Ferris lake-road open to lake?

[Frostbite Ale Man]

I am thinking of carrying my Blackjack back to Ferris Lake , off of the Powley/Piseco Rd. Has anyone done this lately? The only info I have is from the B.McMartin "Southern Adirondacks" guide, which is dated; but she says the dirt road to the lake can be used only if you walk in, and is about a mile to the shore; ther's supposed to then be a few cabins, but otherwise the lake is public. Can anyone comment: Is the road still open to public walkers? Is the lake worth a paddle? Thanks

[potterhomestead]

ferris lake

hi!
first post on this forum-
i've been going into ferris lake since the 1970's...still go a couple of times a year. the owners are ok with people walking in---about a mile, easy walking on a maintained road. DO NOT DRIVE IN--no turn around spot. the lake is beautiful and wild, especially when no one is at the camp. state land around most of the shore line, usually loons on the lake. it is worth the trip to get in there as few people go. please leave no trace and respect the camp---pass through the private property only to access the lake. best time to go when no one is at the camp---spring and before hunting season in the fall.

[MoodyBlues]

I am thinking of carrying my Blackjack back to Ferris Lake , off of the Powley/Piseco Rd. Has anyone done this lately? The only info I have is from the B.McMartin "Southern Adirondacks" guide, which is dated; but she says the dirt road to the lake can be used only if you walk in, and is about a mile to the shore; ther's supposed to then be a few cabins, but otherwise the lake is public. Can anyone comment: Is the road still open to public walkers? Is the lake worth a paddle? Thanks

so did you ever make it in to ferris lake? does anyone have recent info on access to ferris lake?

[DuctTape]

My first time looking this up, map shows entire shoreline is owned by NYS, yet I see two structures within the NYS boundary (map could be off). The nearby private inholding (owned by Watauga Club) lists zero structures on its assessment data. This is a time where I miss Jackson's research & gis map expertise.

[MoodyBlues]

Barbara McMartin in her book "discovering the southern adks", has a chapter on accessing ferris lake, but that's 30 year old info. is it mentioned in the later edition written with Bill Ingersoll?

[fractalnature]

Checking my 2014 edition of Discover the Southern Adirondacks, Bill does not describe any details about accessing Ferris Lake.

[paddles]

My first time looking this up, map shows entire shoreline is owned by NYS, yet I see two structures within the NYS boundary (map could be off). The nearby private inholding (owned by Watauga Club) lists zero structures on its assessment data. This is a time where I miss Jackson's research & gis map expertise.

I was there a while ago with a canoe and I had the same questions you did, so I paddled over to the north shore to look for the boundary. There are definitely yellow blazes that intersect the shoreline, somewhere around that big rock on the satellite view. Every map I’ve ever seen shows that inholding set back from the shoreline, and apparently they’re all wrong. BTW- the Hamilton County property info site shows a 1512 sq ft cabin and an 18x24ft shed under “Improvements”.

As to the original thread question, I got there by paddling down the E Canada then bushwhacking up that cirque by Franks Pond. If I recall, the signs at the access road did not look inviting.

[MoodyBlues]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/7597...=ferris%20lake i did find this lil tidbit. whether or not she's an actual member, who knows?
in the warmer months ahead, i'm gonna try to get to this lake. what was the difficulty level of the franks pond route?

[paddles]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/7597...=ferris%20lake i did find this lil tidbit. whether or not she's an actual member, who knows?
in the warmer months ahead, i'm gonna try to get to this lake. what was the difficulty level of the franks pond route?

I don't remember it being too bad, the woods were open enough most of the way as I recall. Navigation wise it's pretty simple too, just go east and you can't miss Ferris Lake, and on the way back go west and you can't miss the East Canada. It is a 200-foot climb from the river to the top of the ridge, then 150 feet back down to Ferris so it's not a total walk in the park. I stayed on the south side of Franks Pond.