LITTLE TUPPER LAKE & ROCK POND & ROUND LAKE canoe camping. Adirondack Park.

William C. Whitney Wilderness Area.

Aug 4-7 (Wed-Sat), 2022 - Hoped to get a campsite down at the W end of the lake, well away from civilization (no sights or sounds except for 1 or 2 planes flying over).  Moderate headwind - waves up to 1'.  After paddling 3.5 miles, found #10 available & it was big enough for our group of 8 - long sand beach made for a good landing & swimming.  Red pines & hemlocks on a small bluff & a good view.  Thunderbox & fire ring.  After setting up camp, paddled around the islands near the S shore.  Loon.  Got out for a look at the Camp Bliss campsite - buggy, not desirable.  Headed up Charley Pond Outlet, under a very low bridge (slipped over a minor beaver dam, no other obstructions), & further upstream, over 1.5 miles from the lake, 40'-60' wide, lots of pickerelweed.  Back to camp.  Merlins.  Lots of loony tunes.  11 miles on the day.

Day 2 - Colorful sunrise with loony tunes.  Mostly cloudy, warm day, 3 very brief showers.  Up Rock Pond Outlet, lots of buttonbush flowering, lift over 1 beaver dam.  Short carry to an old bridge (the rest of the carry was overgrown).  Shallow rocky stream, over 2 beaver dams, & into Rock Pond.  Small nest on top of a dead tree, merlins.  Up the inlet at the pond's E end - went ~1 mile before turning back, 1 3' beaver dam en route - trees are closer in to this stream compared to other streams - saw some bottle gentians, lots of steeplebush.  Lunch at pond beach.  Went around island & along W shore.  Took the full carry to avoid 1 b dam & shallows - a bit overgrown but ok.  Went a short way up Bum Pond outlet & found cranberries.  Back to camp.  10.7 miles, 6.2 hours.  Found a nice bolete mushroom in camp & supplemented my ramen & lentils with it.

Day 3 - Stormy 4-5 am, then sunny.  Lost my compact umbrella yesterday so went back up Rock Pond Outlet to the carry - no luck.  Paddled up Bum Pond Outlet (aka Cranberry Creek) 0.25 miles to a b dam.  Around the islands on the lake.  Gulls, loons (incl. 1 chick), mergansers.  2.9 hours.  Relaxed in camp in mostly shade with dappled sun & light breeze, comfortably bugless, then went out to get wet & practice self-rescue.  Short cruise out for sunset, storm clouds seen way to the S, mostly clear above.  Stars, halfmoon.

Day 4 - Calm, sunny, humid.  Broke camp & paddled over to the shade on the S shore for a while.  An immature bald eagle flew out of a tree.  Back across to the put-in.  1.1 hours.  Refreshing swim at the beach before heading home.

Overall, no bug issues while on the water.  Mosquitoes were pretty bad in camp from 6-9:30 pm.  Light deer/stable fly activity the last 2 days.  ~20 cars in the parking area both before & after the trip.

    

Sep 14, 2017 - Rain at start! Campsites 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18 taken so I settled for #19 on an island after paddling 2.5 hours; passed 11 loons along the way. #19 has a small shady beach landing, some rocks on S & W sides for hanging out, a nice thunderbox, but the actual camping area is rooty & lumpy & Feng Shui is somewhat lacking. Long-lasting sunset. Day 2: Paddled S of Short Island & over to the Camp Bliss campsite. Took a walk looking for Bum Pond (no trail markers nor signs after the 1 by the lake) - at an intersection took a L & soon returned - did not find the pond, think I should have bore R & looked L; mosquitoes. 1.8 mile walk. Back on the lake & up Rock Pond Outlet; maples were blazing red. Took a R at #24 & headed up Bum Pond outlet, picking cranberries before 1st beaver dam at 0.2 mi. Continued over 5 more b dams, into tamarack/black spruce swamp & reached a beaver pond with drowned trees after 0.9 miles - pretty cool remote spot, have since looked at the satellite view; paddled the pond a half mile. Finally, a mostly cloudless day. 10 miles, 8.2 paddling, 6 hours. Day 3: Paddled around the islands & poked up Antediluvian Pond outlet lifting over 1 b dam. 1.8 hours. A swim from camp beach (you get over the initial shock in under a minute) & hanging out on rocks in the pm. Group of 6 loons swam by making their little hoots. Day 4: a group of 12 loons go hooting by the island. 3.4 miles, 65 mins. back to the put-in. Swim at the beach. Foggy mornings.

