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Outdoors

Lakes near Albany

30 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.

Lakes within 30 mi

30

Closest

0.9 mi

Washington Park Lake

Within 10 miles

6

Reservoirs

8

Worth the drive

Washington Park Lake
Washington Park Lake0.9 miPhoto: Andy Arthur, CC BY 2.0
Buckingham Lake
Buckingham Lake2.6 miPhoto: Oygovalt at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Alcove Reservoir
Alcove Reservoir15.6 miPhoto: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0
Spring Lake
Spring Lake17 miPhoto: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
Basic Creek Reservoir
Basic Creek Reservoir17.9 miPhoto: Dennis Murphy, CC BY 2.0
Sleepy Hollow Lake
Sleepy Hollow Lake24.9 miPhoto: Jameschuston, CC BY-SA 4.0

Map

Map of 30 places loads as you scroll.

All lakes, nearest first

  1. 0.9mi
    Washington Park Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  2. 1.3mi
    Tivoli Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  3. 2.6mi
    Buckingham Lakereservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  4. 5mi
    Rensselaer Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  5. 6.2mi
    Snyders Lake

    Directions ↗

  6. 8.2mi
    Racquet Lake

    Directions ↗

  7. 10.4mi
    Burden Lake

    Directions ↗

  8. 11.1mi
    Nassau Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  9. 11.7mi
    Glass Lake

    Directions ↗

  10. 11.9mi
    Crooked Lake

    Directions ↗

  11. 12mi
    Colonie Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  12. 12.1mi
    Watervliet Reservoirreservoir

    Directions ↗

  13. 14.5mi
    Tackawasick Lake

    Directions ↗

  14. 14.6mi
    Thompsons Lake

    Directions ↗

  15. 14.8mi
    Kinderhook Lakereservoir

    Directions ↗

  16. 15.6mi
    Alcove Reservoirreservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  17. 15.7mi
    Collins Lake

    Directions ↗

  18. 17mi
    Spring Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  19. 17.1mi
    Tomhannock Reservoirreservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  20. 17.9mi
    Basic Creek Reservoirreservoir

    About ↗Directions ↗

  21. 19.5mi
    Round Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  22. 20.4mi
    Ballston Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  23. 21.4mi
    Featherstonhaugh Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  24. 21.4mi
    Babcock Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  25. 24.2mi
    Queechy Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  26. 24.9mi
    Sleepy Hollow Lakereservoir

    Directions ↗

  27. 25.4mi
    Saratoga Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

  28. 27.2mi
    Lake Onota

    About ↗Directions ↗

  29. 29.1mi
    Franklinton Vlaie

    About ↗Directions ↗

  30. 29.7mi
    Silver Lake

    About ↗Directions ↗

Straight-line distance from the center of Albany; driving and trail distances are longer.

Before you go

Swim only where it is allowed

Many reservoirs are drinking-water supplies with no swimming or body contact. Look for a designated swim beach.

Watch for algae blooms

Green, scummy or paint-like water can be a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Keep kids and dogs out and check the county advisory.

Boats, fishing and fees

Boat launches often need a day pass or inspection for invasive mussels, and anglers 16 and older usually need a state fishing license.

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Questions

What is the closest lake to Albany?

Washington Park Lake, about 0.9 miles from the center of Albany.

How many lakes are near Albany?

30 named lakes are within 30 miles, 6 of them within 10 miles.

Are the lakes near Albany natural?

8 of the 30 are reservoirs made by dams; the rest are mapped as natural lakes. Swimming rules differ, so check each one.

Sources: Wikidata and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked 2026-11-08; photos from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses shown. Access, fees and conditions change; check before visiting.

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