kids encyclopedia robot

Indian Lake (Hamilton County, New York) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Indian Lake
Indian lake on the water.JPG
Indian Lake is located in New York Adirondack Park
Indian Lake
Indian Lake
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Indian Lake is located in the United States
Indian Lake
Indian Lake
Location in the United States
Location Hamilton County, New York, United States
Coordinates 43°41′09″N 74°19′48″W / 43.6857564°N 74.3298903°W / 43.6857564; -74.3298903
Type Reservoir
Primary inflows Jessup River, Lewey Lake, Mc Ginn Brook, Woodland Brook, Falls Brook, Willow Brook, Forks Brook, Griffin Brook, Beaver Brook, Doherty Brook, Lawrence Brook, Squaw Brook
Primary outflows Indian River
Basin countries United States
Max. length 12 miles (19 km)
Max. width 1 mile (1.6 km)
Surface area 4,676 acres (1,892 ha)
Average depth 39 feet (12 m)
Max. depth 85 feet (26 m)
Surface elevation 1,650 feet (500 m)
Islands 10
Settlements Indian Lake, New York

Indian Lake is a large, beautiful lake in the Adirondack Park of New York State, United States. It is about 12-mile (19 km) long and covers 4,255-acre (1,722 ha) of water. This lake is actually a reservoir, which means it's a man-made lake used to store water.

Indian Lake is located in Hamilton County. The small town of Indian Lake is just 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the lake's top end. A main road, New York State Route 30, runs right along the lake's western side. Most of the land around the lake is part of the Forest Preserve. This means it's protected land, kept wild for everyone to enjoy.

Water flows into Indian Lake from the Jessup River and other smaller streams. The lake then drains into the Indian River, which eventually flows into the famous Hudson River.

The lake became well-known because of a popular song called "Indian Lake." The band Cowsills sang this song in 1968.

Camping Adventures at Indian Lake

The State of New York runs a special campground at Indian Lake. Many of the campsites here are on small islands! You can only reach these island campsites by boat, which makes camping a real adventure.

The main campground is about 12 miles (19 km) south of Indian Lake village on NY 30. It is open from the middle of May until Columbus Day in October. It's a great place to experience nature and stay overnight.

Exploring Indian Lake's Islands and Bays

Indian Lake has many interesting spots, including several islands and quiet bays. Here are some of them:

  • Camp Island – This island is near the Indian Lakes Islands Campground and has a campsite.
  • Crotched Point Island – You can find this island north of Camp Island. It also has a campsite.
  • Doherty Island – This island is located where the Doherty Brook flows into the lake. There is a campground on this island.
  • Green Island – Located south of Doherty Island, Green Island also offers a campground.
  • John Mack Bay – A bay of the lake found close to Moose Island.
  • Kirpen's Island – This island is in a spot called Norman's Cove.
  • Moose Island – This is the largest island on the lake. It's located where the Jessup River bay opens up. Moose Island has a campsite too.
  • Norman's Cove – A bay on the east side of the lake, directly across from a place called Sabael.
  • Poplar Point – This is a point of land between where Willow Brook and Forks Brook enter the lake.

Fishing in Indian Lake

Indian Lake is a fantastic place for fishing! Many different kinds of fish live here.

There is a public boat launch at the campground off NY-30. It is about 14 miles (23 km) north of Speculator, New York. You can also rent boats and find a marina nearby if you need supplies or services for your boat.

Photo gallery


Images for kids

kids search engine
Indian Lake (Hamilton County, New York) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.