Retreat to Cranberry Lake for Wilderness Adventure
Stillness, wilderness, exploration—If these words are at the top of your vacation destination wish list, then Cranberry Lake is for you. This natural gem in northern New York is home to more wildlife than people, and the state lands that surround it ensure that the nature here goes undisturbed. If you’re ready to ditch the city and head out into wild nature, rent a Cranberry Lake lake house.
A Protected Sanctuary
Cranberry Lake is bordered by Five Ponds State Park and the Cranberry Lake Wild Forest on almost all sides. This creates a sanctuary for flora and fauna, but also for residents and visitors, as protected nature areas surround Cranberry Lake lake houses. The population in the area was recorded at just 200 in the 2010 census, meaning that your neighbors will be few and far between. The lake itself is a study in serenity. It is one of the largest lakes in the Adirondacks, measuring 6,975 acres. This also makes for a 55 miles of shoreline. The Five Ponds Wilderness Area covers 118,000 acres and has 57.9 miles of trails. This outdoorsman’s paradise comes with many amenities to recommend it, like picnic area with tables, fireplaces, and grills (including firewood for sale); a pavilion (available to rent), flush toilets, and a boat launch, sand beach with bathhouse, and a fishing pier for enjoying the lake.
A Hiking Wonderland
If you feel inclined to hike around the lake, you can undertake the Cranberry Lake 50 challenge. This hiking adventure produced by Five Ponds Partners challenges wilderness enthusiasts to follow an approximately 50-mile mapped trail that explores the woods surrounding Cranberry Lake. Hikers can complete the challenge as quickly or as slowly as they like, over multiple days or even seasons. The trail’s terrain is gentle, and participants are required to practice “leave no trace” hiking and camping etiquette—keeping the land and lake pristine. Campsites, parking spots for trail entry, and lean-to locations are marked on the map for your convenience, and side trails may tempt you away from the path for an even longer trek. You may not see another hiker the entire time you are on the trail. When you complete the loop, you earn a patch that can be affixed to your gear. If you want to see what the wide expanse of forest around your Cranberry Lake lake households, this is the way to do it.
Another amazing hike is the Tooley Pond Tract, located just one mile from Cranberry Lake. The trails wind past a grouping of rapids and waterfalls. Depending on which trails you take, you can go through six different waterfalls in one day.
A Relaxing Daydream
Your vacation doesn’t have to be all hiking and vigorous exercise, though. You can kick back and daydream by the lake. Your Cranberry Lake lake house may include a stretch of shoreline as part of the property, and the lake includes a swimming beach that is perfect for stretching out in the sunshine. If your ideal image of lake relaxation isn’t complete without a fishing rod in your hand, that’s ok, too. Cranberry Lake has been stocked with trout, so trout fishing is great here. Anglers can also find bass in the waters. Kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and even motorized craft are allowed on the lake, or you can fish from the shore.
No matter how you want to enjoy the peace and splendor of the Cranberry Lake area, a Cranberry Lake lake house will serve as your perfect base of operations. Book a lake house in this Adirondack paradise for an unforgettable wilderness vacation.
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