Lake Clear Beach
Lake Clear
Canoe, Kayak, and Swim
Lake Clear Beach is a natural sand beach on the east shore of Lake Clear, a lake of roughly 980 acres in the Town of Harrietstown, Franklin County, about a mile north of the hamlet of Lake Clear and six miles west of Saranac Lake village. The shoreline is part of the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest in the Adirondack Forest Preserve and is managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) out of its Region 5 office in Ray Brook. People swam here for decades while Paul Smith's College owned the parcel, and the state bought it from the college in 1989.
From Saranac Lake, take NY 86 west toward Paul Smiths, turn left onto NY 186 at the flashing light by Donnelly's Ice Cream, and follow it about 4 miles to NY 30. Turn right (north) on Route 30. After roughly a mile and a half, where the highway bends northwest along the shore, an unmarked gravel road on the lake side of the highway leads into a large DEC parking lot built in 1992 with room for about 56 cars. The entrance sign is often missing, and the turn is on your left heading north even though some directions say right. A short path through the woods takes you from the lot to the sand.
The beach is a long strip of sand that runs a good distance in both directions, with a gradual, sandy entry that makes it a favorite with families and young kids. Away from shore the lake gets deep (DEC lists a maximum depth of about 60 feet and an average near 30), so the water stays cold well into early summer, and the long open stretch of water means a west or southwest wind can whip up real chop in a hurry. There are no lifeguards, no roped swim area and no official season, so everyone swims at their own risk. Motorboat traffic is light since there is no public trailer launch. Canoes and kayaks can be carried down from the lot and launched off the beach.
There is no fee. Parking and beach access are free, as on other Forest Preserve land, and no hours are posted. DEC's stated goal is public use of the beach throughout the year, and a gate on the road through the lot is opened in winter for ice fishing access. Facilities are limited to the parking lot and pit privies. There are no changing rooms, showers or drinking water. Dogs are allowed on the beach.
DEC has posted signs banning fires and camping at the beach, and glass containers are not allowed, but the site has a long record of late-night parties that leave fire remnants, trash and broken glass in the sand. Check the sand before you settle in. DEC's plan calls for formal rules banning campfires and camping on about 170 acres between the lake and Route 30. This is not a staffed bathing beach, and it has no routine water-quality sampling program.
The woods behind the beach are a 42-acre pine plantation that Paul Smith's College forestry students planted in the 1950s under professors Gould Hoyt and George Peroni. DEC's plan proposes an interpretive trail, a small parking area and a picnic area in that plantation, but those may not have been built yet. From the water there are views of Whiteface Mountain and St. Regis Mountain. Lake Clear is considered the headwater of the Saranac chain, and paddlers sometimes make the trip up from Lake Clear Outlet to finish at the beach.
More Information
6 Must-Visit Swimming Spots in Saranac Lake | Saranac Lake
See & Do View all See & Do Arts Attractions Downtown Health & Wellness History Live Music Parks Shopping Outdoors View all Outdoors Adirondack Rail Trail Nature Walks ADK Guides & Tours Birding Boating Cross-Country Skiing Cycling Downhill Skiing Fishing Golfing Hiking Ice Fishing Mountain Biking Paddling Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Eat & Drink View all Eat & Drink Cafés & Coffee Shops Craft Beer & Cocktails Restaurants Events View all Events Adirondack Plein Air Festival Can-Am Rugby Tournament Celebrate Paddling ADK North Country New Year Northern Current Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Stay View all Stay Cabins & Cottages Camping Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts Lodging Packages Hotels, Motels and Resorts Vacation Rentals Plan View all Plan Accessibility Our Communities Travel Guide Getting Here Stories Seasons Travel Updates Weddings Local View all Local Live Here Do Business Here Enter to Win Live & Work Weddings & Events Contact Us 6 Must-Visit Swimming Spots in Saranac Lake Troy Tetreault | published Jun. 10, 2025 Last Updated 07.20.2026 Share Story + to Favorites Summary Summer days are made perfect when you take a dip in Saranac Lake! Share to: Share by Email Copy URL Copy 541 Saranac Lake swimming spots you won't want to missSaranac Lake is a summer paradise for swimmers, paddlers, and nature lovers alike. Whether you're seeking sandy beaches, serene ponds, or a boat-accessible dip, this list has you covered.
