Not the Lake You Think it is: Adirondack Naming Quirks
Lake Placid Village is on Mirror Lake. Photo courtesy LakePlacid.com (ROOST).
It’s a rite of passage for visitors to the Adirondacks: you roll into the Village of Saranac Lake, ready to dip your toes into…Saranac Lake. But the sparkling body of water in front of you? That’s Lake Flower. And that mix-up is just the beginning.
The Adirondacks are a treasure trove of naming quirks—charming contradictions where towns, lakes, and landmarks don’t always match up. These delightful oddities not only add a touch of mystery to the maps but also offer a fascinating peek into local history, geography, and the evolution of place names.
Saranac Lake…is on Lake Flower?
Saranac Lake is one of the most lively communities in the Tri-Lakes and High Peaks region of the Adirondacks. It’s known for its arts scene, history, and rugged beauty. But despite its name, the village doesn’t sit directly on Upper, Middle, or Lower Saranac Lake. Instead, its waterfront is along Lake Flower, named in 1892 for Governor Roswell P. Flower—the same man who signed the law creating Adirondack Park.
Saranac Lake’s popular farmers market on Lake Flower. Photo courtesy SaranacLake.com (ROOST).
So why the mismatch? The Saranac River flows through all the lakes, including Lake Flower, which was created by damming the river. The name “Saranac Lake” stuck because it tied the village to the larger waterway system and its surrounding wilderness—central to the region’s identity, if not its geography.
Lake Placid…is on Mirror Lake.
If you’ve ever strolled the charming Main Street of Lake Placid, you’ve likely admired the serene reflections of Mirror Lake, not Lake Placid itself. That’s because the village of Lake Placid is actually built around Mirror Lake, which offers stunning views, public beaches, and walkable shoreline access.
Lake Placid—the lake—is real, but it lies just beyond the village limits. Larger, deeper, and more private, it’s less accessible and lined with camps and boat-in retreats. Meanwhile, Mirror Lake became the heart of the community due to its size, centrality, and postcard-perfect appearance.
So yes, you’ve been to Lake Placid, and no, you probably haven’t been on Lake Placid.
Tupper Lake…or is it Raquette Pond?
Tupper Lake is a rugged, welcoming destination at the western edge of the Adirondack High Peaks, renowned for its family-friendly vibe, Wild Center museum, and dark night skies. But look closely at the map: the village is situated mainly on Raquette Pond, a broad section of the Raquette River that eventually flows into the larger Tupper Lake body to the southwest.
Waterfront Park in the Village of Tupper Lake is on Raquette Pond. Photo courtesy TupperLake.com (ROOST)
Early maps didn’t always distinguish between the pond and the lake, and as the community grew around the river’s flow and lumber routes, “Tupper Lake” became the dominant name. Today, both bodies of water are tied into the town’s recreation and identity—but technically, that Instagram paddle pic may have been on Raquette Pond.
Other Adirondack naming quirks worth knowing.
The Adirondacks are full of name quirks that make for excellent trivia:
The historic covered bridge in the Town of Jay.
Upper Jay is south of Jay, NY on the map, because it's upriver, not uphill.
Long Lake isn’t just long—it’s 14 miles long—it’s also a river. To be precise, it’s a widening of the Raquette River and acts as a large body of water along the river's course.
Bloody Pond in Lake George, NY, is a historic site named after a brutal 1755 battle during the French and Indian War, where victorious British forces threw French and allied Native American bodies into the pond, causing the water to turn red. This naming oddity serves as a reminder of the region's tumultuous past and the significant role it played in shaping the nation's history.
Paradox Lake gets its name from a unique phenomenon where the stream feeding it, the Paradox Outlet, reverses flow into the lake during specific periods, creating the illusion of a backward flow.
What’s in a name anyway?
These naming quirks, seemingly simple trivia, are actually significant threads in the rich tapestry of the Adirondacks' history. Each oddity is a portal to the region’s development, from old trapper trails and colonial-era surveys to 19th-century railroad maps and 20th-century tourism. They connect us to the past and add depth to our understanding of this unique region.
So the next time you find yourself in a lakeside town, take a moment to unravel the mystery of the lake you're actually looking at. In the Adirondacks, things are rarely as straightforward as they seem—and that's part of the adventure. Embrace the fun of discovering these naming quirks, and let them add an extra layer of enjoyment to your visit.
Long Lake.
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