Cool temperatures; quiet, damp mornings; raindrops falling light and quickly on the still lake during an early morning shower - these are some of the things I remember about our camping experience at Forked Lake. Our choice of a campground for a few days during the summer of 2004 provided us with the perfect location to enjoy the wilderness and see some wildlife without encroaching on their territory.
We were yearning to leave the world of traffic jams, strip malls and fast food restaurants behind, and a "wilderness" camping experience in the Adirondacks became very appealing. We decided that Forked Lake, located near Long Lake village, was an excellent spot due to its rather remote setting. Seventy-eight campsites dot the eastern shore of 1248-acre Forked Lake, with the surrounding land being owned by the State of New York. Campers are close enough to be able to carry/canoe all of their supplies from the main parking area to their campsite, and are still able enjoy a feeling of solitude. The campground, along with 52 others in the Adirondacks, is operated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Forked Lake is surrounded by state land, and development is prohibited.After carefully studying the campground map upon our arrival at the ranger station, we compared the advantages of the available sites and chose campsite #35. The site is fairly typical of most of the other 78 sites at Forked Lake - it faces the water and is a generous distance from campers on either side. There is little in the way of amenities -- individual campsites don't have showers or running potable water, but do have the "luxury" of an outhouse that might be occasionally cleaned.
This is not a camping area for those who dream of vacations on cruise liners, and most of the visitors no doubt relish in the amenities of home when they return. Campers must ferry their camping gear to island sites on this central-Adirondack lake, and although a trail is accessible to sites at the perimeter of the lake, most use a canoe to access these as well. While the majority of sites are scattered around the south end of the lake, there are several that are located on small islands a relatively short "canoeing distance" from land. Reservations are not permitted, and these island sites fill up fast.
The very first morning we woke to the calls of a common loon, which we quickly determined was located not far from our campsite. We decided to delay our breakfast and quietly set off in our canoe to see if we could come closer to the bird, guided only by the eerie sound of its call. Being careful not to disturb its habitat, we were able to get a few hundred feet away after finally sighting it, and we drifted for awhile, not paddling, listening only to the water dripping from our canoe paddles into the lake. We watched for some time as the bird dove repeatedly for fish in the lake's pristine waters. We soon realized that this one bird was not alone, and that a mother and two chicks were swimming in the distance, shaded in the shadows of the trees, near the shore at the northern end of a small bay. One of the main reasons why we go to the Adirondacks is to see, study and admire common loons, and having located a bird on the very first morning of the trip made any inconveniences the campsite posed become immediately insignificant. We arranged our daily activities so that we would have time to observe these birds in their natural habitat, and to hopefully get some good photos of them.
While we have an affinity for naturally-powered water transportation, and only brought canoes on our trip, the NYSDEC does allow motor-powered boats on Forked Lake. We had purchased a Kevlar Hornbeck canoe a few days earlier and found this lightweight boat to be excellent for traveling around the calm waters of the lake and viewing wildlife without disturbing nature. Aluminum canoe rentals are also available at the campground station.
For those who enjoy this type of a rugged adventure, and who savor time away from the civilized world, Forked Lake campground provides a great location to enjoy that "back woods" feeling while still being within walking distance of potable water and a ranger station. The campground is also located within easy driving distance of many Adirondack peaks -- Goodnow Mountain and Blue Mountain -- and within a relatively short driving distance of the Blue Mountain Lake Adirondack Museum and the Adirondack Park Visitors Interpretive Center at Newcomb.
Forked Lake Primitive Public Campground may be reached by leaving Rte 28N/30 at Deerland (3 miles from the Long Lake Town Hall) and driving southwest on County Road 3 (North Point Road) and 20 to the east shore of Forked Lake.
Address: Long Lake, NY 12847
Campground Phone: (518) 624-6646
Regional Office Phone: (518) 648-5616