May 22 & 23, 2016 - LITTLE TUPPER LAKE canoe camping. Only 1 vehicle in parking lot from NY, 3 from VT, 1 from CT. Paddled down S shore; stopped to set up camp at Eagle Point which has good views from sand beach on E side & pebble beach on W side. Continued past islands & up a half mile on Rock Pond Outlet - leatherleaf & bog-rosemary flowering; spotted a northern harrier. Back to camp along N shore - view to the Sewards. Morning fog. Paddled up Otter Pond Outlet (N of campsites 2 & 3) 0.7 miles with boggy shores (incl. cranberry), up over a beaver dam, then 0.25 miles more to the Burn Road trail - saw 2 snapping turtles on the way. Stopped for lunch on the rocks at campsite #6. Took a quick dip but water still on the cold side. NE wind picked up in the afternoon, waves under 1'. Blackflies were there but tolerable; no mosquitoes. Loons. Hobblebush & shadbush flowering. 18.6 miles in 2 days.

Aug 16 & 17, 2015 - ROUND LAKE canoe camping. The channel connecting RL from Little Tupper Lake is a lovely wide stream with lots of lily pads. RL is triangular shaped. E shore has many interesting coves, the best campsites (all were available mid-day Sunday, got one with nice lake view & new thunderbox) & good swimming from sandy beaches & sloping rocks. Cruised the perimeter ~6 miles. S end has some boggy shores. Fairly quiet (no road noise), not a lot of loonacy. Monday had lunch on one of the piney islands before heading for LITTLE TUPPER LAKE & BOG STREAM. One is able to paddle up the latter for over 2.5 miles, 1 beaver dam. Bittern. Shores are private so no getting out. Could see a fire tower to the SE on Buck Mtn - on private land, can't find any info on it (2023 - there is now a 1.5-mile trail to it, open to the public). Light mosquito activity on land; light to moderate biting fly (mostly stable flies aka "ankle-biters") activity on the water. 20+ miles over 2 days. Finished with a swim in LTL.

May 17 & 18, 2015 - LITTLE TUPPER LAKE & ROCK POND. Turning off Rt.30 onto Sabattis Rd & there is a moose crossing the road - what a great start!! Sunday, wind 0-5 mph - Paddled down the S shore of LTL going in & out of the islands - 2 paddlers were heading out & they were the only other folks that we saw over the 2 days. At 4.6 miles turned into Rock Pond Outlet & paddled upstream past boggy shores (leatherleaf flowering & sheep laurel starting to) for 1.5 miles. Carried 100 yards (always admire that tall white pine) & put back in next to dilapidated bridge. Entering RP one notices an osprey nest. Visited all the campsites on RP & chose campsite #25 - most others only could fit 1 or 2 tents, we had 3. Hung out & swam from the nice rock area in front of the campsite. Wore the Original Bugshirt for a time. Sunset paddle. Monday, S winds 5-15mph - Paddled up the inlet of RP for 2 miles going over a dozen beaver dams - no posted signs so not sure if we left state land - turned around at a log jam. Checked out the new start of the carry to Hardigan Pond (a little N of the old one, supposed to be less wet). Headed out near the N shore of LTL, waves less than a foot, saw a group of 17 ducks (scoters?). Loons, gulls (a gull chased an osprey across the pond but backed off when 2 more osprey came in to help out), doe & fawn. Blackflies were bearable - not super hungry, some light swarming - used Cutter Advanced picardin spray on Monday (I like that it is unscented & non-greasy, feels nicer than DEET). 25 miles in 2 days. Swift Keewaydin 15 solo canoe.

In the Adirondack Park, there are 43 Mud Ponds, 21 Long Ponds, 16 Clear Ponds, 16 Round Ponds, 14 Lost Ponds, 14 Rock Ponds, 14 Deer Ponds, 13 Grass Ponds, 12 Buck Ponds, 10 Lily Pad Ponds & 10 Bear Ponds.

 

Aug 30 & 31, 2015 - LITTLE TUPPER LAKE. Happy to get my favorite campsite near the far end of this 6-mile-long lake. Paddled around the islands & part-way up Rock Pond Outlet + 0.2 miles up Bum Pond Outlet (saw cranberries). Very quiet evening, not much loon activity. Paddled up Charley Pond Outlet to the bridge & walked the overgrown trail a short distance. Poked up Otter Pond Outlet on the way out. 15mph W wind created 1' waves for a bouncy ride out. Beaches for swimming. White-throated sparrows boldly walked into camp, group of 16 mergansers passed by.

May 5 & 6, 2014 - LITTLE TUPPER LAKE canoe camping.  Wanted to go to CEDAR RIVER FLOW but heard that the dirt road is closed for at least a few more days.  Gorgeous weather in mid-70s.  Had our pick of campsites on Sunday - saw 4 canoes Sunday & had the area to ourselves Monday until 2 day-tripping kayakers paddled past.  Minimal bad bugs, saw a few blackflies but no need for protection.  100 yard carry to Rock Pond; ospreys (one on nest).  Charlie Pond Outlet; snapping turtle.  Lots of vocal loons.  Went swimming from campsite - water surprisingly warmer than normal for this time of year - it also helps that LTL is a shallow lake.   

