Stillwater Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stillwater Reservoir |
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Location | Herkimer County, New York, United States |
Coordinates | 43°54′45″N 74°57′16″W / 43.9126110°N 74.9544582°W, 43°53′26″N 75°01′21″W / 43.8906515°N 75.0224439°W |
Type | Reservoir |
Primary inflows | Beaver River, North Branch, Twitchell Creek, Gun Harbor Brook, West Branch Beaver River, South Branch |
Primary outflows | Beaver River |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 6,233 acres (25.22 km2) |
Max. depth | 62 feet (19 m) |
Shore length1 | 75 miles (121 km) |
Surface elevation | 1,680 feet (510 m) |
Islands | 97 |
Settlements | Beaver River, New York, Stillwater, New York |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |
Stillwater Reservoir is a large man-made lake located in the Western Adirondacks of New York. It's near the small community of Beaver River, New York. This beautiful lake is a popular spot for many fun outdoor activities.
The lake's edges are mostly natural and undeveloped. This means you can find remote camping spots on its many islands and along the shoreline. If you want to camp or learn more about the lake, you can get information from the Forest Ranger Headquarters in the hamlet of Stillwater.
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Fun Things to Do at Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir is a great place for outdoor adventures all year round!
Water Activities
- Boating and Canoeing: You can explore the lake by boat or canoe. There's a public boat ramp on Stillwater Road, making it easy to launch your boat.
- Fishing: The reservoir is home to many different kinds of fish. You might catch smallmouth bass, splake, rock bass, yellow perch, sunfish, or brown trout.
Land Activities
- Camping: With many islands and undeveloped shorelines, Stillwater Reservoir offers lots of places to set up a tent and enjoy nature. Some islands even have special primitive campsites.
- Hunting: In certain seasons, hunting is allowed in designated areas around the reservoir.
- Snowmobiling and Cross-Country Skiing: When winter arrives and the lake freezes, it becomes a perfect place for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing adventures.
Interesting Facts About Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir holds a special place in New York's history for its weather.
- Record Cold: The coldest temperature ever recorded in New York State was at Stillwater Reservoir. It was a super chilly −52 °F (−47 °C)! This record was later matched by Old Forge on February 17, 1979.
Islands of Stillwater Reservoir
Stillwater Reservoir is known for having many islands, 97 in total! Many of these islands offer great spots for camping and exploring. Here are a few of the notable islands and locations:
- Big Burnt Lake: This is a lake connected to Stillwater Reservoir. It's located northwest of the community of Beaver River.
- Georges Island: You can find this island near the Tower Trail campsite.
- Rock Island: This island is located close to where Twitchell Creek flows into the reservoir.
- Island #2: Also near Twitchell Creek, this island has two primitive campsites for adventurers.
- Melody Island: Located near a spot called Devil's Hole, Melody Island also has a primitive campsite.
- Long Island: This island is quite large and has two primitive campsites, one on each end.
- Gun Harbor: This is a bay located north-northeast of the Beaver River community, a great spot to explore by boat.
- Picnic Island: As its name suggests, this island is a popular spot for picnics and has two primitive campsites.
- Trout Pond: This is a bay where water from Salmon Lake enters the reservoir.
- Loon Island: Located in the Loon Lake section of the reservoir, this island has a primitive campsite.
- Fox Island: You can find this island near the outlet of Halfway Brook, and it also has a primitive campsite.
These are just some of the many islands and interesting spots you can discover at Stillwater Reservoir!