Mountain Pond Designated Dispersed Campsites

Had and usual warm week in November so I loaded the kayak on the truck, packed up for some truck camping and headed out for Mountain Pond off Route 30 in the Paul Smiths area. I do believe there are eight sites there with four on the water. This is primitive camping with shared outhouses between the sites. There is no electric, no drinking water available. Cell service was in and out. There are two ways in off Route 30, the first is rough and steep with trees overhead and the road can get muddy so getting a large RV in is close to impossible....but I have seen one in there...you are at risk for damage though. The other way in is also an equestrian road to a parking area for horse back riding. Follow that road in to the parking area turn right to go to the pond. These sites are more for vans, truck campers, pop ups, tear drops and of course tenters. Mountain Pond is a restricted fishing area for artificial lures only, and no motors....paddle only. There is one paddle up site that I saw. I scored site 2 and there was only two other sites in use. Site two has a nice little beach, a fire ring and a outhouse that is shared with site 1. Route 30 is close enough to hear traffic but its still a nice place. ***This area is at risk for closure because people leaving trash, be sure to leave no trace***

Absolutely beautiful spot to stay. Definitely not for the big RVs, but I saw people with small pop-ups. You want to go in on the north-west end, where the road is better. It's wide gravel and then turns into a narrow paved road until just before the coordinates listed, where the first three sites are located. There's enough room here to turn around if need be, and the road gets a little rough after, but I got my caravan through it so not too bad.

Check out the VIC at Paul Smiths, which is about 5 minutes away. Great trails there. Heron Marsh Trail and Boreal Trail especially. They also have good free wifi.

Closest resupply I found was Saranac Lake 20 minutes away. Nice little town.

We did not stay here, but we did scout it. I would have to say this is a van/tent area. No RV rig can make it in on Mountain Pond Rd with out hitting trees, but if you come in from the north side of the 30, which is not called Mountain Pond Rd. Some horse trailer road you can make it with a small rig. At the exact coordinates there is a legit camping spot right on the water that is really nice. When we drove thru there was a 20 foot camper in there. Its right on the lake with decent sun, but to get our rig in there we would have hit some branches at the final pull in. Its doable, but rough. There are a few great van/tent sites here. No cell on AT&T and really shady Verizon, probably not workable. Jones Pond is much better if you can get the site #1.