If you're looking for a quiet pond not far from town, but also in a wilderness setting, Hoel Pond is the place to paddle and fish.

Getting there

From Tupper Lake follow Route 3 east. Turn left on Route 30, toward Fish Creek, and travel about 8.8 miles to Floodwood Road on the left. Follow Floodwood Road for 0.35 miles to Hoel Pond Road on the right. Follow here to the Hoel Pond Access Road (dirt road) on the left. Follow this rough road along the golf course to the boat launch, 0.5 miles.

Fishing

You'll have the opportunity to catch landlocked salmon at Hoel Pond. Summer’s hotter temps will send them into the deeper water (the pond maxes out at 65 feet), but a troll over Hoel’s 455 acres should net you something. With the variety below the surface, you don’t know what might be on the end of the line – lake trout are abundant here, along with largemouth and smallmouth bass and a variety of panfish.

Be sure to get your fishing in before it freezes; ice fishing is not allowed on Hoel Pond.

Paddling

This route starts out from the state boat launch site at the south end of Hoel Pond. Hoel Pond is located at the south end, but out of, the St. Regis Canoe Area.

Hoel Pond is a large pond with over 6 miles of shoreline to explore. The eastern shores are private.

*Caution: a culvert drains Hoel Pond and is not designed to travel through. The culvert is wide enough for most kayaks, but it drains steeply downhill with a slight drop on the other end and would be a dangerous and non-successful venture.

• Type of launch: hand launch, less than 100 feet carry, but steep downhill to the sandy launch
• Type of water: this can be very big water and can produce some very big waves.

Camping

Primitive camping sites are located on the pond to the NE and SW. There are also campsites located in the parking lot area that are drive-up and first come, first serve.