Outdoors
Lakes, reservoirs and rivers near Albany for boating, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.
Good to know: Life jackets are required for children on most waters, and many lakes require an invasive-species inspection or a launch fee.
49 mi northeast · USDA Forest Service
Grout Pond is a popular destination for camping, hiking, paddling, and fishing. Located in a beautiful mixed conifer and hardwood forest, the campground has 12 reservable sites and offers easy access to over 10 miles of mulituse trails.
52 mi southeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
The launch boat ramp (10-hp limit) provides anglers easy access to the stocked brook, rainbow and brown trout, in addition to the native populations of warmwater fish.
58 mi southeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
The 700-acre lake is open seasonally for fishing and boating and has a large boat ramp available. The lake and river are stocked with trout by the State.
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Grout Pond is a popular destination for camping, hiking, paddling, and fishing. Located in a beautiful mixed conifer and hardwood forest, the campground has 12 reservable sites and offers easy access to over 10 miles of mulituse trails.
The launch boat ramp (10-hp limit) provides anglers easy access to the stocked brook, rainbow and brown trout, in addition to the native populations of warmwater fish.
The 700-acre lake is open seasonally for fishing and boating and has a large boat ramp available. The lake and river are stocked with trout by the State.
Hapgood Pond Recreation Area and Campground is situated next to its scenic namesake pond, 13 miles east of Manchester, Vermont. Visitors enjoy camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and hiking.
Boats are limited to a 10-hp. Fishing is good to excellent for smallmouth bass, brown and rainbow trout. Recreation facilities include a boat launch, swim area, picnic tables, grills, hiking trails, ballfield, drinking water and restrooms.
Townshend Lake is a flood control project operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, serving communities within the West River Valley, and those downstream.
Northfield Brook Lake Group Shelters are located along a small scenic lake in the Naugatuck Valley of west-central Connecticut.
The Ashuelot River offers fishing for bass and stocked trout. The lake is limited to 10-hp engines on vessels.
Surry Mountain Lake Beach is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day use facility located on the Ashuelot River in Surry, New Hampshire.
The recreation area is lease to the Town of Sidney, NY. Facilities include camping, picnic area, boat launch and beach.
Tully Lake is a 1300-acre flood control project completed in 1949. The reservoir area is rich with natural beauty and outdoor recreation. A tents-only campground with 35 sites lies on the north side of the 200-acre lake.
The lake offers fishing for largemouth bass and other warmwater species. The boat ramp is open to canoes and small, flat-bottomed boats only. Nearby Stoughton Pond is stocked with rainbow trout and has a 5-mph limit.
This picturesque lake prohibits the use of gasoline motorboats. Trout are stocked both above and below the dam by the State.
Otter Brook Lake Recreation Area is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day use facility offering many outdoor recreation opportunities everyone can enjoy. The park is located in Keene and Roxbury, New Hampshire.
Stoughton Pond Recreation Area is a day use area located to the north of North Springfield Lake. Stoughton Pond is located off State Route 106 on Stoughton Pond Road in Perkinsville, Vermont.
This 82-acre natural lake boasts the Lake Dennison Recreation Area, offering picnic areas, hunting, hiking, campgrounds and a swimming beach managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Hop Brook Lake Recreation Area is located within the towns of Middlebury, Naugatuck and Waterbury, Connecticut. Its 536 acres provide excellent recreation opportunities and a chance to escape from the growing suburbia surrounding the park.
Edward MacDowell Lake is situated in a quiet corner of the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire.
Moosalamoo Campground is a small remote campground located at the base of Mt. Moosalamoo, near Voter Brook. A large mowed grass field in the middle of the campground is good for a variety of activities, especially for groups with children.
Westville Lake is situated on the Quinebaug River in the towns of Southbridge and Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Albany. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
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THINGS TO DO · YOUTUBE SHORT
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Grout Pond Campground (USDA Forest Service), about 49 miles northeast of Albany as the crow flies. Next are Littleville Lake (52 mi) and Colebrook River Lake (58 mi).
Based on Albany’s average highs, May–September. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA Forest Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.