Located in southern St. Lawrence County inside the Adirondack Park, the Massawepie Lake Area includes Massawepie Lake, Massawepie Mire, Long Pond, Deer Pond, Town Line Pond and Pine Pond. The area is widely known for its prime fishing opportunities, as well as birding and hiking, and is home to one of the largest bogs in the Eastern United States.
Access
Massawepie Lake and the adjoining ponds are owned by the Otetiana Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and closed to the public from June 15 to August 31 when the boy scouts are in residence. In the fall, winter and spring, the area is open to the public for hiking, biking, birding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, fishing and paddling (no motorized watercraft).
All bodies of water in the Massawepie Lake Area can be accessed from the Massawepie Boy Scout Camp on Massawepie Road in Piercefield, NY, about 12 miles southwest of the Village of Tupper Lake. The only exception is Pine Pond, which can only be reached by paddling across the lower end of Massawepie Lake. Some of the waterways, such as Massawepie Lake, Long Pond and Town Line Pond, require a short carry from the parking area.
The Massawepie Mire is immediately south of the lake and covers more than 900 acres, making it one of the largest bogs in the Eastern United States. Although it is located almost entirely on the Massawepie Scout Reservation, the public is permitted to drive through the camp to access the mire during the summer.
Fishing & Paddling
The Massawepie Lake Area offers prime wilderness trout-fishing for fly fishers and anglers. In addition to brook trout, you’ll find lake trout, landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass. Other less-prevalent species include whitefish, walleye, yellow perch, black bullhead, rock bass and white sucker.
Under most conditions, Long Pond, Deer Pond and Massawepie Lake provide a calm and relaxing paddle, especially near shore. However, out in the open water, Massawepie Lake can be rough at times, and Town Line Pond is less protected, making it more susceptible to rough conditions in high winds.
Birding
The south side of Long Pond and much of the east side is great for birding, and several narrow bays on Massawepie Lake offer birding opportunities, as well, but one of the most popular birding destinations in the Adirondacks in the Massawepie Mire.
Eighteen warbler species breed in this area, including Northern Waterthrush, Mourning, Palm, and Canada Warblers. Other boreal species include the Spruce Grouse, Common Loon, Black-backed Woodpecker, Merlin, Olive-sided, Yellow-bellied, and Alder Flycatchers, Philadelphia Vireo, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Evening Grosbeak.
Outdoor Recreation
The Massawepie Lake Area offers miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Hike the Massawepie Lake Trails, and explore the backwoods mountain biking trail from Massawepie Lake to Horseshoe Pond. Hike or cross-country ski the 7.2-mile Deer Pond Loop Trail, and enjoy a variety of activities in the Massawepie Mire.
The trail through the mire is an old railroad bed turned dirt road, which offers 5 miles of perfectly level terrain for hiking and biking through boreal and mixed forests, and along the bog, brooks and rivers. In the winter, the trail through the mire is groomed for snowmobiling.
Land for Sale Near Massawepie Lake Area
Scenic and remote, but still within a short drive of many popular Adirondack towns, the Massawepie Lake Area is a hidden gem in the Adirondack Park. For those looking to own property here, Adirondack Mountain Land has several plots of land for sale near Massawepie Lake Area, including private wooded parcels, build-ready lots, and sugarbush acreage. Browse our property listings or contact us for assistance with your search.