The Cranberry Lake region, is one of the largest remote  areas remaining in the state. 

Just to the south of the "Cranberry lake", lie thousands of acres of rolling hills, numerous lakes, ponds, and unbroken wild forest lands that show little or no marks of civilization, which is known as The

"Five Ponds Wilderness Area".

 

This description is limited to the destinations listed above and in no way contains all that the Five Ponds Wilderness area has to offer. One must come experience this vast, untamed Wilderness for themselves !

 

 

Grass and Fishpole Ponds- This 4-mile long trail can be accessed by hiking the "Cranberry 50 Trail" or by boat to Chair Rock Flow, which is located on the south end of Cranberry Lake. The trail is not an aggressively difficult trail and brings you to a pristine area of the Five Ponds Wilderness. You will pass by the scenic wetlands of Fishpole Pond on your way to GrassPond which is north of the famous Lows Lake.

 

Trailhead Location:

 

Located off the Cranberry Lake 50 Trail only or by boat on Cranberry Lake to Chair Rock Flow

 

Trail uses: Hiking, Snowshoe, XC Ski, Birding

 

 

 

Darning Needle Pond- This 2.6-mile long trail can be accessed by hiking the Cranberry 50 Trail or by boat to Chair Rock Flow which is located on the south end of Cranberry Lake. This trail runs through the Five Ponds Wilderness to a most scenic back-country Pond that will well off the beaten path.

 

Trailhead Location:

 

Located off the Cranberry Lake 50 Trail only or by boat on Cranberry Lake to Chair Rock Flow

 

Trail uses:Hike, Snowshoe, XC Ski, Birding

 

 

 

 

 

Big Deer Pond- This roughly 2.5-mile trail can be accessed by hiking the Cranberry 50 Trail to Cowhorn Pond or by boat to West Flow which is located on the southwest end of Cranberry Lake. This trail runs through the Five Ponds Wilderness to a Big Deer Pond which is a main corridor for the Oswegatchie River’s headwaters. Along the way you will also experience Slender Pond and Tamarack Pond. Be careful on this backwoods trail, it gets only minor use and maintenance, so it can be hard to follow in certain areas.

 

Trailhead Location:

 

Located off the Cranberry Lake 50 Trail only or by boat on Cranberry Lake to West Flow

 

Trail uses:Hike, Snowshoe, XC Ski, Birding

 

 

 

 

 

Clear and Nicks Pond- This roughly 1.5-mile trail can be accessed by hiking the Cranberry 50 Trail to Cowhorn Pond or by boat to West Flow which is located on the southwest end of Cranberry Lake. To access from West Flow, you will have an extended hike to the trail as well. This trail runs through the Five Ponds Wilderness to two secluded back-country ponds, Clear and Nicks. This trail has fallen under disrepair over the years and can be hard to follow. However, if you are up to the adventure it is highly worth it. 

 

Trailhead Location:

 

Located off the Cranberry Lake 50 Trail only or by boat on Cranberry Lake to West Flow

 

Trail uses:Hike, Snowshoe, XC Ski, Birding
 

 

 

Also see:

 

Five Ponds Trail,    Cat Mountain,    High Rock,    High Falls,  Janacks Landing

 

Star Lake Five Ponds Wilderness Access

 

Five Pond Wilderness Trail Overview