tent sites
RVs welcome
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.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (42.6501, -74.0423). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Thompsons Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
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.
1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thompsons Lake DEC boat launch | Berne | NYSDEC | Trailer - Unimproved · Yes ramp | 5 trailer | — | Boating | 42.6438, -74.0444 |
NYSDEC boat launch sites (data.ny.gov)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Thompsons Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.
| Beach | Type | Access | Directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompsons Lake State Park Beach | Beach | Access not tagged; check posted rules | Get directions |
Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.
Reported on or near Thompsons Lake
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.
Thompsons Lake covers about 131 acres in Berne and Knox, New York (Albany County).
NYSDEC fishing and stocking data lists Largemouth bass, Smallmouth bass, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Crappie, Yellow perch, Sunfish and Chain pickerel.
Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Thompsons Lake DEC boat launch. Check posted fees and parking rules.
OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.
Yes. We list 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.
Thompsons Lake touches Berne and Knox in Albany County, New York.
Know Thompsons 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).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All New York lakes & ponds · All waters in Berne