Tupper Lake Fishing, Size, Depth, And More

New York State is home to over 7,600 freshwater lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. Although Tupper Lake isn’t as large or well-known as others in the area, it has its charm. The lake is surrounded by mountains and is very scenic. While visiting, you can stay in Tupper Lake, a village with a population of about 3,000, and explore the surrounding area. Follow along to learn more about this lake, including things to do.

Tupper Lake Location

Tupper Lake is located in the Adirondack Park. It’s in both, Altamont and Piercefield. At the northeastern end of the lake sits the Village of Tupper Lake. Piercefield and Altamont are small towns. Piercefield has a population of about 300. The surface area of this town is 111.06 square miles.

Size

Just how big is Tupper Lake? This lake is about 41 miles long with 21 miles of shore. Its surface area is 17 square miles. The deepest point of this body of water is 148 feet. Tupper Lake has multiple islands including County Line Island and Bluff Island. This lake’s primary inflows are the Raquette River and Bog River. It’s also drained into the Raquette River.

History

There isn’t a lot we know about this lake’s history or geology. However, the lake and its surrounding area were settled first by Native Americans. The first European to ‘discover’ this lake was Ansel Tupper. The land around the lake though wasn’t developed until the 1800s when the logging industry exploded. Tupper Lake, the town, was previously two communities, the villages of Faust and Tupper Lake. Tupper Lake is long and has multiple arms including Raquette Pond and Lake Simon (also known as Simon Pond).

Things to do Near Tupper Lake

You won’t grow bored while visiting Tupper Lake and the surrounding area. Apart from fishing, kayaking, hiking, and camping, you can also visit museums, exhibits, and more. Many people visit and rave about the Wild Center and the Adirondack Sky Center & Observatory. The Wild Center is a large and unique interactive science museum with indoor and outdoor exhibits. It’s a 54,000-square-foot experience with outdoor trails and bridges where you can soar above the treetops.

Other museums and experiences nearby include the Tupper Lake Heritage Museum, Piercefield Museum, Akwesasne Cultural Center, and the Adirondack Experience. Surrounding villages also have live music frequently and vendor markets. You can also pick up a new skill by attending a local crafting class.

Tupper Lake Fishing

Fishing is a popular activity at Tupper Lake. There are many swimming holes throughout the lake, including in its ponds. On Big Tupper Lake, anglers can spend all day on the water searching for bass, walleye, lake trout, land-locked salmon, and whitefish. During the winter, ice fishing is also available on this lake. Close to Tupper Lake, you can find the Bog River Falls, another prime fishing location. Not only is this waterfall spectacular but also filled with brook trout and largemouth bass. You can also bird watch while fishing as ravens and other birds are common. Another excellent fishing spot is Raquette Pond. This man-made lake is an arm of Tupper Lake and is great for paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, and bird-watching. Shoreline fishing is very accessible. Yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and northern pike are common here.

Camping

Camping is an excellent way to get in touch with nature and possibly view wildlife. While visiting Tupper Lake, instead of renting a hotel or inn, you can camp in one of many sites. While you can’t camp directly on the lake, just a quick drive away is Little Wolf Beach and Campground. It’s a campground located near a freshwater beach. Fishing is also popular in this campground. Another campground near the lake is Rollins Pond Campground. It’s north, past Tupper Lake, and features 287 campsites. You can also find hot showers, a boat launch, many hiking trails, kayak rentals, and freshwater swimming beaches.

Hiking

You have a lot of choices when it comes to hiking near this lovely lake. One is the 4.7-mile-long Fish Pond Truck Trail which can be walked all year round. On the trail, you gain about 200 feet of elevation. Although it’s 4.7 miles long, you can take spur trails throughout for an additional 2 miles. Motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on the trail. Another trail near this lake is the Cranberry Lake Waterfall Tour, which is a 20-mile driving tour that leads to hiking trails. On the tour are six stunning waterfalls. The first waterfall is 8.25 miles into the tour.