https://www.saranaclake.com/story/dive-into-summer-5-must-visit-swimming-spots-in-saranac-lakeCrystal Clear Waters! | Saranac Lake
See & Do View all See & Do Arts Attractions Downtown Health & Wellness History Live Music Parks Shopping Outdoors View all Outdoors Adirondack Rail Trail Nature Walks ADK Guides & Tours Birding Boating Cross-Country Skiing Cycling Downhill Skiing Fishing Golfing Hiking Ice Fishing Mountain Biking Paddling Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Eat & Drink View all Eat & Drink Cafés & Coffee Shops Craft Beer & Cocktails Restaurants Events View all Events Adirondack Plein Air Festival Can-Am Rugby Tournament Celebrate Paddling ADK North Country New Year Northern Current Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Stay View all Stay Cabins & Cottages Camping Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts Lodging Packages Hotels, Motels and Resorts Vacation Rentals Plan View all Plan Accessibility Our Communities Travel Guide Getting Here Stories Seasons Travel Updates Weddings Local View all Local Live Here Do Business Here Enter to Win Live & Work Weddings & Events Contact Us Crystal Clear Waters! Lisa Sciacca | published Sep. 27, 2017 Last Updated 05.08.2026 Share Story + to Favorites Summary Let's go! My friend, Kathy, and I both love to paddle for as long as the water is flowing - from spring to late fall. Recently we had the chance to meet up for a spontaneous fall outing. We decided to meet at the Cone Cabin, at the intersection of... Share to: Share by Email Copy URL Copy be8 Let's go! My friend, Kathy, and I both love to paddle for as long as the water is flowing - from spring to late fall. Recently we had the chance to meet up for a spontaneous fall outing. We decided to meet at the intersection of routes 186 and 30 in Lake Clear. I then followed her north on 30 for approximately 1.2 miles to our launch site, an unmarked dirt road on the left, which leads to the parking area for Lake Clear Beach.
https://www.saranaclake.com/story/2018/12/crystal-clear-watersLake Clear - Historic Saranac Lake - LocalWiki
Whiteface Mountain, Moose Mountain and McKenzie Mountain, from Lake Clear 5839 New York Route 30, Lake Clear The approach to Lake Clear Inn, 1912. (Photo courtesy of George Carley) Adirondack Daily Enterprise, October 28, 1989 Albert Einstein with his wife (seated) vacationing at Lake Clear. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, August 19, 1989
https://localwiki.org/hsl/Lake_ClearLake Clear Beach | Saranac Lake
See & Do View all See & Do Arts Attractions Downtown Health & Wellness History Live Music Parks Shopping Outdoors View all Outdoors Adirondack Rail Trail Nature Walks ADK Guides & Tours Birding Boating Cross-Country Skiing Cycling Downhill Skiing Fishing Golfing Hiking Ice Fishing Mountain Biking Paddling Snowmobiling Snowshoeing Eat & Drink View all Eat & Drink Cafés & Coffee Shops Craft Beer & Cocktails Restaurants Events View all Events Adirondack Plein Air Festival Can-Am Rugby Tournament Celebrate Paddling ADK North Country New Year Northern Current Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Stay View all Stay Cabins & Cottages Camping Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts Lodging Packages Hotels, Motels and Resorts Vacation Rentals Plan View all Plan Accessibility Our Communities Travel Guide Getting Here Stories Seasons Travel Updates Weddings Local View all Local Live Here Do Business Here Enter to Win Live & Work Weddings & Events Contact Us × ×
https://www.saranaclake.com/attractions/lake-clear-beachSARANAC LAKES WILD FOREST
www.dec.ny.gov April 2019 NYS DEC, REGION 5, DIVISION OF LANDS AND FORESTS P.O. Box 296, 1115 State Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 12997-0296 r5.ump@dec.ny.gov This page intentionally left blank
https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/saranaclakesump.pdf
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel & camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Directions
From Lake Clear
- Head northwest on NY-30 N toward Adirondack Rail Trl (1.2 mi)
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