Aug 7 & 8, 2005 - LITTLE TUPPER & ROUND LAKES. Parking area almost full Sunday. Put-in at usual spot on motorless LTL (some development near put-in but most of lake is undeveloped state land). Paddled a mile E then into wide mile long channel with lily-pads & boggy shores. Did a circuit of triangular-shaped Round Lake (saw no-one until we were almost off) - shores owned by The Nature Conservancy awaiting purchase by NYS - couple of old camps still around on W side. E shore has some sandy beaches, is mostly red & white pine & will someday make for some sweet campsites. Spent 4 hours exploring. Back on LTL W wind ~15mph (forecast called for 5-11mph) - waves on LTL 1'+, occasionally whitecapped but fun - expect to deal with waves if winds above 10mph & are from W, SW, E or NE. Camped on site #2 (camping is only allowed on designated sites) - above average for LTL. 10 campsites now have "thunderboxes" or roofless outhouses ala Algonquin Park - unlike the ones at AP these have smaller lids that will make for wet sitting if it has been raining & they do not necessarily face away from the campsite proper; at Algonquin when you raise the cover it shields you from view affording more privacy. Sunset paddle on the bay & up an inlet for almost a mile, almost ran over a beaver, mist was already rising over the stream. Super clear starry night, abundant loony tunes. Light mosquito activity for about an hour after sunset. 14 miles.  Misty morning paddle down to SW end then up Rock Pond Outlet (with much purple-flowered pickerelweed) to Rock Pond - 100 yd. easy carry as one gets close with a good size beaver dam to hop both before the carry & after. Rock Pond is very scenic; loons called & responded & gulls flew noisily, took a swim from the island. Back on LTL, still relatively calm, past the islands in the S end saw male white-winged scoter (rare in Adirondacks, esp in summer), many gulls & loons. 12 miles.  Bell Merlin II, 15' solo canoe, handled the waves well.

Jul 11/12, 2004 - ROUND & LITTLE TUPPER LAKES kayak camping. Put-in at the usual spot on Little Tupper. Lily-choked channel from LTL to Round passes between boggy shores - one gets the feeling that a moose could (or should) step out any second. Triangular-shaped Round has 3 or 4 secluded camps which may be torn down after the state takes over ownership fron The Nature Conservancy. Nevertheless, the lake has an excellent wilderness feel to it. Most of the shoreline is rocky but there are a few small sandy beaches. White & red pines dominate the S & E shores. Saw 3 or 4 adult loons, 2 chicks, mergansers, cedar waxwing, kingfishers, hummingbird. By the time we had returned to the put-in we had gone close to 9 miles. W or SW winds over 10mph can create good-sized waves on LTL but today winds were 0-10mph fron the NNE which made for easy paddling. Continued on to campsite #6 & set up the Trekker Tarp & Insert - site is high up, has a rocky point & a small beach - only negative is that one can see the 2 private parcels to the E - Camp on the Point, on the S shore, sticks out like a wart on a beauty queen. Paddled further W to a large beach & took a swim. Sitting on the rocky point after dinner, could see 8 loons (7 in close proximity to each other). Horseflies were irritating & there was only light mosquito activity. Only 2 other campsites on this 6 mile long lake were occupied. Took an early morning paddle S & W - many loons around the islands. Headed down Rock Pond Outlet but soon was surrounded by a multitude of biting horseflies & I just had to get out. Stopped at the site of Camp Bliss before heading back to break camp. 20+ miles in under 24 hrs. Ranger now paddles a Bell Merlin II. Swift Bering Sea , a 15'10" composite touring kayak - easily swallowed all my gear, could have brought a case of beer, large hatch covers make packing easy; cruised in the 3.5-4mph range fully loaded, 4-4.5mph empty; stable enough to photograph from on calm waters. I use a SealLine Black Canyon Comp waterproof compression sack to keep my sleeping bag dry & make it easily fit into the limited space of a kayak.

CONEY MOUNTAIN hike. History, trail location & description. Wonderful 360 view includes Little Tupper & Round Lakes. Took about 20 mins. to climb almost 500' in half a mile. Paint blazes are now orange & path is very evident - this is not a bushwahack.

May 1998 - LITTLE TUPPER LAKE to LAKE LILA. Spent the 1st night on Rock Pond. Saw a momma bear with 3 cubs at Hardigan Pond. Paddled down the very narrow outlet of Hardigan - probably not possible in summer. Spent the 2nd night on Lilypad Pond (no designated campsites). Carried past the rapids on Mud Pond Outlet & paddled down Shingle Shanty Brook to Lila.

NY Paddling Guidebooks

Visit us on Facebook

Lows Lake, Bog River, Hitchins Pond

Welcome to the Adirondacks NYSDEC Info