Two attractive backcountry ponds that are easy to reach with good fishing and swimming.
| Directions | From Long Lake drive towards Blue Mountain Lake, at the Deerland curve, turn right on the North Point Road (Signs point to Buttermilk Falls). Follow the North Point Road for approximately six miles to the trailhead for Upper Sargent Pond (on the left). The trailhead for Lower Sargent is about 1.5 miles further along the road. |
| Difficulty | The hike to Upper Sargent Pond is an easy round trip of 2.6 miles with minimal climbing. Lower Sargent requires a five mile round trip on a somewhat rougher trail. Even so, the Lower Sargent route is easy-moderate. A loop hike that includes visits to both ponds covers over 7 miles, and is of moderate difficulty. The loop includes a 1.3 mile road walk to connect the two trailheads. |
| Family-Friendly | Yes, the Upper Pond trail, in particular, is easy and the route ends at a large and attractive campsite on Upper Sargent Pond, a nice spot for a picnic. The Hike to the Lower Sargent Pond is longer but still a good hike for families with older children. The Lower Sargent trail passes through varied terrain and several attractive picnicking and swimming spots are found on Lower Sargent Pond. |
| Winter | Both Sargent Pond trails are well-suited for Cross-Country skiing or snowshoeing. These trails are lightly used in the winter so be prepared to break trail. |
| One Thing to Know | Lower Sargent Pond supports a population of native Brook Trout and is a popular destination for fishermen. As you near the pond you pass a “fish barrier dam” on Boulder Brook. This lovely stream connects the Sargent Ponds with Raquette Lake. The fish dam prevents fish species that compete with the native Brook Trout from swimming upstream to enter the lower pond. |
| NY DEC Webpage | Sargent Ponds Wild Forest |
| Photo Gallery | Owls Head Mountain Photo Gallery |
There are three Sargent Ponds: Upper, Middle and Lower and several trailheads can be used to reach them. The two trails discussed here are located 1.3 miles apart on the North Point Road. A connector trail between the upper and lower ponds, combined with with the 1.3 mile walk along the road, makes for a loop hike of nearly seven miles. The North Point Road, which makes up the the road portion of this loop is very lightly used county road.
Map showing routes to Lower and upper Sargent Ponds
Along the trail to Lower Sargent Pond
The Upper Sargent Pond trailhead is located a little over six miles from the intersection of the North Point Road and Route 30. The trail covers just 1.3 miles and reaches the pond at a lovely spot that has been used for camping and picnicking for decades.
Lower Sargent is most easily reached from a separate trailhead located 1.3 miles further along the North Point Road (coming from Long Lake). It is a 2.3 mile walk to the shore of the pond, and an additional .3 miles to reach the popular lean-to located on north shore. The trail to Lower Sargent is somewhat rougher and more challenging than the Upper Sargent route, but it is still a relatively easy hike.
There is no formal trail to Middle Sargent Pond. It is reached by following an unmarked path that leaves the main trail near the Lower Sargent Lean-to.
Lower Sargent Pond