Parking
Use Sucker Brook Preserve South Parking Area on Sagamore Road, about 0.6 mile after turning off Gull Bay Road. The preserve lots are not plowed in winter and may be inaccessible after snowfall.
Overview
About Sucker Brook Preserve Orange Pond Loop
Why go
- A compact loop with close views of the southern beaver pond and rookery
- The easy Green South connector links the Orange and Yellow trails
Heads up
- A short steep, rocky stretch near the south Blue junction
- Changing beaver water levels can flood parts of the route
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Lake George map
Full mapElevation466–623 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
2 active Lake George alerts
- ClosureFishbrook Pond North Lean-to site closedThe entire Fishbrook Pond North Lean-to site is closed because the lean-to burned down. - No camping or campfires are allowed at the site until further notice.Official details
- CautionNo Parking Zones enforced along River RoadDo not park in the No Parking Zones along River Road in the Hudson River Special Management Area in the Towns of Lake Luzerne and Warrensburg; DEC is enforcing the restriction.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Lake George Tour Guide
Your drive to Sucker Brook Preserve Orange Pond Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Lake George NY. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Lake George audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Sucker Brook Preserve’s Southern Trails0:00 / 0:25
“You’re nearing the Sagamore Road access to Sucker Brook Preserve’s southern trails. The half-hour Blue Trail walk leads to a picnic table overlooking Gull Bay and the Narrows, then returns the same way.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Lake George Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Shelter with an Open Front
- Why the Ice Stays on Top
- The Bird Coming Down Headfirst
- Hague Town Beach and Peggy’s Point
- 113 audio storiesacross Lake George’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor White-tailed Deer, Timber Rattlesnake, Osprey, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 67 trails, 64 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Sucker Brook Preserve Orange Pond Loop
The pond loopThis is about a 1.
This is about a 1.6-mile loop from the Sagamore Road south lot: use the Blue connection to Yellow, continue on Green Trail—South and Orange around the southern beaver pond, then return by Blue. The wetland and heron-rookery views are the draw. Allow about 1 to 1½ hours; most of the route is easy to moderate, with a short steep, rocky section near the south Blue junction.
Pond and rookeryThe Yellow Trail follows the west edge of the southern beaver pond and its great blue heron…
The Yellow Trail follows the west edge of the southern beaver pond and its great blue heron rookery. The colony is most active from March through July, so keep a safe distance and avoid disturbing the birds. Beaver-driven water levels change through the seasons and between years; high water can flood trail sections.
Access and footingThe preserve is free to visit during daylight, and leashed dogs are allowed.
The preserve is free to visit during daylight, and leashed dogs are allowed. Hunting is permitted only with a land-conservancy permit; wear bright colors and hike in a group during hunting season. The South Parking Area is on Sagamore Road, about 0.6 mile beyond the Gull Bay Road turn. The lots are not plowed in winter and may be inaccessible after snow.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Lake George
34 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
26 sightingsTimber RattlesnakeMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
22 sightingsOspreyMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
60 sightingsLoonMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
33 sightingsPorcupineMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
84 sightingsGreat Blue HeronMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Lake George. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
