40 miles of private mountain and lakeside trails (for our guest’s use only) connecting to New York State trails to Mount Marcy in the west and Dix and Macomb in the east.

Sunrise Mountain, Clear Pond Mountain, Lightening Hill, and Grandpa Pete's are all entirely within the preserve and off-limits to those who are not guests, as is access to Boreas Mountain.

Opportunities for novice, moderate and advanced hikers are available within the preserve.

Explore Elk Lakes 600 acres and its 28 islands, or Clear Pond and its 200 acres of crystal glacial water with your choice of canoes, kayaks, and rowboats which are all provided.

Paddle to Wagon Wheel landing to enjoy a picnic with the loons. No personal boats are permitted to ensure our water stays clean.

Have an Amazing Adirondack Fishing Trip!

Three Private and Pristine Waterways, Lodging, Meals, and Plenty of Take Home Stories

Trolling from one of our provided row boats, kayaks, or canoes works well. Bring your electric motor, the only type of motor allowed in our protected waters.

Keep your catch or ask our experienced kitchen staff to cook your cleaned fish for you.

The cry of the loon is a constant feature at Elk Lake, which is listed by New York State as an important bird area for boreal species such as Bicknell Thrush and Boreal Chickadee. See a Great Blue Heron and a Black-backed Woodpecker while hiking or paddling.

Moose, bears, bobcats, pine martens, and fishers also thrive in the preserve.

Plant life includes bogs teeming with Sundews, Pitcher Plants, and Rose Pogonias, as well as Pink Lady Slippers, Indian Pipes, and on higher ground, blueberries, and wild strawberries.

Such well-known Adirondack photographers as Carl Heilman: www.carlheilman.com , Nancie Battaglia, Johnathan Esper: www.wildernessphotographs.com , and Nathan Farb among others, have been inspired by Elk Lake vistas, and many other amateur photographers have enjoyed the unending natural prospects from dawn to star-sprayed night.

Elk Lake Lodge is remote and surrounded by designated wilderness on all sides. Out here, you’ll feel like you’re far, far away.

While here, you’ll have access to miles of wilderness trails but there’s no pressure to go anywhere. Feel free to pull up an Adirondack chair on the dock or relax in the main lodge with a good book. No matter how you choose to spend your Adirondack vacation, you’ll enjoy the solitude and the silence of being surrounded by wilderness.